MSc Forensic Science Course: Admission 2024, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

Students completing MSc in Forensic Science course will have many career options, including working as officers and assistants for agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Intelligence Bureau, the Armed Forces, Police Departments, Forensic Laboratories, and Private Hospitals.

MSc Forensic Science is a 2-year postgraduate degree course that offers specialised knowledge in the field of Forensic Science. The Program aims to train and transform potential scientists to create a strong legal system for tomorrow. It ensures skilled scientific investigators by way of skill-based training in the collection, handling and analysis of evidence.

Shifting from the traditionally conceived expertise of MSc Forensic Sciences such as Fingerprints, Questioned Documents, Ballistics, Speaker Recognition, Video Authentication, Analytical Chemistry, Toxicology, Explosives Serology and DNA Analysis, Forensic Science has evolved into a new realm. 

Here are some possessed by MSc Forensic Science students:

• Critical thinking and analysis abilities,
• Laboratory skills to exacting standards of precision and care,
• Problem-solving skills,
• Ability to apply diverse information to solve a real problem,
• Conceptual understanding of the criminal justice system,
• Excellent oral and written communication skills,
• Professional demeanour.

Skills required for MSc Forensic Science:

• Analytical skills
• Technical skills
• Observation skills
• Attention to detail towards one’s work
• Team spirit
• Ability to work for long hours and under pressure

To pursue any Forensic Science course, you're required to come from a Science background with PCB or PCMB (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology) as your core subjects. Biology is a mandatory subject for Forensic Science students as the application of Biological Sciences plays an important role in investigations. 

To get admission to an MSc Forensic Science course, you need to obtain a bachelor's degree in either BSc Forensic Science or a relevant discipline related to it. Some colleges may also require a specific percentage score depending on students' categories.

In order to be eligible for admission into a course, the candidate 

1. Must have passed the Qualifying Examination and secured the prescribed Minimum Marks in the subject (s) /course (s) concerned as mentioned in the Information Brochure, and
2. Must have qualified in Common P G Entrance Test conducted in the concerned subject in which admission is sought.
   For administrative reasons, the Convenor may, conduct the entrance test before the publication of the results of the
   qualifying examination concerned. But qualifying at the Entrance Test alone does not confer any right of admission into
   a course. In addition to being qualified at the Common Entrance Test, a candidate will be eligible for admission only if
   he/she passes the qualifying examination before the commencement of admissions process and secure the prescribed
   minimum marks in the subject (s) / course (s) concerned. He / She must submit the necessary documents listed under
   item VII of these instructions at the time of counseling.

Objective types of questions are asked in the exam. The question paper includes both Multiple Choice Questions and Fill in blank-type questions. There will be 125 questions asked in the exam. Each question carries 4 marks. There is no negative marking in LPU NEST 2025.

A candidate can easily pass the Andhra Pradesh PGECET exam with the right strategy and regular practice in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh PGECET syllabus. It is necessary to analyse the syllabus and exam pattern of the exam. Also, to assess their ability, candidates should take mock tests on a regular basis. And it is important to be positive and keep a positive attitude to pass the Andhra Pradesh PGECET exam. 

Read More: AP PGECET Exam Preparation Tips and Strategy

Forensic Biology, Drug Chemistry, Firearms/Toolmarks, Footwear/Tire Tracks, Latent Prints, Forensic Toxicology, and Trace Chemistry are the seven types of Forensic Science specialities. 

Criminalistics: Trace and Impression Evidence, Forensic Molecular Biology, Chromatography and Electrochemistry, Drug Chemistry and Toxicology, and Historic Forensic Identification are some of the most difficult subjects in Forensic Science courses, students find daunting.

Here are some tips for candidates preparing for the CUET PG exam in CBT mode:

• Get familiar with the CBT exam format. Practice taking CBT mock tests to get used to the computer-based interface and the type of questions asked in the exam.
• Make sure you have a good understanding of the computer skills required for the exam. For example, you should be able to use a mouse and keyboard comfortably.
• Choose a test center that is convenient for you. Make sure you visit the test center a few days before the exam to familiarize yourself with the location and the facilities.
• Arrive at the test center early on the day of the exam. This will give you enough time to check in and get settled before the exam starts.

Yes, candidates can do MSc Forensic Science in distance mode. Colleges that offer MSc Forensic Science in distance mode are as follows.

Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

There are more than 100 MSc Forensic Science colleges in India, of which 61 are private and 34 are government colleges. Among them, many colleges are top-rated for their infrastructure, quality education, placement options, etc. These colleges include Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, Chandigarh University, Amity University, Panjab University, and Lovely Professional University.

Many of the top NIRF Ranking insitutes take their Masters admsission through CUET PG 2025 examination. Candidates can check out those popular insititutes and their NIRF ranking from here:

Obtaining an MSc Forensic Science typically does not qualify you to practice as a medical doctor. To become a medical doctor in India, you typically need to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from a recognised medical college or university. After completing your MBBS degree, you would need to undergo further training and internship to become a licensed medical practitioner.

