Forensic Science

The Master's programme in Forensic Science is unique in the Netherlands. The programme distinguishes itself from most international Master's programmes in Forensic Science by building on a range of scientific backgrounds and disciplines, such as computer science, physics, chemistry, biological sciences and mathematics.

The goal of the programme is to train good scientists, armed with forensic knowledge and professional skills. Do you want to make your scientific knowledge socially relevant within the context of law and order? Then you should apply for Forensic Science.

Seeing  the big picture - a sharp eye for detail

The forensic field is complex and becoming more so every day. Forensic science is the area of science that deals with the analysis of traces left behind at a (crime) scene. To reconstruct events from the past, forensic questions have to be answered using information that can be obtained from a wide variety of traces, e.g. DNA, digital traces, fingerprints, explosives, etc. The evidential value of these traces is determined by the use of statistical methods. The number of disciplines that come together, both at the crime scene and during the subsequent investigation, is widening and the competencies required are becoming ever more specialised. The need for overview and guidance of the overall process is growing proportionally.

High standards

As methods and techniques become increasingly refined, progressively higher standards are set for specialists. Not only must they continually deepen their own specialism, but they must also interact with other specialists in a creative and driven way. The development of new scientific methods that can be applied to help solve crimes demands well- educated scientists who are specialists in their own discipline combined with knowledge of the forensic context. Therefore, forensic scientists must be able to combine forensic expertise with sophisticated technologies in an interdisciplinary environment.

Studying Forensic Science at the UvA

The Master’s in Forensic Science offers an interdisciplinary programme to students with a background in life science, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and others. Our lecturers are not only university professors, but also experts from the forensic field, as well as from the Dutch Police Force and the Netherlands Forensic Institute. Students study the fundamentals of forensic science together and will learn to understand the forensic process and the role of forensic evidence herein, dealing with topics such as hypothesis formation, data collection and analysis, integrity of science, and quality management. They will be trained in understanding the relevancy of different traces, the methods used to analyse those traces and the value of evidence they can provide.

Criminalistic reasoning and critical thinking are two skills that are essential to solve ‘the puzzle’ of a crime scene. These skills are trained explicitly within the Master’s. Next to that, the Master’s programme in Forensic Science teaches students to understand and communicate with all partners in the forensic chain. In order to fulfil  the demands of the field, interdisciplinary communication and cooperation is of great importance in the curriculum.

In our Master’s programme we train students to become more than an average scientist. We train them to be able to make a contribution to the forensic field by applying specialist knowledge in a forensic context, whether as an researcher at the university, a forensic expert, or as a forensic advisor.

Accreditation and degree

The Master's programme in Forensic Science has been legally accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). This means that upon successful completion of the programme, students will receive a legally accredited Master's degree in Forensic Science and the title of Master of Science (MSc).

First year

The programme of the first year provides students with the theoretical foundation of forensic science: the forensic process from crime scene to court, including the players and their roles, the judicial context and the quality requirements within the process. Attention is paid to the statistical foundation for the interpretation of evidence, criminalistics reasoning and the importance and underlying principles of hypothesis formulation and validation.

Furthermore, students will learn about the most common traces found on a crime scene and the scientific principles of the main techniques used to analyze those traces. As such, students will learn to apply the theoretical knowledge to forensic cases, e.g. in a crime scene setting and as an expert in a moot court. In most of the courses, experts from the field, e.g. from the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) and the Dutch Police Force, participate through giving lectures about the practice in the forensic field.

Within the different courses, attention will be paid to critical reflection skills as well as to problem solving skills. Students will learn about the role of forensic science in society and the standards required for scientific research. The personal and professional development of each student is addressed in the courses and supported by a portfolio, which students fill up during the year.

Interdisciplinarity throughout the programme

Another important aspect within the programme is the interdisciplinary nature of forensic science. Students will work in groups and will be stimulated to address interdisciplinary issues contribute to group work by putting their own specialistic knowledge from their bachelors programme into use.

Practical casework

At the end of the first year, everything that has been dealt with up to that point will come together in the casework offered in the course Chain of Evidence. This course allows students to work through a simulated case, beginning with practical forensic examination - e.g. the collection and analysis of traces - then providing interpretations of the data obtained and concluding with a written and oral defense of the expert opinion in a moot court, complete with prosecutor, defense lawyer, judge and counter-expert.

Study trip in the first year

Every year our students organize a study trip for the new first year students. The study trip takes place halfway the first block usually early October. During the study trip we visit several forensic institutes and/or universities and in addition visit the city. It is a great opportunity to extend your forensic network and get to know each other.

Second year

In the second year students deepen their knowledge in their bachelor’s discipline by following advanced forensic courses and courses from other master ‘s programmes at the Faculty of Science as part of a specialisation.

