This online module provides a broad and practical introduction to the fundamentals of digital forensics. It begins by setting the context of digital forensics in the wider discipline of traditional forensic science to show how many principles and techniques still apply, including investigation skills, evidence handling, note taking and reporting. You will then take a detailed look at some of the English civil and criminal laws relevant to digital forensic investigations and learn how to find the law in England and Wales and other jurisdictions. Using written material and videos, you will learn the principles of legal report writing and giving oral testimony.
We look at the architectures of the digital systems that are likely to require examination and teach the principles that allow you to identify the relevant architectures of new and evolving devices. You will learn to find and use both open source and commercial digital forensic tools to acquire and analyse digital evidence by doing practical exercises. You will develop competence as first responders to a digital forensic incident using written material and videos. The teaching will expose you to network forensics challenges in a client-server network, virtualisation, and network traffic analysis.
Mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, are an important part of our everyday lives and, therefore, important sources of evidence in many forensic investigations. Through videos and practical exercises, you will develop the skills to conduct a forensic examination of a mobile device and be able to apply these to new devices as they are released. Several advanced topics will be introduced, such as the application of digital forensic methodologies to smart devices and IoT environments, and the unique challenges that artificial intelligence presents within the realms of digital forensics. The module concludes by helping you consolidate the concepts and skills you have learned to help an organisation prepare appropriate plans for forensic incidents.
This module is particularly relevant for students wishing to begin a career in digital forensics. It was designed to match the learning outcomes for the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) accreditation standards for digital forensics.
This module is appropriate if you are a computing student wanting to understand further how digital forensics can be applied in legal and business environments. It is appropriate if you want to enhance your career options in computer security or digital forensics.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Course work includes:
This module is presented online. All study materials will be available on the module website, including:
A second computer and mobile phone, possibly old or obsolete, may be useful for conducting forensic examination exercises.
Your computer will require a camera and microphone to complete the oral assessment for your final assignment (TMA).
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
M812 is a compulsory module in our:
M812 is an option module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
Digital forensics (M812) starts once a year – in May.
It will next start in May 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in May 2030.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
You are expected to hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in computing or a related discipline, or have at least three years of relevant industry experience.
You would benefit from some experience in using:
The study material is online, so you’ll spend considerable time using a computer and the internet.
Some components might not be fully accessible using a screen reader. Mathematical and scientific materials can be particularly difficult to read in this way.
Written transcripts of audio components, figure descriptions and printable versions of texts are available.
If you’re using printed materials as part of reasonable adjustments to support your studies, note that printed versions of online materials are unavailable for this module.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 01 May 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 09 Apr 2026 | £1,775 |
| 01 May 2027 | 31 Oct 2027 | 08 Apr 2027 | Not yet available* |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
