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Home >> Careers >> FAQ
Careers FAQs
Forensic science and related areas are fast becoming a very popular
careers choice for many students. There are now more than 100 forensic
science courses on offer at universities, so trying to decide which
one to do is becoming ever harder.
As a result the human resources team at the Forensic Science Service
(FSS) receive many enquiries from people seeking advice or information
about career opportunities within the forensic science field. Unfortunately,
we cannot give careers advice (links for organisations who can help
are given), but we can give you some general information about qualifications,
recruitment and where we advertise.
Here, we have tried to answer as many of the most frequently asked
questions as possible or refer you to other sources of information
that may help. They have been divided up into specific areas to
make it easier to search.
• Useful links
• Qualifications
• Training
• Work Experience/Placements/Sponsorship/Lab visits/Recruitment
• Careers in non-scientific roles
Useful links
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS): www.ucas.com
Careers information: www.connexions-direct.com
Further links can be also be found in the useful links section.
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Qualifications
At the moment I am in Year 9 and choosing my GCSEs. Which GCSEs
and 'A' levels do I need to become a forensic scientist?
I'm taking my GCSEs this year and I want to get into the forensic
science field in the future. For my 'A' levels I am taking chemistry,
biology, maths and history, I was wondering if these are the right
choices to take?
I have always been interested in a career in forensic science.
I am coming up to the end of my 'A' levels and wonder if there are
any options available apart from university? Is there any possibility
of on-the-job training or would I have to have a university degree?
To become an assistant forensic scientist you will need four GCSEs
grades A-C which must include English and either maths or a science
as well as an 'A' level in a scientific subject (biology or chemistry).
You would receive on-the-job training, but would be expected to
demonstrate a knowledge of biology or chemistry techniques and practices.
To progress or to apply to become a forensic scientist you will
need a scientific degree at 2.2 or above.
I am in my final year at university, studying for a degree in
a science-related subject and would like to pursue a career in forensic
science. Should I consider doing a Masters degree or would good
grades in my current degree be sufficient?
A Masters degree is not necessarily a requirement, however some
shortlisting will require qualification assessment due to the volume
of applications received. It may also prove useful to gain paid
laboratory experience where possible as this may help your application
in the shortlisting phase.
I am currently studying a level one course in science with the
Open University and wish to further my studies with a forensics
career in mind. What are my best options at this stage?
Completion of a scientific qualification, often to degree level,
is the best route to take before applying for any of our vacancies
when they are advertised. However, the minimum requirement to become
an assistant forensic scientist are four GCSEs (grade A-C) which
must include English and either maths or a science (biology or chemistry)
and a minimum of one 'A' level in a scientific subject. Equivalent
qualifications will be considered. For further information please
see the 'Entry level
qualifications' section of our website.
I am really interested in a career in forensic science and,
in particular, working for the FSS. However, I am not a British
national - will this prevent me from applying for a job with your
organisation?
Due to the sensitive nature of the work carried out by the FSS,
it is a requirement under Civil Service nationality rules, that
people are either British nationals, a member of the European Union
(EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) or a Commonwealth country,
and have been resident in the UK for three or more years. The FSS
is an equal opportunities employer and the Home Office welcomes
applications from candidates regardless of ethnic origin, religious
belief, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other irrelevant
factor. If you are in any doubt about your eligibility to apply,
please contact the FSS direct or apply and we will consider your
application on merit against the set criteria as outlined in our
candidate notes.
I have achieved good grades in my studies, although have been
unsuccessful in my application for a trainee forensic scientist.
Could you tell me the main skills/personal qualities which make
a good forensic scientist?
Unfortunately these positions often attract an exceptionally large
volume of applications, therefore making it necessary to use a strict
shortlisting criteria, which often starts with qualifications. Generally,
all applicants have achieved a high standard with many having gained
a PhD, Masters or other postgraduate qualification. Although this
is not a necessity, it can put someone in a more advantageous position
when we are shortlisting from, say, 1,000 applicants down to 300
for interview. Another useful tool to aid your application would
be to have gained some laboratory-based work experience, preferably
for six months or more in a paid position. In terms of the skills
and personal qualities required for the post, the main selection
criteria focus on analytical, teamwork and communication skills.
