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The aims of the programme are to provide you with thorough knowledge and practical skills in the field of forensic odontology. While no single case is alike and many cases are difficult to prepare for, the programme provides a sound and scientific foundation on which you can rely in your future career. The KU Leuven Master’s Programme of Forensic Odontology is one of the few programmes of its kind in the world.
The full-time Master of Forensic Odontology programme offers holders of a degree in dentistry the opportunity to specialise in the multifaceted field of forensic odontology. The MSc in
Forensic Odontology stresses multidisciplinary interaction with forensic medicine, judicial bodies, and insurance companies, and aims to train dentists and oral physicians in this fascinating discipline and its legal aspects. With its theoretical courses, self-study, preclinics, clinical demonstrations,
laboratory work, and a research-based thesis, the one-year MSc in Forensic Odontology
is the ideal stepping stone to this exciting new profession.
The academic programme, spread over one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study (60 ECTS in total) involves theory-based courses, self-study, pre-clinics and demonstrations in the field of forensic dentistry (part-time study: only for students who have a dental practice in Belgium).
In particular, the programme will provide insight into specialty techniques and their scientific background in forensic odontology.
The advanced Master's programme in Forensic Odontology is distinguished from the initial Master's programme by its evidence-based and research-oriented teaching, its multidisciplinary and integrated case analysis and its comprehensive approach to identification.
The programme also stress the multidisciplinary interaction between forensic medicine, judicial bodies, insurance companies, etc. Graduates will have the ability to critically engage the scientific literature, understand experimental methodologies, carry out statistical analysis and interpret results. Students will also participate in clinical and laboratory-based research as part of the advanced Master's curriculum.
This programme can be combined with the PhD, which entails at least four years of training.
The demand for forensic dental experts in the legal world is rising. Graduates will be prepared to assist in the identification of victims or suspected criminals based on forensic evidence. Forensic dentistry plays an important yet underdeveloped role in the Belgian legal world. For dental professionals seeking careers in forensic odontology, this programme is extremely useful.
Careers as forensic odontologist
The forensic odontology work entails three major aspects: human identification, dental age estimation and bite mark analysis. Forensic odontologists are also actively involved in dental fraud and litigation cases.
Careers as scientific researcher
The master’s programme can serve as a valuable preparation year when you are aspiring to go on to doctoral studies in forensic odontology. Time spent in the master’s programme can count toward your PhD training programme, as long as the topic of your doctoral dissertation builds on the successful research conducted as part of your master’s thesis.
The Forensic Science programme will provide you with advanced knowledge of the forensic processes (particularly chemistry and biology) and analytical techniques used in crime investigation. It is the longest-running accredited programme of its type in England.
Accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, our Forensic Sciences study programme is the longest-running programme of its type in England, having been first established in 1985.
You will benefit from an advanced and flexible study programme devised and delivered by internationally leading researchers, and recognised forensic providers including our accredited DNA analysis and Drug Control Centre testing laboratories. We also collaborate closely with the Metropolitan Police Forensic Services Directorate in both teaching and research.
The course is made up of two 15 credit modules and three 30 credit modules followed by a 60 or 120 credit research module. If you are studying full-time, you will complete the course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying for the MRes qualification, you will study an extended research module that carries a further 120 credits to complete the course.
Teaching
For flexibility, a significant proportion of the course will be delivered by narrated PowerPoint. Teaching time includes workshops, group discussions and problem-based learning exercises. Approximate total contact hours for the taught modules is 360-hours.
You are also expected to undertake 840 hours of team and individual study.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
Current evaluation methods include examinations, MCQs, witness statements, courtroom appearance, crime scene management and assignments.
Formative assessments are carried out as teamwork with both peer and academic feedback. This is designed to help students with the subsequent summative assessments.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
You will also need to have either started or completed a course of Hepatitis B vaccinations.
Most of our students go on to work in the forensic science sector with forensic service providers within the UK, European and International field being the major employers. Others have taken employment with the Metropolitan Police or crime scene departments of other police forces. Many of our Canadian graduates now work for the RCMP or the Toronto Centre for Forensic Sciences. Some of our students go on to do a PhD either at King's College London or other universities across the country.
Our MSc Forensic Psychology and Mental Health course is aimed at graduates who want to pursue a career as a Chartered Psychologist and/or register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Forensic Psychologist.
You will cover topics such as psychology applied to legal and investigative processes, forensic risk assessment, offending behaviour interventions, research methods, and personality disorders.
Teaching will comprise a blend of face-to-face and online delivery, and will be based on case examples from forensic and clinical practice.
On completion of the course, you will demonstrate a number of competencies and have enhanced knowledge and skills including:
Each unit enables you to develop a range of core and transferable skills central to the role of a forensic/practitioner psychologist. The course promotes the development of critical thinking and student engagement.
Mental health focus
The focus on mental health throughout the units within this MSc may give you a distinct advantage over an MSc in forensic psychology at another university.
Expert teaching
The programme team also run Manchester's Forensic Academy , which provides regular short skills-based courses for staff working in health, criminal justice and social services.
We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including face-to-face lectures, online activity, directed and guided independent study, and group tasks.
We aim to provide a grounding in current issues in forensic psychology while encouraging significant independent study, as would be expected at postgraduate level.
All teaching is delivered by clinicians currently practicing in forensic mental health and/or active researchers. This enhances learning by offering numerous practice-based clinical examples and research-led teaching.
