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Forensic Science (Forensic Chemistry) MSc

2026-27 (also available for 2025-26)

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This course is eligible for Master's loan funding. Find out more.

Start date

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time

Places available (subject to change)

20

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About the course

Dive into the fascinating world of Forensic Science on our postgraduate course, bridging the gap between science and the legal system. You may specialise in a number of core areas of Forensic Chemistry including Toxicology, Arson, and Ballistics

During your studies, you’ll explore the essentials of forensic science, following the journey from crime scene to courtroom. Engage in hands-on crime scene exercises in our state-of-the-art facilities, learning strategies and techniques crucial for crime scene examination. Through modules in forensic science awareness, you’ll gain a broad understanding of various forensic disciplines. Additionally, you’ll delve into the critical aspects of quality assurance in the forensic industry and learn how to present and defend your evidence in court.

On this course, you will also cover analytical sciences, a field with high employment prospects for scientists. You’ll study the latest technological advancements and applications in this area, mastering instrumental techniques for analysing organic compounds, metals, and solids. We’ll also address potential sources of error in experimental and instrumental analysis, ensuring you can accurately interpret scientific data.

We aim to prepare you for a successful career by providing:

Hands-on Experience: Engage in realistic crime scene simulations to develop practical skills that are directly applicable in professional settings.

Critical Thinking: Enhance your analytical and problem-solving abilities, essential for interpreting evidence and making informed decisions.

Professional Development: Gain exposure to the latest advancements in forensic technology and methodologies, ensuring you stay current in this rapidly evolving field.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of forensic science, following the crime scene to court model. Our course includes practical crime scene exercises in state-of-the-art facilities, where you will learn and apply strategies and techniques for crime scene examination.

The University is nestled within the heart of Huddersfield, a warm and welcoming town, known for its friendly atmosphere and diverse community. When you're not studying, you can enjoy an array of exciting activities and experiences. From cultural events and charming cafes to stunning scenery and fantastic transport links, there's plenty to do in and around the town centre.

Course detail

Crime Scene Science Awareness

An overview of Search and Recovery of evidence at the crime scene, Handling Exhibits, Collection of Evidence, Crime Scene Management, Quality, Continuity, Storage of Evidence, Finger Marks, Finger Marks Development, Footwear Marks, Documents, Handwriting and Signatures, E-forensics, Photography and CCTV.

Forensic Science Awareness

This module will give an overview of forensic science awareness in chemistry, biology, trace, and impression evidence types. This will provide critical awareness which will enable students to process cases without compromising evidence outside their own specialism. As well as the systematic understanding of knowledge, they will learn how to evaluate forensic evidence and interpret the findings.

Quality and Presentation of Evidence

Quality control and assurance, An introduction to case assessment and interpretation, Note taking (Crime Scene Reports and Forensic Examination Notes), Report Writing and Production of Expert Witness Statements, Giving oral Evidence and the Role of Forensic Sciences in the courts.

Forensic Casework Practice

This module will use simulated case data in the relevant subject speciality. The students will be expected to identify and critically evaluate the most up to date forensic literature in order to interpret, write-up and report the case in a mock court room exercise as an expert witness.

Forensic Taphonomy

This module will give the student a general knowledge about the death process, the taphonomic changes of the body. In addition the module will provide the student the principles and methods of post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation, potentiality and limitations of the techniques

Forensic Research Project

The overall aim of the project is to train the student in methods of experimental design and either to develop new forensic biology or chemistry methods (for example, to select by critical comparison and apply the most suitable method to a particular problem) or to solve a novel forensic biology or chemistry problem. Research topics that could be covered include: bodily fluid identification, chemical analysis, DNA, toxicology, entomology, etc.

Advanced Forensic Skills

The module aims to provide students with a more in-depth knowledge in two forensic disciplines: core and an elective. The core will be based on the student’s MSc pathway and the elective from one other area. Typical topics covered could include: • Anthropology: and interpretation of skeletal evidence • Biology: DNA profiling and body fluid examination, • Toxicology: drugs and metabolites and the use of techniques such as GC and HPLC, • Entomology: insect recovery, identification and PMI estimation. Other electives may also be offered but the University reserves the right not to run an elective if insufficient students choose it. The module includes a statistics section initially covering basic methods (mean, standard deviations, probability theory, etc.) before moving on to more applied statistical methods including the analyses of variances, and assessing significance. In addition this module will cover various skills required of a good forensic scientist and practitioner, including literature searching, critical analysis of published works and presentation skills.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • A minimum of a lower second class honours degree in science or equivalent is required.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services..

Research excellence

Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up to date with the latest developments in their field, which means they can help you to develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant.

Find out more about our research staff and centres

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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