Television programmes and scientific advancements have made forensic science an exceptionally popular career choice?Photo: United National Photographers/Rex Features"Nature composes some of her loveliest poems for the microscope and the telescope." Theodore Roszak
What qualification do you leave with?
Students leave with a BSc but many students specialise in crime scene science as a postgraduate.
It usually takes three years to complete a BSc.
What does it cover?
Students usually begin with getting a good grounding in some of the fundamental scientific ideas which underpin forensic science such as cellular chemistry, genetics, physiology and criminal psychology. Students are then gradually able to apply these ideas to forensic settings and at the University of Bedford this culminates with students working with new areas of forensics such as DNA profiling and compiling legal case studies. Students at Teesside University have access to a mock courtroom and must produce a professional standard photographic portfolio for assessment.
What can you expect?
Students might find the glamour of CSI quickly dissipates and human tragedy comes to the fore but forensic scientists are responsible for keeping us safe from some of our most dangerous fellow citizens.
What are the usual A-levels you need?
Applications come from quite a diverse pool of students but at least one science at A level will usually be expected.
Career prospects
The government's own Forensic Science Service warns potential applicants that "generally, all applicants have achieved a high standard with many having gained a PhD, Masters or other postgraduate qualification". This means that if students are looking to take a role in a forensic science lab then their undergraduate studies might be only the beginning of a long process. Alternatively, a student's broad legal and scientific knowledge can make him/her useful employees in a large range of research and management roles in both the public and private sectors.
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