Updated June 5, 2022
Do you have an inquisitive & investigating mind? If yes! BSc Forensic Science is an apt course for you. It is a 3-year curriculum concerned with equipping an extensive understanding of the application of scientific principles & methods of investigation to serve justice to the victims.
Essentially, this undergraduate degree in Forensic science can be studied after completing an intermediate examination, provided that students must be from the science stream. Apart from academic qualifications, having an analytical & observational insight will be a significant advantage in the career prospects.
What is Forensic Science?
Forensic is not among the common terminology, but you can hear it in any crime-related show or movie. If you have watched Sherlock Holmes, Lincoln Lawyer (2022), Rudra (2022), Crime Petrol serial, etc., you hardly missed this word. The reason is that such shows are entirely based on crime & investigation.
In layman’s words, Forensic Science is the application of science like biology, chemistry, psychology, physiology, etc., to assist the investigation & serve justice to victims. Essentially, Forensic science plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system. Those who have expertise in the domain analyze and examine the evidence collected from the crime scene and find the real culprit & perpetrators of the crime.
Key Highlights of BSc Forensic Science Course
The following are the significant aspects of Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Programme:
| Course | BSc Forensic Science |
| Full Form | Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree |
| Course-Level | Undergraduate |
| Mode of Admission | Entrance Based/Merit-based |
| Course Fee | Rs 30k to 2.50lacs, depending on the institute |
| Colleges in India | (a) University of Delhi, (b) Amity University (c) Armed Forces Medical Colleges, (d) All India Institute of Medical Science, etc. |
| Colleges in Abroad | (a) Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom (b) Kingston University London (c) University of Kent, etc |
| Job profiles | (a) Forensic Scientist, (b) Crime Scene Investigator, (c) Forensic Expert, (d) Forensic Pathologist etc. |
| Average Salary of the Graduates | INR 3lacs to 11lacs |
What BSc Forensic Science is All About?
If you have a knack for solving & investigating the cases and wish to make an exciting career in the domain, you will need to start with undergraduate-level courses. And BSc in Forensic science is an undergraduate program that makes you aware of several crucial aspects of the discipline. Through the curriculum, you will equip with the core concepts & understanding of human anatomy & physiology, criminal behavior, typewriting & handwriting analysis, and several others. Learning all these things will obviously come in handy in solving crimes.
Who can Pursue B.Sc. in Forensic Science?
From the above-mentioned paragraph, you might have gauged the practical usability of the discipline provided under this bachelor’s degree in Forensic science. Being an undergraduate course, this BSc in Forensic science will require you to fulfill specific academic qualifications, skills, and individual natural acumen. Let us have a look at the eligibility criteria for the Bachelor of Science in Forensic science course:
(a) The aspirants aspiring to pursue this course must have completed the formal schooling of 10+2 in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Biology are the compulsory subjects)
(b) You as an aspirant will have to obtain a good score on the English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
(c) SAT/ACT scores if you want to pursue this course, particularly in the USA and Canada.
(d) LORs and SOP in the prescribed format.
Popular Entrance Exams for B Sc Forensic Course
Being selected through the entrance exam is crucial to making a progressive career in any domain. But, it is not a cakewalk task, you will have to approach it with proper dedication, innovative mind, determination, & hard work to achieve your objective. And the same applies to BSc Forensic science program. Getting to a reputed institute on the basis of the entrance exam will have more weightage on your career prospects. Here are some of the popular entrance exams for Bachelor of Science in Forensic:
(a) DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)– DUET is a national-level entrance exam for various undergraduate & post-graduate courses offered by Delhi University. The authority to conduct this DUET examination is on NTA (National Testing Agency).
(b) KIITEE [Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Entrance Examination (KIITEE)]– It is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) exam held for admission to various UG, PG, and Ph.D. programs offered by Kalinga University. The concerning authority conducts this KIITEE entrance examination in four phases, and three phases have already been completed. The dates of the upcoming phase will start from 14 to 16th June 2022.
(c) SAAT (Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Admission Test)– It is a national level entrance test conducted by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University to select the potential students to offer admission into numerous programs. SAAT is basically a multiple-choice exam offered in CBT mode.
(d) KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test)– It is a state-level entrance test conducted by Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). The authority organizes this entrance test to offer admission into various undergraduate courses in Karnataka. It is a state-level CBT exam. The submission date of application form 2022 has been over, but the examination date has not yet been notified.
How to get Admission into B.Sc. Forensic Science Course?
Like other undergraduate programs, BSc in Forensic science course follows specific entry methods to get admission and study the curriculum. Students who have decided to pursue a career in this fascinating and challenging field must possess the 12th certificate with enough grades and other natural abilities. For certain institutes, academic qualifications & other requirements are just enough. In contrast, at other institutes, clearing the entrance exam, possessing skills & abilities, and excellent academic qualifications are needed for the program. Merit-based entry & Entrance-based entry are the two ways to apply Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program:
Merit-Based entry to the program
A way to get entry into an undergraduate degree in Forensic science is through direct admission. In this process, access to the colleges is made on the basis of the senior secondary grades obtained by the aspirants. Some steps are written down here-
(a) Select the institutes in which you are interested in studying BSC Forensic curriculum. Make sure to have obtained enough marks in the 12th examination because entry will be provided only after meeting the cut-off bar set by the institutes.
