Top Forensic Science Courses After 12th

When you are fresh out of school, the world is your oyster. You want to explore new opportunities and make choices that will help you grow both personally and professionally. While traditional options like engineering and medicine in India are always a safe bet, a career in forensic science might be an exciting opportunity.

Sherlock Holmes was the first character that introduced a larger audience to the field of forensic science and if you were among those captivated by this field, then the possibility of a lucrative career might interest you.

Here is all the information that you will need to pursue Forensic Science courses after the 12th. 

Specialization	Forensic Science
Degree Options After 12th	Diploma (6 months) Bachelor (3 years)
Eligibility	10+2 with Science Stream
Lateral Entry Option	Direct entry to Bachelor course for those having a 3-year diploma
Admission Process Abroad	Based on your academic profile and application
Admission Process in India	Entrance Exam based
Entrance Exams	CG PAT IISER IAT OUAT GSAT BHU UET NEST
Fees	Around 50,000 INR in India Over 25 Lakhs to 50 Lakhs abroad
Average starting salary	2- 5 Lakhs per Annum
Jobs	Forensic Scientist Private Investigator Forensic Serologist Forensic Architect Forensic Engineer Drug Analyst Forensic Toxicologist Forensic Consultant  Crime Laboratory Analyst

What is Forensic Science? 

Forensic Science is an interdisciplinary branch of science that is the perfect amalgamation of the essence of all the science subjects i.e. chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. It is basically used to recognise, identify, examine and testify to any and every kind of physical evidence mostly found at crime scenes.

Forensic Scientists are expected to work in a domain that is a combination of criminal law enforcement and crime-fighting. The modern judiciary system relies heavily on the expertise and abilities of forensic scientists, as you are expected to be efficient, unbiased and most importantly accurate in the work you do.

Also Read: Forensic Science Colleges in Kerala: Complete Details

Top Forensic Science Courses

There is a definite educational path that you can follow to become a forensic scientist. Universities across the globe are offering forensic science courses after 12th at various levels like undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.

Let us have a look at some of the Forensic Science courses in India and across the world.

Education Level	Courses	Duration
Diploma	Diploma in Forensic Medicine Forensics Diploma (Online)	3 months to 6 months to 1 year
Undergraduate	BSc Forensic Science Bachelor of Accident Forensics Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice-Forensic Science Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Bachelor of Criminology Bachelor’s in Forensic Investigation Bachelor of Applied Science in Forensic Studies	3 years
Postgraduate	MSc Forensic Science Master of Forensic Behavioural Science MSc in Forensic Psychology Masters in Forensic Anthropology Master of Philosophy in Forensic Science	2 years

If you are wondering if Forensic Science courses require NEET, the answer is no. You can pursue BSc and MSc Forensic Science courses without appearing for the NEET exam.

Eligibility for Forensic Science Courses after 12th

Be it any forensic science course after the 12th that you are looking forward to applying for, it is important to thoroughly check the eligibility criteria. To help you with what is required before applying for a forensic science course, we have listed below all the important points that you need to keep in mind-  

• The basic qualification of 10+2 with BiPC subjects from a recognised board
• A good score in English language proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL, etc 
• Whereas in India some universities may demand candidates to qualify for entrance exams like OUAT, GSAT, NEST, CG PAT, BHU UET, etc.

Application Process

Here is the general application process for studying forensic science courses abroad:

• Admission to Certificate Forensic Science Courses is done through the website of the college/official institute.
• Admission to Diploma programmes is merit-based; nevertheless, some schools have admission tests.
• The Bachelor of Forensic Science programme is also merit-based; however, some universities accept entry through the conventional university entrance test.
• Candidates for the Master’s degree must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 60%. Typically, admission is based on merit or university-level entrance exams.
• The NET examinations are used to determine admission to the Doctorate programme. Admission to PhD programmes is typically made twice a year.

