Forensic Science: Eligibility, Courses, Colleges, Fees & Career Prospects

If you have ever seen one of the detective-style TV series, you may have seen one guy/girl who is responsible for analysing various kinds of tissue samples and other biological factors in those series. These people are known as Forensic Scientists. However, their characters are not the exact representation of what a real forensic scientist is.

Forensic Science is a field of science that deals majorly with crime investigations, where they gather different physical and biological samples that lead to the solution of an investigation. A forensic scientist uses his/her knowledge in the different fields of science such as physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, etc, to come to a conclusion in an investigation.

Forensic Science has been offered by many different colleges and universities across India. Majorly, a programme in Forensic Science is offered under the discipline of science. Those who are interested in pursuing a degree in Forensic Science will be able to do so at any level, i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate as well as doctoral or PhD levels. Here are some of the details that aspirants need to know about a course on Forensic Science.

List of Forensic Science Courses

For the candidates who are interested in learning forensic science and making a career in this field can go through the list of courses that aspirants can pursue at different levels. However, the interested candidates must note that it is important to satisfy the admission criteria of the college and the forensic science course that they wish to pursue. Check out the list of forensic science courses available in India.

• B.Sc Forensic Science

• B.Sc (Hons) Forensic Science

• M.Sc Forensic Science

• M.D. in Forensic Science

• PhD in Forensic Science

The courses that have been mentioned above focus majorly on the field of forensic science. Students will be able to find other courses that also provide education in the field of forensic science but are either taught with other subjects. Aspirants will be able to find different courses for forensic science in the various forensic science colleges in India.

Forensic Science Specialisations

Apart from the different levels at which a student will be able to pursue a programme in forensic science, they will also be able to specialise in different areas of the subject. Given below is the list of all the forensic science specialisation that can be opted by the candidates:

• Forensic Ballistic

• Forensic Biology

• Forensic Botany

• Forensic Chemistry

• Forensic Entomology

• Forensic Serology

• Forensic Toxicology

The specialisations that have been mentioned above are areas of forensic science that deal specifically with certain parts of forensic science. Unlike just pursuing Forensic science, where students will be able to gather information on all the different facets of forensic science, the candidates who specialise in one or more areas, will specifically study and research on those areas alone.

Forensic Science Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who have been aspiring to pursue a course in the subject will need to meet the eligibility criteria for admission to forensic science courses. The basic eligibility requires the candidate to have completed their schooling in science stream. The rest of the eligibility criteria will depend on the level of education they wish to pursue. The forensic science college or institution that is offering a programme to aspirants will also be responsible for setting the eligibility criteria for forensic science programmes at different levels.

B.Sc Forensic Science Eligibility Criteria

The candidates who are interested in pursuing a course in the subject at the undergraduate level have to meet the B.Sc Forensic Science eligibility criteria. The primary eligibility criterion that is needed for admission to the programme is for the aspirants to have completed their class 12 board examinations. There will be a minimum aggregate mark that the student will need to have obtained in the previous qualifying examinations. Some of the institutions, especially private forensic science colleges, conduct their own set of entrance tests, which could include a written test, group discussion and/or a personal interview.

Note: Each college will have its own set of eligibility criteria for B.Sc Forensic Science and the students will be required to go through the admission requirements as stated by the B.Sc Forensic Science college.

M.Sc Forensic Science Eligibility Criteria

Graduates who have been eyeing a higher education programme at the postgraduate level in the subject will need to meet the M.Sc Forensic Science eligibility criteria. Like any other postgraduate programme, the aspirant will need to have obtained a bachelor’s degree. Since the programme requires the student to have a wide range of knowledge, candidates who have completed a bachelors degree in engineering, science, medicine or pharmacy programmes will be able to apply for the Master of Science (M.Sc.) programme. However, the final say in the eligibility criteria will lie with the institution or college offering the programme.

It is important to note that those who are interested in applying for the programme will be required to go through the selection process that has been decided by the college. Among the selection processes, the candidates can be asked to sit for an entrance test, personal interview and/or group discussion. Their performance in these along with the score in the qualifying examination will determine the chances of admission.

Apart from B.Sc Forensic Science and M.Sc Forensic Science, the candidates will also be able to find colleges that offer Diploma in Forensic Science programmes as well as colleges that offer PhD programmes. The eligibility criteria for each of the programmes will be determined by the colleges that offer them. Students who wish to pursue the programme will need to go through the eligibility criteria of each of the programmes before applying for admissions.

List of Forensic Science Colleges & Average Fees for Forensic Science Courses

Candidates who have decided to pursue a programme in Forensic Science can check out the list of colleges that offer this course. Mentioned below is the list of Forensic Science Colleges and average fees of the programme:

• University of Delhi

• Punjabi University

• Manipal University

• University of Mumbai

• Sharda University Greater Noida

• Anna University

• Institute of Forensic Science Nagpur

• Government Institute of Forensic Science

• Amity University

• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

• Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences

• Lovely Professional University

• Calicut University

The students will be able to find courses and colleges for forensic science in every corner of India. Some of the institutes and universities that offer the course rank among the top universities in India. With both government and private institutes included in the list of forensic science colleges that one can join in India, the range of fees for the course will vary as well. The fees will vary depending on the course, the level of the course as well as the college offering the course. Currently, those who are interested in pursuing the course will have to shed anywhere between ₹25,000 to ₹3 lakhs per year as their course fee in forensic science.

Forensic Science Scope and Career Prospects

One of the biggest reasons why anyone chooses to pursue a particular course or programme is due to the career prospects which will be available after the completion of a course. After the completion of the course in Forensic Science, graduates will be able to find a job as a forensic scientist especially in the government sector. Among the departments, the graduates will be able to search for jobs in the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Intelligence Bureau or the different Police Departments in the country.

Among the job profiles that are available, the graduates will be able to find a career path as a:

• Forensic Engineer

• Forensic Toxicologist

• Forensic Psychiatrist

• Forensic Scientist

• Law Consultant

• Investigative Officers

• Forensic Psychologist

• Customs Agent

There are many other career opportunities that the aspirant can choose from after they have completed their course in forensic science. However, it is important to note that the opportunities and the chances of getting a high paying job depend upon the capabilities and skills acquired by the graduate. The level of education that a forensic science pursuant has will also determine the position and the packages they will receive. The salary packages in the field range between Rs. 1-8 lakh per annum, depending on the experience, level of education gathered and the skills of the graduate.

Why Forensic Science?

Forensic Science is a field where academic excellence or theoretical knowledge alone would not help the student gain enough skills. Candidates will need a keen eye for observation, ability to look at a situation through different angles in an unbiased nature and have the ability to work for long hours under immense pressure. These are the pointers that one should keep in mind before taking a decision to opt for a career in this field.

Every career path and every field that a candidate chooses requires them to have an aptitude in the field. They will need to have both academic as well as practical experience in the field so that the decisions that they make will yield some kind of a result. Here are the things an aspirant should possess to have a good career opportunity in future:

• Good analytical skills

• High observation power

• A keen eye for minute details

• Patience

• Ability to work under immense pressure

• Wide range of knowledge including other fields of sciences

• Risk analysis

In short, forensic science is a field for people with a curious mind and a drive to find out even the smallest of details while investigating something. If the aspirants have a knack for observing and analysing even the minute details in a situation, then forensic science will be a good choice for them. Those who are interested can go through the list of colleges and courses that have been mentioned above. It is advisable to study and understand the different courses that are provided by the colleges. In other words, check out the course curriculum, syllabus and the sort of programmes that interest the aspirants. This will help the candidates to understand, what exactly is in store for them in that particular course and come to a conclusion.