Personal qualities include integrity, objectivity and an enquiring
mind. Should you wish to apply for one of our vacancies, you will
of course be sent a full role description and person specification
with the application form.
I know that a Masters degree in forensics would mean I have
to pay tuition fees whereas I would get a salary working as a trainee.
What would a typical salary be and how quickly would I be able to
progress as a trainee?
The starting salary for an assistant forensic scientist is slightly
higher in London than elsewhere due to the higher cost of living.
Salaries change each year due to annual pay rises, so for current
salary details it is best to contact the FSS direct. Progression
up the pay scale is performance-related and assessed annually. All
vacancies are advertised internally, so it is also possible to apply
and gain promotion in this way.
Can you tell me about the work of a scenes of crime officer?
Although the Forensic Science Service does employ a team of scene
of crime examiners, this is not an area for which we commonly recruit
and we would expect examiners to be fully trained and compliant
when joining the FSS. Scenes of crime officers (SOCOs) are civilians
more commonly employed and trained by police forces. For further
information regarding relevant training please contact The National
Training Centre for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation on
01388 762191 or www.forensic-training.police.uk.
What are the minimum qualifications needed to become a crime
scene investigator for the police force or other forensic agencies?
Scene of crime examiners are required to be fully qualified when
joining the FSS. The usual qualification required would be the Association
of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) certificate which is not obtainable
from the FSS. Further details of this course and related subjects
can be obtained from The National Training Centre for Scientific
Support to Crime Investigation, which is based in County Durham.
Any queries relating to crime scene courses and qualifications (or
related areas such as fingerprints etc) should, in the first instance,
be directed to the National Training Centre. Further career details
can be found at www.forensic-training.police.uk
or 01388 762191 and www.worktrain.gov.uk,
select "occupations" and "crime scene examiner"
or "forensic scientist".
Are there any particular courses or universities that the FSS
favour?
Due to the increasing popularity of forensic science as a career
choice, the number of courses on offer is expanding rapidly, therefore
we cannot recommend any courses or universities. We also operate
a system of fair and open competition whereby all candidates are
assessed on merit for the posts they apply for. For further information
please see the 'entry
level qualifications' section on our website. There are also
a number of links to universities that offer scientific courses
and whilst we do not promote any of the institutions, they are there
to offer guidance to people interested in careers in science.
Is it better to specialise in one subject rather than just forensic
science as a degree?
The majority of work carried out by the FSS is biology or chemistry
based and with this in mind you may prefer to take that route. However,
we would not discriminate against an applicant that had a forensic
science degree, so ultimately the choice of degree subject is down
to individual choice. The FSS, would, however expect degree level
applicants to have knowledge and experience of the processes that
are used in biology and chemistry related procedures.
I am currently taking a gap year but am considering studying
for a physiology and pharmacology BSc degree. Could you please tell
me if this would be a suitable degree for a career in the forensic
science field?
Unfortunately, we are unable to recommend courses or guarantee
employment to potential applicants, as all candidates are assessed
on merit against the criteria for the role they have applied for.
As the work we carry out is predominately biology or chemistry based,
there would be no reason why you could not apply for a relevant
advertised vacancy with a degree in the subjects above and then
be assessed accordingly.
I am very interested in following a career in forensic science
and would like advice on the most useful subject to study at university.
The forensic science courses available sound interesting but are
these at all beneficial to a career as a forensic scientist or would
it be better to specialise in one subject?
To become a forensic scientist you will need at least a 2.2 degree
in a scientific subject. As our work is predominantly biology and
chemistry based, you would be expected to demonstrate an understanding
of the basic techniques and procedures used in these areas. As we
are unable to recommend individual courses, we are not able to advise
on the specific routes you should take and suggest that you contact
your local careers centre or www.connexions-direct.com
for further information.