Forensic Science Subjects

Forensic Sciences comprise Forensic Pathology, Psychiatry courses, Psychology courses, Pathology courses, Odontology, Forensic Medicine and much more. Forensic Science subjects include:

• Crime and Investigative Techniques
• DNA Isolation
• Forensic Ballistics
• Questioned Documents
• DNA Profiling
• Forensic Biology
• Forensic Photography
• Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic Physics
• Cyber Forensics and Law
• Analytical Chemistry
• Instrumental Chemistry

Also Read: BSc Chemistry Syllabus

Forensic Science Universities

Here are some of the top universities for forensic science in India and Abroad:

Forensic Science Course After 12th in India

Here are the top Forensic Science colleges in India:

• Benaras Hindu University (BHU)
• Gujarat University
• Lovely Professional University (LPU)
• The NorthCap University
• Amity University
• Pondicherry University
• SGT University, Gurgaon
• Parul University
• Apex University

Also Read: Top Forensic Sciences Colleges in India

Forensic Science Course After 12th in Abroad

There are numerous colleges all around the world that offer forensic science courses after the 12th. Below we have enlisted the top forensic science colleges in the world:

• University of Cumbria
• Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
• Canberra Institute of Technology
• CQ University Australia
• Southern Utah University
• University of Technology Sydney
• Griffith University
• Deakin University
• Abertay University
• University of Canberra
• University of Kent
• London Metropolitan University

Skills Required For Forensic Science Course After 12th

To advance your career and become a professional in the field of Forensic Science Courses After the 12th grade, specific abilities are required. Candidates for Forensic Science courses must have the following skills, which are listed in the table below:

Forensics	DNA	Data Analysis
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control	Forensic Photography	Good Laboratory Practices
Data Entry	Forensic Techniques	A Keen Eye for Details
Detail Orientation	Scientific Skills that Include Being A Registered Doctor	Analytical Skills

BSc Forensic Science

The most sought-after Forensic Science course after 12th, BSc Forensic Science is offered as a 3-year undergraduate course and imparts students with the knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. You will be equipped with the essential understanding and skills required to make a career in Forensic Science especially Document Verification, Handwriting Analysis, Criminal Photography, etc which will come in handy in solving crimes. Here is the BSc Forensic Science syllabus:

Criminal Behaviour	Introduction to Forensic Science	Crime and Socio-Cultural	Crime Scene Investigation
Physical Evidence in Forensic Science	Introduction to Toxicology	English	X-Ray Diffraction Techniques
Behavioural Science	Typewriting and Handwriting Analysis	Wound and its Medico-Legal Aspect	DNA and Fingerprint
Blood Pattern Analysis	Communication Skills	Arson and Explosion Investigation	Personal Identification
Writing, Overwriting and Documents Analysis	Forensic Anthropology	Fundamental Introduction to Biology	Fundamental Introduction to Chemistry

Further Studies

You can pursue certain postgraduate degrees after completing your BSc in forensic science or any other science degree. The postgraduate degrees last for 2 years. The two postgraduate degrees for a career in forensic science are: 

• PG Diploma in Forensic Science 
• MSc Forensic Science
• PhD in Forensic Science
• MPhil In Forensic Science

Specialisations in Forensic Science

The number of specialisations under the forensic science courses after 12th are numerous, some of them are: 

• Forensic Serology
• Forensic Chemistry
• Forensic Biology
• Forensic Ballistics
• Forensic Botany
• Forensic Entomology
• Forensic Toxicology

Scope of Career in Forensic Science

By pursuing a Forensic Science course after the 12th, you can explore a plethora of career opportunities in different sectors. You can work with the police and investigation departments or steer towards a career in research.

Here are some of the popular career prospects for Forensic Science graduates:

• Forensic Scientist
• Forensic Engineer
• Crime Reporter
• Handwriting Expert
• Forensic Expert
• Legal Counselor
• Investigative Officer
• Researcher
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Law Consultant

Salary after Forensic Science Courses

Forensic Science Salary in India varies as per the different career profiles. Forensic Science jobs in the private sector offer around 3 Lakhs to 4 Lakhs per annum for entry-level graduates and experienced professionals can also earn up to 6 Lakhs per annum. Forensic Science jobs in the government sector in India offer lucrative salary packages of 50,000 INR-1 Lakh per year for entry-level graduates and can go higher with time.

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Choosing an unconventional field of study can seem scary but you do not need to give into apprehensive thoughts.

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