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Forensic Medical Sciences MSc

Part of: Medicine

This course aims to respond to a national and international need for professionals who can apply a critical and scientific approach to their forensic practice, and who wish to have a broad understanding of the various interrelated disciplines of forensic medicine and science. The programme’s five modules will provide theoretical and practical knowledge of the forensic medical sciences, and will train students to be able to critically evaluate and interpret forensic medical and scientific evidence. 

  • Cutting-edge programme – including theory and a focus on developing critical thinking and analytical skills
  • Enjoy practical learning with visits to mortuaries and attendance to court hearings
  • Learn from experienced staff with an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research in forensic medicine
  • Further your career prospects within your own professional specialty

Study options

Starting in
September 2025
Location
Charterhouse Square
Fees
Home: £12,850
Overseas: £29,950
EU/EEA/Swiss students

What you'll study

You will gain a broad understanding of the related disciplines of science and forensics, and cover a wide range of specialist topics, coupled with the opportunity to carry out research in a specialist area.

You will be trained to critically evaluate and interpret forensic medical and scientific evidence. You will study forensic pathology and visit mortuaries to observe autopsies, attend court hearings and gain knowledge of how injuries are interpreted and how cases are prepared for court. In clinical forensic medicine you will study the role of different forensic experts in assessing persons in custody, assault victims, assessing torture victims, etc.

Other areas which are covered include drugs, alcohol and their misuse, and how these substances are detected and quantified. You will also study the various methods that deceased and living persons can be identified both in single cases and in mass disasters, including by DNA, dental and other methods.

 

Structure

  • Five compulsory modules
  • Up to 20,000-word dissertation
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Compulsory/Core modules

Clinical Forensic Medicine

No module detail available

Forensic Pathology

No module detail available

Legal and Ethical Issues Relevant to Forensic Medicine and Science

No module detail available

Laboratory Project

No module detail available

Forensic Toxicology

No module detail available

To provide core knowledge in the area of identification.To provide a broad understanding of the various methods used for identification and their relative importance in establishing identity. Identification of buried remains including mass graves. To provide a broad understanding of: Forensic DNA analysis, Forensic Osteology, Forensic Odontology. To provide an understanding of identification in special circumstances such as mass disasters, the investigation of mass graves.

Assessment

  • 67% Modules
  • 33% Research project

Modules will be assessed through submitted assignments, oral presentations, examinations (short answer questions or multiple choice question format).

Research project

The research project is an integral component of the course that will provide students with valuable experience of the research process, including preparation of a thesis. The project in the majority of cases is library based, although a few may be laboratory based subject to availability. Both types of projects involve original research carried out as field study and/or the generation of original data from case files and other appropriate data. 

Teaching

The teaching will be delivered during the scheduled lecture sessions. Visits to the mortuaries to observe autopsies, attend court hearings and gain knowledge of how injuries are interpreted and how cases are prepared for court will be available for the students.

The forensic unit is made up of experienced staff with an international reputation for their excellence in teaching and research in forensic medicine. You will be assigned an Academic Adviser who will guide you in both academic and pastoral matters throughout your time at Queen Mary.

Where you'll learn

Facilities

  • Access to a range of specialist facilities including medical libraries located at the Royal London and St Bart's hospitals and at the main university campus at Mile End
  • Our new Graduate Centre: purpose-built study spaces and a roof-top common room with a terrace

About the Institute

William Harvey Research Institute

The William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI) places a high value upon training the next generation of researchers. We are part of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, which is ranked joint seventh in the UK for the quality of our research (REF 2021).

Our primary research focus and excellence lies in our cardiovascular, inflammation and endocrine research themes. In addition, we achieve international excellence in critical care and perioperative medicine research. We aim to combine talents from different disciplines such as genomics, cell biology, and pharmacology, with translational bench-to-patient studies and large-scale clinical trials.

We are currently the largest pharmacological research institute in the UK University sector, and one of the largest in Europe. The Centre employs 530 clinicians and scientists from 45 countries.

Career paths

You will develop skills and knowledge to help you pursue a career related to forensic medicine.

  • 93% of WHRI graduates are in employment or further study (2020/21)
  • 88% of WHRI graduates in employment or study are in highly skilled work or graduate study (2020/21)

Fees and funding

Full-time study

September 2025 | 1 year

Unconditional deposit

Home: Not applicable

Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits

Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award

Funding

There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.

Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:

Entry requirements

UK

Degree requirements

A 2:2 or above at undergraduate level in a Life Sciences subject.

Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.

International

English language requirements

The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.

The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the William Harvey Research Institute falls within the following English band:

Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking

Please note, there are some postgraduate programmes with non-standard English language requirements in this Institute.

We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa.

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