All teaching is interactive and is supported by audio-visual stimuli such as PowerPoint slides, images and videos. All units are accessible via Blackboard, which contains timetable information, recommended reading lists, assignments, lecture materials and other material related to the course.
Each unit has a discussion facility via Blackboard and lecturers may set tasks to be completed via the virtual learning environment. This facilitates shared learning and networking with peers and teaching staff.
The scientist-practitioner approach will be advocated throughout the course, as will reflective practice and adherence to ethical and professional standards of practice as defined by the BPS and HCPC.
The teaching is designed to enable you to balance study alongside existing workplace demands. The full-time pathway is delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while part-time students would be required to attend only one day a week per semester.
All students will be assigned a personal tutor and regular individual and group tutorials will be held.
We use a range of assessment methods to meet learning outcomes while also developing wider skills and capabilities in line with progression to a career in forensic psychology.
These include critical analysis of literature and theory, case reports, analysis of ethical and professional practice standards (as applied to clinical practice and research), a reflective account, oral presentations, exams and the empirical research project.
You will be given detailed formal feedback for all summative assessments, with clear guidance on how to improve on skills and knowledge.
All students will complete the dissertation project (60 credits), which involves completing a forensic research project, and will take the lead on developing the research question and proposal, as well as conducting the data collection, analysis and dissemination.
You will receive approximately 28 hours of supervision throughout the dissertation project.
This course is offered on both a full and part-time basis. For the part-time option, you will be offered 60 credits per year over two years, one day per week. The second year will also include the dissertation.
For the full-time option, you will be offered 60 credits per semester over two days per week. The dissertation will commence as soon as possible within the academic year (April at the latest), with a submission deadline of September.
The University of Manchester offers extensive library and online services to help you get the most out of your studies.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .
Forensic psychologists work across all agencies within the criminal justice system, primarily in prison and probation services, secure hospitals, the police and the courts. These agencies and organisations will be your primary employers if you graduate from this MSc.
Our course is accredited by the British Psychological Society.
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society and approved by the Health Professional Council.
The Professional (practitioner) Doctorate Forensic Psychology aims to educate and train psychology graduates to work with victims and/or offenders under the supervision of registered forensic psychologists and to attain the highest standards of research and practice. In collaboration with Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the course aims to develop skills such as assessment, management, intervention, treatment and evaluation.
A Top-up Doctorate in Forensic Psychology (DForenPsy) is also available to allow postgraduate psychologists already holding a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited MSc Criminological/Forensic/Investigative Psychology to obtain a doctorate through applying their knowledge to practice with victims or offenders.
Professor Kevin Browne, Professor of Forensic Psychology and Child Health, Director of the Centre for Family and Forensic Psychology and Director of the D.Foren.Psy. Programme
Dr Vince Egan, Associate Professor, Forensic Psychology Practice, Year 3 Director
Dr Simon Duff, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology Practice, Year 2 Director
Dr Shihning Chou, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology Practice, Year 1 Director
In the first year you will study a masters programme consisting of eight modules. On successful completion of the masters component, you may progress on to the doctorate component or exit with an MSc Criminological Psychology.
During the doctorate component, you will apply your knowledge to practice while on placement in forensic environments. You will experience interventions with children and adults in community and secure settings and develop skills and competency in four core areas:
In the first year you will study a masters programme consisting of eight modules:
The MSc in Analytical and Forensic Chemistry is aimed at those with a strong interest in modern instrumentation and in novel methods of chemical and forensic analysis.
A revolution in forensic, environmental and pharmaceutical science has been borne through advances in analytical science. We are now seeing a strong, worldwide demand for imaginative, skilled analysts who have knowledge and hands-on experience of modern analytical instrumentation.
Forensic science is a multidisciplinary activity that relies on chemical and analytical techniques to provide invaluable evidence from investigations of disasters, accidents and criminal activities. It may involve the detection of tiny amounts of explosives, poisons and drugs or the identification of fibres, paints, combustion residues, glass fragments, or counterfeit currency. Forensic work is also of a biological nature, with crime detection techniques such as DNA fingerprinting requiring an understanding of the underlying biochemistry.
The University’s Analytical Science Group has an international reputation for its innovative approach to analytical and forensic chemistry. We are one of the UK’s premier analytical groups, with a range of state-of-the-art facilities and instrumentation.
In Semester 1 you take three core modules. These are designed to give a broad and balanced understanding of the most important developments in modern analytical and forensic chemistry:
In Semester 2 you use key research tools – such as online information retrieval – to learn about the background and the planning behind your chosen research project. You will also develop specialist knowledge of analytical and forensic chemistry:
In Semester 3 you complete an advanced analytical and forensic chemistry research project culminating in a Masters-level thesis and an oral presentation of your research successes:
Your learning will be diverse and varied. It will include interactive lectures, workshops, laboratory practicals, and computer lab sessions. You will explore the theoretical, practical and investigative aspects of analytical chemistry and forensic science, and develop invaluable professional skills, including the application of quality assurance and health safety, oral and written communication skills, problem solving, data handling and working in teams.
* All modules are subject to availability.
We teach a modern curriculum covering key areas of analytical chemistry of importance to industry, including process analysis, quality assurance, spectrometry and chromatography; and cutting-edge interdisciplinary research topics in areas such as lab-on-a-chip.
The knowledge and skills you will learn on this MSc will prepare you for a career in forensic science providing invaluable evidence from investigations of disasters, accidents and criminal activities.
We undertake world-class research in many scientific areas and are famous for our pioneering work on liquid crystals. Many of our Masters students choose to progress on to PhD-level study.