(b) Just then, fill out the application form of the colleges for the program. You must insert the details & upload documents in the appropriate format and size.
(d) After being finished filling out the application form, you must check once more time. Then, candidates will need to pay the application charge whatsoever be the amount.
(e) The institutes take time to release the names of selected candidates, and it may take 3-4 weeks. When the respective institute releases a cut-off list, candidates can check it out in the colleges’ portal.
(f) If you are able to make it on the list, you are eligible to get admission in BSc in Forensic Science course.
Entrance-Based Entry to the Program
Another way to be admitted into the Bachelor of Science in Forensic science is through a qualifying reputed entrance exam. Several institutes conduct their entrance tests for providing admission to the program. Here are the approaches to joining the BSc Forensic Science curriculum:
(a) Choose your best-suited institutions for this program.
(b) Must take an overview of the requirements prescribed by the institute for this program. The reason is that the criteria for admission on the basis of entrance tests are different for different universities.
(c) Just after that, fill out the suitable entrance application form for this undergraduate degree in the Forensic course.
(d) After a few days of filling application form, you will take the entrance examination. So you must prepare yourself better to ensure excellent scores because admission is wholly based on the entrance scorecard.
(e) After the following phase, the concerning entrance authority will publicly notify the list of the candidates who have been selected. If you are able to make your name on the list, you will be eligible to proceed to another step of the admission process. In this phase, you will be called for a group discussion and personal interview, wherein your aptitude, intelligence, analytical & observational skills will be examined.
(f) The phase of GD/PI is crucial for the participants, so be prepared to perform well.
(g) Keep all the required documents ready as your last step is to verify documents and pay the fees for admission.
What are the Syllabus & Subjects of BSC Forensic Science?
Providing a platform, the Forensic Science course will try to develop an extensive understanding of the discipline’s core aspects and improve the skills like observational, analytical, management, intelligence, and so on. The course has included numerous vital theoretical & practical parts in the syllabus that directly benefit in equipping knowledge related to the Forensic Science discipline. Forensic Pathology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Forensic Medicine, etc., are some of the essential components of a B.Sc. Forensic Science curriculum. Let us take a look at the other prominent aspects of the program that have been tabulated below:
How much Would Cost to Pursue B.Sc. in Forensic Science (Fees) ?
The cost to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Forensic program differs from one institute to another. Significantly, the changes in fees could be attributed to many factors, including but not limited to the administrative authority, faculties, location of the institution, and others. One other thing on which I want your attention is that institutes also consider the category of participants (Reserved and General Category) before charging fees on the course. However, the relaxation grants to the participants could vary from university to university. The average fees charge on the course is around 30k to 2.50lacs.
What are Career Scopes for Forensic Science Graduates?
Obtaining an undergraduate degree in forensic science can open a variety of promising career opportunities for the graduates. Although the jobs after this degree are entry-level, it will make your insight into this discipline as much strong as from where you can target numerous viable career objectives. The following are some of the job profiles for which you can opt.
(a) Drug Analyst
(b) Forensic Consultant
(c) Private Investigator
(d) Forensic Serologist
(e) Private Investigator
(f) Forensic Toxicologist
(g) Crime Laboratory Analyst
Upon completion of the BSc Forensic Science course, students can choose for MSc in Forensic science to build their understanding & concepts more extensive & comprehensive. But it doesn’t end here, you can opt for various other courses in other specializations after a B.Sc. degree.
Salary of a Forensic Science Graduates
Once you complete the undergraduate degree in Forensic Science, you will stand as worthy enough to explore numerous career opportunities in different promising employment settings. They could hold the job profiles like a forensic consultant, forensic toxicologist, and others. The average salary of BSc Forensic Science graduates in India alone may range between 2-6lacs per annum. The salary of these professionals could be better, and many folds in US, UK, and Australia compared to India. Listed below are some job profiles with their salary:
| Job | Salary |
| (a) Forensic Scientist | At least INR 7lacs per annum |
| (c) Forensic pathologist | INR 11,00,000 |
| (d) Forensic Auditor | INR 3-11lacs |
| (e) Forensic Serologist | INR 4,50,000 |
| (f) Forensic Toxicologist | INR 10,00,000 |
| (g) Crime Laboratory Analyst | INR 6,90,000 |
Questions Mostly Asked About B Sc in Forensic Science
Ans- Yes, BSc in Forensic Science is an excellent course for making a promising career in the criminalistics field. You can get jobs in several private & government employment settings. You can open your own Forensic Laboratory & offices after graduating with BSc in Forensic Science.
Ans- Yes, graduates can hold exciting & challenging job profiles in numerous employment settings, including but not limited to detective offices, agencies, laboratories, and legal departments.
Ans- The average salary of the graduates from BSc Forensic science is around 3 -11 lacs per annum. At the entry level, the salary of the personnel will be low and will increase with gaining experience.
Ans- No, Courses like BSc Forensic Science and MSc Forensic Science do not require a NEET Entrance scorecard.