倫敦國王學院

Overview

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.

Course detail

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 and 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.

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.