Forensic Osteology and Field Recovery Methods - MSc
Canterbury, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 23,500
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
Our one-year taught Master’s course in Forensic Osteology and Field Recovery Methods provides the theoretical knowledge and advanced practical skills you need to identify, excavate and recover human skeletal remains, and reconstruct biological profiles from hard tissue.
Reasons to study Forensic Osteology at Kent
- Forensic Science at Kent is ranked 1st in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2024.
- Learn from a team of internationally respected academics with extensive professional and research experience.
- Gain real-world authentic training in excavation and recovery at our outdoor Forensic facility, Crime Scene House, and Taphonomy Site.
- You’ll have access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Our Human Osteology Laboratory curates one of the largest human skeletal collections in the UK, with extensive pathology and accompanying radiographs. Our Histology Laboratory facilitates histological sectioning and high-resolution microscopic imaging of dental and bone tissues using state-of-the-art equipment.
- Specialise in your chosen area of expertise through an independent research project with one-to-one supervision.
- Develop the command, control, and management skills to present expert evidential incident reports to the highest standard.
- Small-class teaching.
- A highly supportive community of human skeletal biologists and forensic scientists.
What you'll learn
Supported by laboratory and practical-based training, you will deepen your knowledge of osteology and anatomy, the human skeleton's growth and disease, and forensic identification. You will learn relevant topics, opinions and methodologies in your area of research and develop your analysis and identification skills in your fieldwork.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarship value
The award covers tuition fees, return airfares and living costs for a one-year taught Master's programme.
Deadline
Deadline for Commonwealth application: - 12 December 2024.
Hold an unconditional offer (with the only outstanding condition, international fee deposit) of a programme of study from the University of Kent - 31 January 2025
Criteria
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, candidates must:
- Hold an undergraduate degree at UK first-class level equivalent.
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by one of the eligible Commonwealth countries listed or be a British Protected Person.
- Be a permanent resident in one of the eligible Commonwealth countries listed above.
- To be committed to the University of Kent, you can apply for more than one course and/or to more than one University, but you may only accept one offer of a Shared Scholarship.
- Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Return to their home country as soon as their period of study is complete. In some circumstances, a student may be permitted to remain in the UK if seeing doctoral study and satisfy certain strict conditions.
- Hold an offer by the deadline for a full-time postgraduate taught degree on one of the eligible courses at the University of Kent:
- MSc Artificial Intelligence
- MSc Infectious Diseases
- MSc Cyber Security
- MA International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- MSc Applied Actuarial Science
- MSc Conservation Science
- MA English and American Literature
Further details
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, set up by DFID in 1986, represent a unique partnership between the United Kingdom government and UK Universities.
Funded by the UK Department of International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Shared Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development. They are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
These scholarships are offered under six themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises - Access, inclusion and opportunity.
How to apply
To be considered for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship you must:
- Make a formal application for a postgraduate degree at the University of Kent commencing September 2025/26. This can be done online here.
- Complete the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) online application process. For information on how to do that and full details of the application process please go directly to the Commonwealth Scholarships webpages.
- Applications will be considered based on Academic Excellence and a completed application.
- The Commonwealth will accept applications until 12th December 2024 (closing at 16:00 GMT).
Curriculum
Stage 1
- Advanced Human Osteology and Anatomy
- Advanced Practical Skills in Forensic Osteology and Field Recovery Methods
- Growth, Disease and Taphonomy of the Human Skeleton
- Contemporary Forensic Practice and the Expert Witness
- Research Skills and Advanced Analytical Methods
- Field Recovery and Excavation Methods
Stage 2
- Forensic Science Research Project
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
All of our courses equip you with the tools you need to conduct research, solve problems, communicate effectively and transfer skills to the workplace, which means our graduates are always in high demand. Our links with Kent Police College and regional archaeological units not only provide you with the opportunity to gain work experience during your degree but also equip you with the general and specialist skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workplace.
Typical employment destinations for graduates from the MSc Forensic Osteology course include the police force, archaeological units, government agencies, consultancies, emergency services, laboratories, research or academia.