The highest position available in the field of Forensic Science is that of Forensic Medical Examiner. In general, the pay scale is between INR 5 LPA and INR 15 LPA. In India, a forensic medical examiner's pay can vary based on their level of experience, where they work, and the company they work for. But occasionally, especially in government employment, the pay might be higher.

Top Recruiting Companies/ Agencies/ Organizations Various organizations in India hire Forensic Experts for various job roles. Some of the top recruiters are listed below:

• Directorate of Forensic Science Services (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India)
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
• Intelligence Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India)
• Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL)
• IFO Forensic Standards and Research Pvt Ltd
• Central Govt. Forensic Sciences Labs
• Universities & Educational Institutions

The "better" test depends on your specific needs and goals. Both TOEFL and IELTS are widely accepted English proficiency tests, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The TOEFL exam is widely accepted in all the universities present in major study-abroad destinations such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The mode of the TOEFL exam is computer-based and it focuses more on the academic English. The exam takes 2 hours to complete in which it assesses all four skills of the test taker namely - speaking, listening, reading and writing.  

On the other hand, the IELTS exam covers modeules from both academic English and general training English. However, the IELTS exam format differ entirely from that of the TOEFL exam. The IELTS exam takes a total of 3 hours to get completed in two different sittings. Students have to take the speaking section (11-14 minutes, with a real examiner) of the test up to 7 days either before or after taking the main IELTS exam in which the reading, listening and writing skills are assessed in the time frame of 2 hours and 44 minutes. 

The other main points of difference between the IELTS and TOEFL exams are given below. Students can choose the exam that suits them the best based on the following and above-mentioned information. 

The full form of the IELTS exam is the International English Language Testing System. The IELTS exam is conducted by IDP and is available in two formats. The IELTS Academic is for candidates looking to study abroad and the IELTS General Training is for aspirants who are looking to migrate to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US and the UK or applying for secondary education, training programmes and work experience in an English-speaking environment. the main purpose of the IELTS is to evaluate a candidate’s abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking in the English language in under three hours.

Duolingo evaluates your overall proficiency in its English language test on a scale from 10-160 and also on four subscores, namely – Literacy, Conversation, Comprehension, and Production. These scores fall in line with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which is an overseas language proficiency standard.

A score of 120 or more is considered a good Duolingo English Test score. You can also check the score interpretation on Shiksha's Duolingo Result page. A few of the aspects which Duolingo evaluates are listed below:

• Task Relevance: How articulately has the proposed question been answered?
• Fluency: How comfortably can a candidate write or say in a given time period?                         
• Grammatical complexity: What level of grammatical sophistication does the candidate have?
• Acoustic features: How eloquent is the candidate’s speech’s pronunciation and speed?                                                         
• Accuracy: Usage of the correct words, definitions and grammar, as well as variation in word choices

GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized computer based exam conducted by the by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Many top business schools in the world offer admission in Business programs on the basis of GRE Score. This test access the aptitude of a student for abstract thinking. Score equal to 160 or above is a good enough to get admission in various courses. There are two types of GRE tests.

1. GRE General Test
2. GRE Subject Test

Also, students can take the GRE exam at home.

You'll need to fulfil specific requirements to join the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India such as holding Indian citizenship, meeting certain age and physical fitness requirements, and passing the required entrance exams, like the Staff Selection Commission's Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam.

You may also have to go through a selection process that consists of interviews, physical exams, and written exams.

No, students can apply for Forensic Science without appearing for NEET. Please refer below for some of the common entrance exams to get admitted to Forensic Science colleges in India.

Here are some of the popular entrance exams accepted by Forensic Science colleges in India:

• CUET (Common University Entrance Test): A national-level exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to various undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses.
• GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering): A national-level PG entrance exam organized by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board.
• JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination Main): A national-level exam conducted by the NTA for admission to UG and PG courses.
• UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test): Conducted by the NTA, this exam determines eligibility for roles like Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellow in various fields.
• GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test): Conducted by the NTA, this is a national-level entrance exam for admission to MPharm programs.
• CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research): Conducted by the NTA, this national-level exam assesses eligibility for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship roles in the Science field.

The admissions for the MSc Forensic Science vary from college to college. The admission merit list is prepared based on the entrance examination followed by the group discussion and the personal interview of the institutes. Students must fulfil the requirements for the process of admission for the MSc Forensic Science degree:

• Students have to qualify for the entrance exam of a college or university to get admission for the course.
• Some institutes prepare merit lists based on the last qualifying exam. The score obtained in the national-level entrance examinations is also taken into consideration for the admission process.
• Students who qualify for the entrance examination and other rounds of the interview are asked to register for the course for the respective year.