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Forensic Science MSc, MRes

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The Forensic Science programme has a reputation as being the best of its type in the country. It will provide you with advanced knowledge of the forensic processes and analytical techniques (particularly chemistry and biology) used in crime investigation. It is run by King’s Forensics staff whose research is at the cutting edge of innovation and advancement in the field.


Key benefits

  • Study programme fully accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

  • A well-established and highly respected forensic science course with contributions from leading forensic scientists both internal and external.

  • Strategic alliance with the Metropolitan Police Forensic Services Directorate and research partners with Eurofins forming the Met/Eurofins/KCL managed forensic service provision (2017). 

  • Links with over 25 forensic laboratories and institutions worldwide provide research placement opportunities for students’ projects.

  • Exposure to cutting-edge technology and methodology at the forefront of forensic science research and development.

  • Flexible study pathway with the opportunity to extend your project to a 28-week project to gain an extra 60 credits and the MRes qualification.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration MSc: 1 year. MRes: 15 months

Study mode Full-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90 UK 240/ECTS 120

Programme accreditations Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences

Course intake 35

Course leaders Dr David Ballard

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 7000 fax: +44 (0) 20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine

Department Department of Forensic and Analytical Science School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences

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Course detail

Description

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.

 

Further literature

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

Course format and assessment

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. 

Extra information

You will also need to have either started or completed a course of Hepatitis B vaccinations.

Structure

Year 1

 Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take:

  • MSc – modules totalling 180 credits

  • MRes – modules totalling 240 credits

Required Modules

You are required to take:

  • Analytical Chemistry for Forensic Science and Toxicology (15 credits)

  •  Forensic Genetics (15 credits)

  • Forensic Process (30 credits)

  • Chemistry of Explosives & Drugs (30 credits)

  • Forensic Biology (30 credits)

You are also required to complete a research and dissertation module depending on your choice of study pathway:

  • Forensic Project (60 credits; MSc pathway) 

  • Forensic Science Research Project (Extended) (120 credits; MRes pathway)

 

We regularly review our modules to make sure our programmes are as up-to-date, innovative and relevant as possible. The modules we offer may therefore change. We suggest that you check the course finder for updates: 

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/index.aspx

 

Optional Modules

Entry requirements & how to apply

Forensic Science Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements  2:1

Bachelors degree with 2:1 honours in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Biochemistry, Molecular biology, or similar combination. Applicants with degrees in chemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmacology or toxicology are required to provide evidence of at least one course unit in biochemistry. Applicants with degrees in biochemistry or molecular biology are required to provide evidence of at least one course unit in chemistry.

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.

Chemistry and Biology qualifications equivalent to UK A-level are also required (applicants with other qualifications may contact Admissions for guidance). Applicants may also be required to complete an Online Test prior to interview
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band D Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies.

Applications will be processed upon receipt. Places are offered either directly or after successful completion of an online test (to test basic chemistry and molecular biology knowledge) and interview.  Overseas applicants are advised to apply by March to allow sufficient time for visa application. Places are ascribed on a first come first served basis. 

Applicants are encouraged to attend the Departmental and University Postgraduate Open Evenings.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checks
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
Reference Yes One reference is required, professional references will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
Other Optional You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 26th March 2021. After this date, the programme will remain open only if places are still available and will be closed as soon as it is full.

For programmes that remain open beyond this date, the final application deadlines for the following fee statuses are listed below:

  • EU or overseas (international) fee status: 30th July 2021
  • Home fee status: 27th August 2021

Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline in March, and we are unable to process more offers as places are filled before the final application deadlines above.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home fees: £13,380 (MSc, 2021/22); £17,970 (MRes, 2021/22)
  • Full time overseas fees: £27,900 (MSc, 2021/22); £37.290 (MRes, 2021/22)
  • Part time Home fees: £8,985 (Mres, 2021/22)
  • Part time overseas fees: £18,645 (Mres, 2021/22)

 

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31st March, payment is due by 30th April 2021.
  • If you receive an offer between 1st April and 30th June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1st July and 31st July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1st August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from late August onwards, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.
  • If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses 

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

Most Forensic Science graduates go on to work in the forensic science sector with forensic service providers within the UK, European and international fields. Others have taken employment with the Metropolitan Police or crime scene departments of other police forces. The degree, with its mixture of analytical chemistry and cutting-edge molecular biology, is also highly regarded in medical laboratories. Some graduates choose to continue to study towards a PhD either at King’s College London or other universities across the country.

 

 

Testimonials

Katherine

Katherine

The course  provided a thorough insight into both forensic chemistry and biology. The practicals were really well organised and they were always conducted with real life scenarios in mind.

Jamie Miller

Jamie Miller

I left a full-time job specifically to attend the Forensic Science MSc course at KCL. This was for two main reasons. Firstly, the course is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and so I knew it would be excellent quality and highly regarded by potential employers. Secondly, the contacts that KCL has both in the UK and around the world would provide me with the opportunity to do a 14 week industry placement working with cutting edge forensic technology. I wasn’t disappointed on either count, and was able to move into a job in Forensic Science straight after finishing the course. As an added bonus, I got to live in London for a year with the whole world at my doorstep and had a fantastic time living in such an eclectic city

Blue box with King's College London rankings. Starting with, 7th in the UK for research quality. Followed by, 6th in the UK for research power. Concluding with, 4th among multi-faculty universities for research Impact. The source is research excellence framework 2014

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