Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Forensic Science

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Fingerprint Investigation

Graduate Certificate

Bruce

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Fingerprint Investigation provides students with the discipline expertise to undertake, use and apply advanced forensic fingerprint detection techniques within laboratory and field contexts.

Entry Requirements

Students must be currently employed by an Australian Policing Agency and be nominated by the relevant jurisdictional forensic section within that State/Territory AND

Demonstrate successful completion of the Advanced Diploma of Forensic Investigation or equivalent

OR

demonstrate successful completion of a degree, associate degree or advanced diploma or Diploma of Public Safety (Policing) or equivalent

OR

be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills to undertake vocational education and training at the graduate certificate Level.

Duration

1 year part-time

Study Mode

In person, Online

Domestic Tuition Fees

$6,216 total

Graduate Certificate in Specialist Forensic Assessment and Risk Management

Graduate Certificate

Off-Campus

Intake Months

Mar

Study Mode

Online, In person

Domestic Tuition Fees

$16,000 per year / $16,000 total

International Tuition Fees

$16,000 per year

Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Forensic Science overview

Graduate certificates like those from Murdoch University are an excellent way into the field, taking six months to complete if undergone full time. They provide insight into homicide, death investigations, human DNA profiling and crime scene investigations. These courses also have a broad array of online and offline options available for part-time study.

Graduate diplomas offer more extensive insights, with institutions like Western Sydney Universityproviding topics like DNA analysis, forensic toxicology, synthetic medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical analysis. This makes them perfect for students wanting to specialise. These programs require a year of full-time study to complete or longer if taken part-time.

Employment options

The employment options listed here become a viable option for graduates from forensic science, as they provide the unique education and insights required. Aspiring bloodstain pattern analysts can use the knowledge gained from the study of crime scenes to better understand the ways in which blood can illustrate a crime. Forensic Science SA and organisations across other states always have need of these professionals.

Education in forensic science also assists in private investigation. Lyonswood Investigations and similar companies all require scientists capable of deducing important information from biological or physical samples, which is a necessity shared by the National Measurement Institute.

Scholarships and funding

General scholarships are available to students in this field, with subject-specific opportunities being quite rare. The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellows initiative and EU 2020 Horizon Scholarship require students to meet criteria beyond just GPA for eligibility, which is representative of most general opportunities. The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund exemplifies this, demanding applicants have an ancestor who fought in WWI. Students are hereby advised to carefully check the requirements of whichever opportunity takes their interest, as they’re seldom straightforward.

Prerequisites and selection process

Having a prior bachelor degree in the natural or physical sciences is necessary for both certificates and diplomas. These include degrees in forensic science as well as molecular biology, biomedical science or biotechnology. Murdoch University’s certificates and others tend not to have minimum GPA requirements, but others can require a credit GPA (65%).