Bachelor of Arts [B.A] [Business and Human Resource Management via Study Centres] From University of Sunderland

The MSc in Forensic Science is the UKÕs longest established forensic science degree course, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016/2017.

YouÕll join a global network of Strathclyde forensic science graduates in highly respected positions all over the world.

In addition to preparing you for life as a forensic scientist, youÕll also graduate with a wide range of practical skills, problem solving and investigative thinking relevant to a wide range of careers.

You'll study

• crime scene investigation
• legal procedures and the law
• evidence interpretation and statistical evaluation
• analysis of range of evidence types including footwear marks, trace evidence, and questioned documents

Following a general introduction to forensic science in semester 1, you can choose to specialise in either forensic biology or forensic chemistry. As a forensic biologist youÕll study a range of topics including:

• body fluid analysis
• blood pattern interpretation
• DNA profiling
• investigation of assaults and sexual offences

If you choose to specialise in forensic chemistry, youÕll develop expertise in:

• analysis of fires and explosives
• drugs of abuse
• alcohol and toxicology

The focal point of the course is our major crime scene exercise, in which you are expected to investigate your own mock outdoor crime scene, collect and analyse the evidence, and present this in Glasgow Sheriff Court in conjunction with students training in Strathclyde Law School.

Project

In semester 3, MSc students undertake a three-month project, culminating in the production of a dissertation.

Students may be given the opportunity to complete their project in an operational forensic science provider either in the UK or overseas (subject to visa requirements). Alternatively, students may complete their project within the Centre for Forensic Science itself, under the supervision of our team of academics.

Examples of institutions that previous Strathclyde students have been placed in to undertake their project include:

• Scottish Police Authority, Forensic Services
• Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST)
• Forensic Explosives Laboratory, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
• LGC Forensics
• Cellmark Forensic Services
• Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Auckland, New Zealand
• Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow, Poland
• Centre of Forensic Sciences, Toronto, Canada

The MSc in Forensic Science runs for 12 months, commencing in September. The nine-month Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) course contains all of the taught elements of the MSc, but does not include the project.

Facilities

Teaching takes place in the Centre for Forensic Science. ItÕs a modern purpose-built laboratory for practical forensic training, equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for analysis of a wide range of evidence types. This includes a microscopy suite, DNA profiling laboratory, analytical chemistry laboratory, blood pattern analysis room, and a suite for setting up mock crime scenes.

Teaching staff

Students on these programmes benefit from the expertise of our enthusiastic teaching staff who also conduct forensic science research and casework. The Centre for Forensic Science offers a unique experience, combining Ôcase-basedÕ learning with research-led teaching.