I would like more information on postgraduate training courses
and employment
Unfortunately, we do not have any direct association to universities
and as such are unable to recommend any postgraduate courses. For
further advice contact the Universities and Colleges Admissions
Service (UCAS) (www.ucas.com)
or your local careers centre.
I have been told there is a graduate fast track scheme into
the Forensic Science Service. I am currently in my final year of
a forensic science degree and I would like to know more about this
scheme
The scheme that you refer to is our trainee forensic scientist
(reporting officer) recruitment. The FSS usually carry this out
once a year in the autumn, however this is dependent on the business
need for that year, so is not guaranteed to run annually. Candidates
will be expected to have at least a 2.2 degree in a scientific subject
and will have to complete a competency based application form. Shortlisted
candidates would then be invited to attend an assessment centre.
Training lasts approximately 18 months, after which time if you
have successfully completed the training assessments, you would
become a forensic scientist. Vacancies are usually advertised on
our website and in publications such as New Scientist.
Last year I applied to join the trainee forensic officer's scheme
and got as far as the assessment centre but was unsuccessful. Please
could you let me know if there will be recruitment happening again
This recruitment will happen again, but is dependent on the business
need in any one year, so is not guaranteed to run on an annual basis.
We usually advertise late summer/autumn and vacancies generally
appear in New Scientist magazine and on our website.
I am trying to find out where I can study to become a "Questioned
Document Examiner" in the UK. I'm particularly interested to
find out what areas are covered within the course, should this course
exist. I have searched the UCAS site and couldn't find anything
relating to this area
There are no specific courses that the FSS are aware of for training
in this area and people joining the FSS receive on the job training
to work for the questioned documents team. People working in questioned
documents come from a number of scientific and forensic disciplines,
such as biologist, chemists and even forensic archaeology.
I am currently studying psychology and am very interested in
being a crime analyst, however I am unsure of how to go about this
once I leave university and what training I will need to do
Unfortunately this is not a field that we operate in. Crime analysis
and related psychology is usually carried out by the police. It
may be worthwhile either contacting your local police force for
further information or alternatively contact The British Psychological
Society help desk on 0116 254 9568 or email helpdesk@bps.org.uk
for information on careers and general enquiries or www.bps.org.uk.
I would like to know the types of career available to me in
forensics. I have seven GCSEs, 'A' levels in biology, chemistry
and English and I am currently in my second year of a degree in
pharmaceutical sciences, which includes modules in both biology
and chemistry
If your GCSEs include maths or a science subject as well as English,
then, along with your 'A' levels in biology and chemistry, you would
have the minimum requirements needed to apply to be an assistant
forensic scientist. If you are successful in achieving a 2.2 or
above in your degree, you would be able to apply for our trainee
forensic scientist recruitment or any other vacancies we advertise
that stipulate a degree in the person specification. A scientific
degree is required by all of our forensic scientists, however candidates
with degrees often join the organisation as assistant forensic scientists
with degree qualifications allowing them the opportunity to apply
for internally advertised vacancies and promotion opportunities.
For more information regarding careers opportunities within the
FSS, see the scientific
careers opportunities and non-scientific
careers opportunities pages of our website.
Where is the nearest university to Wrexham for forensic science?
Unfortunately we are unable to provide information related to specific
courses or universities. The Universities and Colleges Admissions
Service (UCAS) or www.ucas.com
should be able to provide you with further information.
I'm just about to begin a degree course in forensic science
and wondered if you could recommend a book that I could read in
advance of the course which would cover a lot of the subjects I
will be studying. I'd be especially interested in a book which would
include details of some of the types of equipment we'll be working
on (for analysis of paint, drugs etc)
Unfortunately we are unable to recommend individual titles. It
may be beneficial to contact the course provider to ask for a recommended
reading list that is relevant. The FSS's information services group
has produced a selection of useful books covering forensic science-related
topics. A list of these can be found on our website under 'recommended
reading list' and also purchased through our affiliated internet
bookstore.
I am currently completing my final year in an archaeological
sciences degree. Could you tell me if a BSc in Archaeological Science
would be relevant when applying for a position with the FSS?
