Accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, our Forensic Sciences course is the longest-running programme of its type in England, having been first established in 1985.
You will benefit from an advanced and flexible study programme devised and delivered by internationally leading researchers, and recognised forensic providers including our accredited DNA analysis and Drug Control Centre testing laboratories. We also collaborate closely with the Forensic Directorates of the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police in both teaching and research.
The course is made up of two 15 credit modules and three 30 credit modules followed by a 60 or 120 credit research module. You will complete the course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying for the MRes qualification, you will study an extended research module that carries a further 120 credits to complete the course.
Teaching
For flexibility, a proportion of the course will be delivered by narrated PowerPoint. Contact time includes laboratory practicals, workshops, group discussions and problem-based learning exercises.
Approximate total contact hours for the taught modules is 390 hours.
You are also expected to undertake 810 hours of team and individual study.
Taught modules total 120 credits. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Research modules are 60 (MSc) or 120 credits (MRes). Project selection is through student application and interview.
Assessment
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework (laboratory competency; presentations, courtroom assessment, strategy planning, critical thinking) and examinations (unseen written essays and short answer questions, use of specialist computer software for forensic genetic reports). Coursework contributes approximately 45% and examinations approximately 55% to your final mark.
Research assessment: experimental plan, journal article, poster and viva (MRes seminar presentation)
Course Accreditation
Accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.
Location
This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Waterloo Campus.
Regulating Body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.
You will also need to have either started or completed a course of Hepatitis B vaccinations.