Due to the potentially traumatic nature of the work, the minimum age for apprentices is 18, in line with the young person criteria under ‘Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999’.
Collision investigation home page
Introduction
In the UK Collision Investigators are treated by the Courts as Expert Witnesses and as such will have qualifications and experience in the field of collision investigation. Some may have an engineering or physics background and may have worked in research. Others such as police officers normally have formal qualifications in forensic collision investigation.
In partnership with De Montfort University (DMU), AiTS have developed a range of qualifications in the field of forensic road collision investigation. As an associate college of the university and part of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media, AiTS provide the teaching and DMU provides the quality processes and make the final award.
A staged approach to a degree
Since its inception as a University Certificate of Professional Development, UCPD, the qualification has continued to develop and it is now possible to continue onto a CertHE, FdSc and BSc(Hons) in forensic road collision investigation. This staged approach allows students who would not otherwise have the qualifications to enrol directly for the FdSc or BSc to progress upwards in smaller steps, using each completed stage to demonstrate their ability to move to the next. The university has an expectation that students will continue through the programme and as such prioritise those students who successfully complete a stage and who wish to continue. It is always possible to exit the programme having completed any of the stages, however at that point student enrolment ends and, in times of high demand, there is no guarantee that they will be be able to rejoin the programme at a time of their choosing.
Individual modules
Some of the modules are available as standalone "short courses". You can also take a mixed route for example study the CertHE and then sit the two level 5 digital data modules.
When you take an individual module as a short course, you are not registered with the university. Successful students do receive an AiTS certificate and you can claim Recognised Prior Learning (subject to certain rules) if you return to university studies later. Find out what modules we run here.
Start dates
All programmes start at the beginning of the the academic year in September with the exception of the standalone UCPD which starts in March of each year to allow students to continue onto the following years CertHE without a long gap between studies.
Development
The qualifications are constantly evolving as technology changes. The programme team meets annually with leading practitioners from the criminal and civil sides of the industry as well as lead bodies such as the Police and the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators to ensure the programme remains fit for purpose.
Full or Part time
Currently you can only study for the degree part time but this will change from from September 2022 when you will have the option to study either part time (60 credits a year) or full time (120 credits a year).
Part time
Part-time study is roughly equivalent to studying at half the rate of a student on a full-time course at university.
- You will study 60 credits worth of study a year.
- You'll need to find around 16-18 hours to study each week.
Full time
If you want to complete your qualification at the same rate as a student at a traditional university, for example, an Honours degree in three years, you can choose to study full time.
- You will study 120 credits worth of study a year.
- You'll need to find around 32-36 hours to study each week.
Inevitably, unless your employer has agreed to let you study in work time, the number of hours you will need to study means giving up some of your own time and cutting down on some of your social activities, especially if you are studying full time. The OU provides some excellent advice on how to find time to study and the things you may have to consider moderating. There is an online planner which we strongly recommend you take a look at. Click the link to see more.
You will be asked to explain where your study time will be coming from during your induction.
Apprenticeship
You can link this degree to a forensic collision investigator apprenticeship.
Entrants require a minimum of two A levels at grade C or above; one of which should be in maths or a science, and five GCSE's at grade 4 or above (or equivalent) including English, Maths, and Science or suitable equivalent as BTECs. A full category B driving license is required within 12 months of starting the apprenticeship.
For those who do not meet the entry requirements we offer an equivalence route. Study and pass the UCPD to gain entry to the apprenticeship.
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For mature students the government lists acceptable alternative certificates further details are available here If you cannot find your certificate you will need to sit level 2 English and Maths.