The FSS does not currently employ forensic archaeologists. However,
if you were to apply for another post within the FSS, we would assess
your application on merit against the person specification and role
description for the post. This would involve assessing the relevance
of the modules that you have taken against our entry-level criteria.
As the work we carry out is predominately biology and chemistry
based, you would need to demonstrate an understanding of the basic
techniques involved in these areas.
I am currently in my first year of a biochemistry degree at
Bath University. I am looking at forensics as a possible career
path and was wondering if a postgraduate course is recommended or
if a BSc qualification is enough?
Unfortunately, we do not have any direct association to universities
and as such are unable to recommend any postgraduate courses. Contact
UCAS (www.ucas.com)
or your local careers centre for further advice. The entry qualifications
for a trainee forensic scientist are a scientific degree at 2.2
or above, therefore a BSc degree in biochemistry would meet our
minimum entry-level criteria. However, as we often receive an overwhelming
response (in excess of 1,000 applications) for our trainee forensic
scientist vacancies, we often have to sift applications based on
qualifications.
I am interested in a career in forensic pathology and would
like some information
The department of forensic medical sciences is a new department
that has been established to carry out pathology and other medico-legal
work within the FSS to benefit our customers as well as the forensic
medical and science communities. Members of the team will be expected
to be involved in research activities as well as teaching to both
undergraduate and postgraduate students through the department's
academic affiliations. The department will comprise a mixture of
medical doctors specialising in forensic pathology and training
in forensic pathology, scientists with a biomedical background including
gross anatomy and paramedical staff to assist pathologists (forensic
medical assistants).
What responsibilities/day-to-day tasks would an assistant forensic
scientist have and how would they differ from that of a forensic
scientist?
See the scientific
careers opportunities and non-scientific
careers opportunities pages of our website for a description
of the different roles within the FSS and an overview of the two
grades.
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Training
What in-house training is provided for staff at the Forensic
Science Service?
The FSS has an established reputation for providing effective training
programmes, ranging from management development programmes to specific
skills and competency training. The FSS has its own core of experienced
trainers who are dedicated to people development. The commitment,
professionalism and expertise of our staff is central to the business
success. The FSS ensures this by placing emphasis on its scientific
training to enhance and develop staff capability.
I am extremely keen to work for the Forensic Science Service.
I am 23 and have a 2.1 BSc in Biological Sciences. I am keen to
participate in any training that would increase the likelihood of
gaining a job within this area
You already have the relevant qualifications that would enable
you to apply to work in the FSS and much of the training is delivered
'on the job'. However, previous laboratory based work experience
would be an advantage and this could be gained either in local hospitals
or as a lab technician at a local school, college or university
for example.
I am nearing the end of a BSc forensic science course and I
am interested in finding information about training in firearms
and ballistics
There are not any specific courses that we are aware of that you
could attend in this area. The FSS offers training on the job for
people that are working in this field and the usual entry qualifications
apply as outlined in the entry
level qualifications section of our website. There is also additional
information with regard to the role of firearms within the FSS which
may be of use.
Could you provide information about training and recruitment
opportunities as a forensic/crime scene photographer?
Imaging specialists use both conventional and digital media in
conjunction with a wide range of lighting techniques to record and
enhance marks for evidential purposes, on items submitted to the
laboratory and also at crime scenes. They are often required to
work long and unsociable hours, and take an active role on an on-call
rota. We look for people who have a minimum of a BTEC National Diploma
in Photography and at least one year's professional photographic
work experience. Digital experience is desirable. There are no specific
courses that deal with forensic imaging, but many of the science
based courses deal with relevant topics (contact UCAS (www.ucas.com)
for further information on courses such as a BSc in Digital and
Photographic Imaging). However, the majority of the skills needed
will be developed 'on the job' through an extensive training programme.
