Forensic Science MSc

You complete a major hypothesis-driven research project in your discipline, working independently and at a high level. Using discipline-specific laboratory, database or computational research methodologies, you interrogate a hypothesis in a specialised area of research. Your skills in research and knowledge creation are developed. You must demonstrate comprehensive and objective analysis, developing innovative and constructive proposals for the solution to the project topic. Your supervisor(s) and their research team provide support and guidance, but a high degree of autonomy is required. Additional support is provided by technical and learning support staff.

Use your interdisciplinary knowledge to investigate national and international heritage sites, evaluating the threat to cultural assets, such as paintings, sculptures and buildings. Appraise current legislation surrounding heritage crime and protection and explore scientific instrumentation to detect, monitor and develop strategies to manage heritage crime. Through case studies, you assess some of the ethical considerations associated with heritage crime. You develop your analysis of scientific literature and problem-solving.

Forensic practitioners are called upon to do crucial work in evidence recovery, analysis and interpretation in some of society’s most challenging situations (such as crime scenes, custody blocks and mortuaries) and. Getting to a successful outcome in a courtroom means navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system, understanding the components of crimes, knowing the rules of evidence and skilfully delivering written and verbal testimony. This module addresses these questions from the point of view of a potential expert witness. Drawing on UK and international examples, you explore human rights, violent and property crime, and the admissibility of evidence. You prepare and deliver expert evidence in a simulated courtroom setting.

Detect, examine, interpret and evaluate biological evidence for forensic investigations. A broad range of biological evidence, including body fluids, hairs, fibres and DNA profiling are explored in forensic context with underpinning research.

Explore the range of evidence types encountered at crime scenes or recovered from individuals. You examine types of evidence, such as fibres, paint, glass and drugs of abuse. Apply and use analytical instrumentation including statistical analyses from obtained data.

Develop your understanding of the principles of crime scene science and its relationship with forensic analysis and the legal process. You address key areas in forensic practice such as quality standards, evidence continuity and contamination issues. Gain an understanding of the methodologies for processing and examining physical evidence. You take part in a series of practical sessions, including evidence recovery at a mock crime scene and the initial forensic examination of recovered items.

This module focuses on the forensic analysis of skeletal remains to assist in the identification of missing and unknown persons. You study elements of skeletal biological profiling, bioarchaeology, and the expert witness skills required for reporting on skeletal evidence.