Forensic scientist
Career outlook for forensic scientist
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£18,000
£18,000
Experienced
£45,000
£45,000
Currently employed in Scotland
11,400
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would help to solve crimes by finding evidence that links a suspect to a crime scene.
You’d obtain and analyse evidence from a variety of sources - including blood and other body fluids, hairs, textile fibres, glass fragments and tyre marks - using forensic techniques and scientific principles.
You might go to crime scenes, which may be unpleasant, and methodically examine them to collect potential evidence. It’s very important to objectively analyse all the traces of physical evidence and prepare them for use in court cases.
Depending on your specialism, you could:
- Identify blood groups and do DNA profiling
- Analyse fluid and tissue samples for traces of drugs and poisons
- Identify, compare and match various materials
- Examine splash patterns and the distribution of particles
- Analyse handwriting, signatures, ink and paper
- Provide expert advice on explosives, firearms and ballistics
- Recovering data from computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment
- Attending crime scenes, such as a murder or fire
- Giving impartial scientific evidence in court
You’d also do research and develop new technologies for forensic analysis. You might supervise assistant forensic scientists in the laboratory.
It's a high-pressure job with urgent deadlines and the requirement to justify your findings.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
81%
Part-time
8%
Self employed
11%
Create a qualification route
We've found some examples of the qualifications that could help you get this job.
Discover my routeSearch course options
Thinking about your future? There are lots of courses available that could interest you. Use our course search to explore course options.
Find coursesSearch job opportunities
If you're looking for your new career our job search can help you. Discover interesting opportunities and decide your next steps.
Find a jobTop skills
Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.
- Resilience
- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Observation
- Researching
- Attention to detail
- Taking initiative
- Time management
- Understanding
Skills Explorer
Your skills can help you choose the career that's right for you. You can build your skills through work, study or activities you do in your spare time.
Our Skills Explorer tool will help you understand what skills you have and match them to jobs that might suit you.
Use the Skills Explorer toolGetting in
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Qualifications
You would need an honours degree (SCQF level 9/10) in a subject such as forensic science, biology or chemistry although it will depend on what area of forensics you'd like to specialise in.
This is a small profession and entry is very competitive so many people have postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Science (MSc) (SCQF level 11) in a relevant subject.
Most undergraduate courses ask for at least four Highers at B or above (SCQF level 6); some universities may require AABB (first sitting) for entry.
The University of Dundee offers a BSc Life Sciences course with only requires two Highers at B including biology or chemistry and one other subject; this course has been developed for those with high academic potential who experienced disadvantage.
Useful subjects
- Science subjects (required by most courses)
- Maths
- English
- Technologies
- Social studies
- ICT
- Psychology