Forensic science

Forensic science graduates are highly employable in the specialist area of forensic investigation and in many careers requiring an enquiring, scientific and legal mind

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Analytical chemist
• Biomedical scientist
• Crime scene investigator
• Detective
• Forensic scientist
• Scientific laboratory technician
• Toxicologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Border force officer
• Forensic computer analyst
• Further education teacher
• Higher education lecturer
• Police officer
• Science writer
• Secondary school teacher

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Laboratory work experience is highly valuable and required by many employers for proving you have the necessary skills and knowledge. For example, to evidence knowledge of laboratory techniques and being able to work accurately with close attention to detail.

It's not usually possible to find work experience in a forensic setting due to the sensitive nature of the work. However, work experience opportunities in a scientific or hospital laboratory are more common.

It may also be possible for you to find internships that contain some laboratory work with smaller employers. These positions may be voluntary but could lead to paid employment.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

The government outsources most of its forensic work, so job opportunities mainly arise in private companies.

Other major employers of forensic science graduates include police support departments, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), particularly the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the NHS and educational or private research laboratories. Opportunities can often be found by exploring the strong links between academic departments and employers, so check with your university for potential contacts.

Find information on employers in science and pharmaceuticals, law enforcement and security and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying forensic science develops skills specific to laboratory work including:

• attention to detail
• analytical and interpretative skills
• a methodical approach
• patience and concentration, as laboratory work can be routine and detailed.

Some skills are transferable, such as:

• teamwork and working independently
• presentation skills, as you need to be an effective verbal and written communicator, for example when compiling court reports.

There are personal qualities that may be useful, such as having a resilient outlook - some of the work is upsetting and unpleasant. You could be asked to work unsocial hours, so a flexible approach is helpful.

Further study

Typical postgraduate study includes Masters in forensic science, molecular biology or fire investigation. Doctorate research could include drug, perfume or DNA analysis, or terrorism.

A relevant Masters degree or PhD can significantly improve your employment prospects as competition intensifies for jobs. However, it's worth considering that courses can be difficult to fund and demand a higher level of academic ability.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in forensic science.

What do forensic science graduates do?

16% of forensic science graduates are working as science, engineering and production technicians, while 12% are working as natural and social science professionals 15 months after graduation. Teaching professionals (2%), business, research and administrative professionals (2%), Admin (2%) and business associate professionals (2%) are also among the top ten jobs reported.

Find out what other graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.