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Work Experience/Placements/Sponsorship/Lab visits/Recruitment
I am a sixth form student completing 'A' levels in biology,
chemistry and IT. I am looking for work experience in my gap year
which is relevant to forensic science
The FSS is unable to offer work experience or laboratory visits,
owing to the sensitive nature of the work involved. Most FSS work
relates to criminal cases that result in court proceedings. Exhibits
and casework examinations have to be rigorously controlled and documented
to avoid contamination, and there are legal and procedural obligations
on our employees which it might not be appropriate to impose on
others. All FSS staff are subject to extensive pre-employment enquiries.
This process can take some time and involves the use of external
agencies and is another factor preventing the organisation from
offering work experience.
The FSS does not operate a sponsorship scheme or modern apprenticeship.
I am keen to find employment within the FSS, but rarely see
any vacancies advertised. Is it possible to be informed when any
vacancies arise?
Most of our vacancies are advertised in the regional or national
press, and typically appear in specialist publications such as New
Scientist magazine. Unfortunately, due to the volume of enquiries
we receive and the number of recruitment schemes we handle at any
one time, we are unable to notify individuals about specific vacancies.
For further information, please see the where
are jobs advertised? section of our website.
Do the FSS offer industrial placements for undergraduates?
I am a student at Cardiff University and have just completed
my first year of a genetics sandwich degree. I am extremely interested
in the use of genetics in forensic science, and would like to know
if you do industrial placements for undergraduates
The FSS does occasionally offer placements to students during their
sandwich year in our research and development team (usually for
undergraduates whose predominant interest is genetics/DNA) as well
as in our IT department. However this will be dependent on the needs
of the business for that year and placements cannot always be guaranteed.
Competition for places is extremely high and as such students wishing
to work in research should be achieving an academic standard of
no less than at 2.1 level. Students interested in a placement should
send their CV and a covering letter to Human Resources Central Recruitment
Team, Trident Court, 2920 Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business
Park, Birmingham, B37 7YN or telephone 0121 329 8444 or fax on 0121
329 8411.
Can you recommend specific laboratories or agencies where I
could do work experience?
It is worthwhile gaining experience within any laboratory environment.
This could include work experience in a local hospital or in a school
as a laboratory technician.
Can you please give me details and information on how and when
you recruit
Please see the section of our website titled where are jobs advertised?
This lists all the relevant publications that are used. Vacancies
are advertised as and when the business need dictates that we have
vacancies to fill, so there is no specific time frame for advertising
vacancies.
I am currently studying for the conversion diploma in psychology
and have been offered a place on the MSc in forensic psychology
and practice at Birmingham University. I am writing to see if you
could provide me with any information with regards to funding opportunities
either by yourselves or by any other institution
Unfortunately we do not offer funding and are not aware of any
organisation that does. Also, this is a field in which we currently
do not operate, so it is probably best to contact The Forensic Science
Society for further information on 01423 506068 or at www.forensic-science-society.org.uk.
Alternatively you may wish to contact The British Psychological
Society www.bps.org.uk
who may be able to offer further advice.
Is it possible to visit the lab at Chepstow?
The FSS is unable to offer laboratory visits, owing to the sensitive
nature of the work we undertake. Most FSS work relates to criminal
cases that result in court proceedings. Exhibits and casework examinations
have to be rigorously controlled and documented to avoid contamination,
and there are legal and procedural obligations on our employees
which it might not be appropriate to impose on others. All FSS staff
are subject to extensive pre-employment enquiries. This process
can take some time and involves the use of external agencies and
as such is another factor preventing the organisation from offering
work experience.
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Careers in non-scientific roles
I would like information on how to find PA/secretarial/administrative
vacancies in my area, working for a forensic scientist
Vacancies such as these would be advertised in local press relevant
to each of our laboratories as and when these vacancies become available.
Please see where are
jobs advertised? for more information. Occasionally we may use
a specialist publication such as PA Week.
I am looking to use my IT technical skills in a worthwhile and
challenging environment within your organisation, where do you advertise
these vacancies?
I graduated from Strathclyde University with a 2.1 in forensic
and analytical chemistry and I am currently studying for an MSc
in IT. Could you please give me some information regarding possible
IT roles within the FSS?
We would normally advertise in Computer Weekly or other relevant
publications (please see our website page where
are jobs advertised? for more information).
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