Within the programme, special attention is paid to the link with scientific research. All students have to write a literature thesis and conduct a research project. In preparation students attend ‘Frontiers of Forensic science’ seminars organized in cooperation with the Research Centre for Forensic Science and Medicine (Co van Ledden Hulsebosch Centre).

Research projects

Students finish the programme by carrying out a research project to expand their scientific and forensic knowledge and to prove their professional skills. This research can be done in the Netherlands or abroad, within or outside the university, a Dutch or foreign forensic institute, a police department or with other organizations in which forensics play a role. The topics span a wide range of forensic areas, from epigenetics to fire investigation to cybercrime and more.​

Degree requirements

A Master of Science degree in Forensic Science is awarded upon successful completion of all the core and specialization courses in the curriculum and a written Master's thesis based on an independent research project. This translates into a total of 120 ECTS credits.

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in the field of exact sciences, computer sciences or life sciences.
• Applicants with Bachelor's degrees in other fields may also be admitted. Eligibility depends on the nature of the programme and curriculum.

Please note that Statistics must be part of your Bachelor’s programme

Please note that admission is not automatically granted to all candidates fulfilling the above criteria. In former years, about 60 % of the candidates have finally been admitted to the Master’s programme.

Grade Point Average

Applicants are expected to have an overall grade point average (GPA) equivalent to at least:

• 7.0 (Dutch BSc)
• 7.0 (Dutch Bachelor of Higher professional education)
• 3.0 (American system)
• 2.1 (a second class upper/division one degree in the British system)
• C (ECTS-system)

Admission will not be granted based on a sufficient grade point average alone. Applicants are also assessed on the basis of their motivation and the content of their prior coursework.

Additional remarks

The second year of the Master's programme involves a professional internship in an organisation in which forensics plays a role. A Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag) is required for the majority of these internships, in particular for projects with the Dutch police force or the Netherlands Forensic Institute.

Online application and required documents  

After registering in Studielink, within 48 hours you will receive an email with your UvA student number (UvA-net ID) and an email with instructions for the next step of the application process. You need your UvA-net ID to submit your online application via Datanose.

In Datanose, we expect you to upload the following documents:

1. A motivation letter
2. Your Curriculum Vitae
3. A copy of your high school grade list and diploma
4. A list of courses of your final year (if you have not yet finished your current academic programme)
5. A copy of your Bachelor transcript and diploma, including an explanation of your University’s grading system
6. A description of your Bachelor thesis/project
7. Two academic reference letters
8. Proof of English proficiency

English language requirements

All our international programmes are conducted in English, therefore, applicants must show their ability to write and speak in English on an academic level. Students with a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university and students who successfully finished a full academic programme at an esteemed institute in one of the following countries are exempt: UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Please note we only accept the TOEFL Test, the test of the International English Language Testing Service (Academic IELTS) or a Cambridge Examination Score. For Non-EU/EEA students the required English test result should be received on or before 1 February in the year of application by the International Team at the Faculty of Science. If this in any case is not possible, contact the International Team first, before applying. For EU/EEA students the deadline of submitting the test results is 1 July.

TOEFL Test

The minimum scores required on the TOEFL Test are:

• Internet-based test (iBT): 92 with a minimum of 20 on each subject
  
  Exceptions:
• Artificial Intelligence, Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Information Studies: 98, with a minimum of 22 for reading and listining and 24 for writing and speaking
• Software Engineering: 98 with a minimum of 22 on each subject

Please note the TOEFL-code for the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam is: 8628. 

 IELTS Test (only Academic IELTS is accepted)

• Minimum score 6.5, at least 6.0 on sub-scores (listening/reading/writing/speaking). 

Exceptions

• Artificial Intelligence,  Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Information Studies> minimum score 7.0, sub-scores on writing and speaking at least 7.0, sub-scores on listening and reading at least 6.5 
• Software Engineering > minimum score 7.0, at least 6.5 on each sub-score (listening/reading/writing/speaking)
• The UvA offers the IELTS test for free to current UvA students to assess their English language proficiency.    

Cambridge Examination Score

A Cambridge Examination Score with a minimum test result of C1 Advanced (CAE) A or B will also be accepted. For the C2 Proficiency test (CPE) a minimal score of C is required.

Nuffic Certificate for Chinese students

Chinese applicants are required to take an IELTS test or the TOEFL (Internet-based test only). These are the only two tests accepted by the Nuffic, which provides certificates to all Chinese students who wish to study in the Netherlands.

Please note there are some differences between the TOEFL and IELTS test. Available practice material, test dates, prices and locations differ per country.

• Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship, Faculty of Science
• Amsterdam Merit Scholarship, Faculty of Science

As a graduate of the Master’s Forensic Science, you have obtained what can be called ‘forensic awareness’ and you are equipped to support the process of criminal investigation. No matter what your position in the chain of evidence is, as a forensic scientist you are working at the service of the judicial system, in an interdisciplinary field which develops rapidly and where the stakes are high.