Forensic Science programmes

Forensic Science programmes are available at postgraduate level throughout the UK. It is widely discouraged to study forensic science at undergraduate level. Therefore, if you are still interested in becoming a forensic scientists then read on…

The most important aspect of a forensic scientists work centres around his/her integrity and honesty without this any evidence that may be produced for the courts will be of little value. How scientist’s gains his respect to begin with is via training and education firstly as a scientist and then as a forensic scientist. Afterwards he/she will gain experience by working with professionals in the same laboratory.

Forensic Science Programmes

Forensic science programmes are available at postgraduate level. Therefore, the first stage then is to obtain the correct educational status and this usually means obtaining a good degree (2-1 Hons) in a suitable scientific discipline such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics. There is presently a drive for many Universities to offer undergraduate degrees in Forensic Science.

Graduates from such courses may be acceptable to the forensic science industry but as yet the quality of such courses and the graduates arising from them have not yet been tested and are looked upon at present with some scepticism and undoubtedly there is still a preference for those candidates offering a good first degree in one of the science subjects mentioned above. This may change with time.

Forensic Scientist Training
Having acquired the skills from such courses the next stage will be to undertake training courses within the institution in which they are employed. These will introduce the candidate to the importance of continuity of evidence that is the tracking of samples from a crime scene to the laboratory and eventually the courts, the use of the correct packaging, contamination avoidance issues and the searching of items, mainly clothing, for analysable materials that may have an impact on the investigation of a criminal case. Having acquired such knowledge and skills the candidate will then, under guidance begin to participate in case work .At the end of the process employees will then have to develop their skills in court craft and the writing scientific reports. All should take into account the audience for these that is lawyers and lay people (jurors). This means that the candidate must have good communication skills both written and verbal.

For more information on studying Forensic Science contact:
The Forensic Science Society
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk

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