Career in Forensic Science: A Complete Guide

With the increasing rate of crime, Forensic Science is gaining popularity as a career option among youth in India. It is the study of how you can apply scientific methodologies and knowledge to criminal and legal investigations.

If you are someone interested in forensic studies, crime investigation, psychology, and law, Forensic science is the best fit for your career. Let’s dive deep in the blog to know more about which course to do in the Forensic science, the best college, etc.

Forensic Science: Know the Basics

Forensic Science is the application of different sciences to the matters of law. As it is a vast field, you get to study subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, engineering, social science, altogether. In a forensic science career, you get to study and solve criminal cases by investigating thoroughly about the crime scene, keeping the laws in consideration.

Forensic Science after Higher Education: How to Step-in?

Once you complete your 12^th grade, you can choose to apply for a bachelor’s degree in forensic science.

• Eligibility Criteria: To apply for any undergraduate course in Forensic science, you must have completed your 10^thand 12^th studies with a science background.
• Entrance Exam: For undergraduate programs, no entrance test is required. For a master’s degree in Forensic science, different colleges conduct their own entrance tests. The common national-level entrance exam for a master’s in this field is conducted by NICFS – The National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science.

Courses

There are different levels of courses designed to cater the diverse needs and career objectives of students. The most common courses offered in this field are listed below:

Undergraduate or Bachelor’s Degree Course in Forensic Science

The Bachelor’s of Science specialized in Forensic science, also known as BSc Forensic science, is the most common undergraduate program for the students who want to pursue a career in this field. It is a complete 3-years degree program for students to get a basic understanding of Forensic science, including subjects like behavioral science, criminology, etc.

Postgraduate or Master’s degree course in Forensic Science

There are a lot of options available among the postgraduate courses in this field. A few significant options you can choose include:

• MSc in Forensic Science
• MSc Forensic Science and Criminology
• MSc Information Security and Cyber Forensic
• Masters in Forensic Psychology,
• MD Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Duration for all of the above listed courses is 2 years. Every particular course is designed with a specific focus area of Forensic science. So, you can choose any one of these as per your career goal.

Ph.D. course in Forensic Science

The Doctorate or Ph.D. course in this field is of 2-5 years. It is a research based course in Forensic science where you get the in-depth knowledge about the field. The course helps the students study a dead body, the deaths cause due to unnatural reasons, and the DNA analysis.

Students who wish to have a high-paying career in this field can opt for this course after their masters. Those who want to become the professors in Forensic science also choose this Ph.D. course after their postgraduate degree.

Certificate in Forensic Science

There are various short certificate courses available in different areas of Forensic science, like a certificate on forensic anthropology, DNA, fingerprint analysis, computer forensics, etc. You can choose a certificate course to master in a particular area of Forensic science, but it is always advised to complete your degree course as well.

Diploma in Forensic Science

There are many 10-months diploma courses available in this field. According to your interest, you can choose one to add-on your knowledge about Forensic science. The options include a diploma in crime scene investigation, forensic psychology, fingerprint science, forensic accounting, etc.

Top Universities in India for a Forensic Science Course

It is highly crucial to choose the best university in India to get your Forensic science education completed. We have listed down the best universities with which you can begin your career to have a bright future in the field of Forensic science.

Also Read: Top BSC Forensic Science Colleges in India

National Forensic Science University

This University offers bachelors and masters’ program of Criminology and Forensic science along with other programs in this field. They also offer PG Diploma courses of short duration and M.Phil course of 5 years in forensic science.

They have campuses in India, including Gujarat, Delhi, Goa, Pune, Bhopal, Guwahati, Manipur, Tripura, Dharwad. They also have an International campus located in Uganda.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences

This institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate level courses in Forensic science. They also offer specific courses focused on different areas of this field, such as, DNA, fingerprints, and toxicology, etc.

The Institute, popularly known as AIIMS, has campuses in Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bhopal, and Kalyani.

Lok Nayak Jayprakash National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Sciences (LNJN)

Regarding Forensic science postgraduate programs, this Institute is mainly known for its courses in Criminology, Forensic sciences & Digital Forensics and Information security. This institute is based in New Delhi, and do not have any other campuses in India.

Banaras Hindu University – BHU

This university offers the Masters of Forensic science course of two years. To enroll in this program, BHU conducts its own entrance exam. The entrance test is conducted to test the student’s forensic science knowledge. Only the candidates who pass the test can take admission for a MSc in Forensic science in BHU.

Scope in Forensic Science

This career field is an umbrella undertaking endless private and government sector jobs for you; the scope of a Forensic science career is vast. As you complete your degree or diploma in this field, you can get employment in detective offices, forensic laboratories, or any other relevant government or private agencies involved in investigating crimes.

Job opportunities After the Degree

There is a big pool of opportunities in this field; we have listed a few job opportunities you can look for after completing your education in Forensic science:

• Forensic Scientist
• Forensic Engineer
• Forensic Expert
• Forensic Laboratory Analyst
• Forensic Document Examiner
• Investigative Officer
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Law Consultant
• Professor of Forensic Science

Top Recruiters in the Field of Forensic Science

As you complete your degrees in the field, you can search for the top recruiters while applying for a job in Forensic science. We have listed a few of them below:

• CBI (The Central Bureau of Investigation)
• IB (The Intelligence Bureau)
• Quality Control Bureau
• Police Departments
• Top Hospitals
• Detective Agencies and Offices
• Law Firms
• Defense
• Universities

Wrap-Up!

Beginning a career in Forensic science seems overwhelming, but as you have come a long way reading the article, you now have the crucial information you need to start. Gear up, choose the course you want, prepare for the entrance exam, get your masters done and you are all set for your job. Remember, you are just a few steps away to have a good career in Forensic Science. Start today!