The MSc course provides higher professional training and qualification in forensic medicine for doctors of all specialities, dentists, nurses, midwives and other health professionals, coroners and medico-legal advisers, medical and forensic scientists, toxicologists, solicitors, barristers, members of the Judiciary and law enforcement officers.

It is suitable for those who wish to develop the medico-legal aspects of their careers within their specialties or profession or those who wish to give expert witness testimony in their areas of specialisation..

Course Description

Areas for study on the course will include:

History and future of forensic medicine; the use of libraries and IT resources; medical and legal investigative research skills; introduction to law and legislation; ethical aspects of medical practice; the judicial system and courts; law enforcement agencies; custody medicine; substance misuse; mental health; deaths; injuries; scenes of crime and investigation; forensic sciences; role of coroner; traffic medicine, drugs and alcohol; adult sexual offences; children and abuse; domestic violence; vulnerable witnesses; major incidents; employment, finance and practice management; occupational and public health; infectious diseases. There will be workshops covering records, statements and reports; expert witness and courtroom skills. Course members will prepare learning profiles and present a casebook.

Modules

Modules & European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The course is divided into three modules each counting as 20 ECTS enabling students to proceed to a fourth module - a dissertation, with a further 30 ECTS to gain the MSc in Forensic Medicine. The taught modules will be assessed by continual assessment and written examinations at the end of each module. The casebook (module 3) is assessed separately and there is an oral examination.

Module One - Core

History and future of forensic medicine; the use of libraries and IT resources; medical and legal investigative research skills; introduction to law and legislation; ethical aspects of medical practice; the judicial system and courts; law enforcement agencies; custody medicine; role of the coroner injuries, death transplantation, end of life issues, forensic science, scenes of crime and investigation. There will be a workshop covering records, statements and reports. Course members will prepare learning profiles.

Module Two - Core

Substance misuse; mental health; traffic medicine, drugs and alcohol; adult sexual offences; children and abuse; domestic violence; vulnerable witnesses; major incidents; employment, finance and practice management; occupational and public health; infectious diseases. There will be a workshop covering expert witness and courtroom skills. Course members will prepare learning profiles and present a casebook.

Module Three – Core

Course members will prepare a casebook of 10 cases with medico-legal commentaries in which they are involved in, or have observed. They will also present a learning profile.

MSc in Forensic Medicine

Students who complete the graduate diploma will be eligible to apply to undertake a fourth module consisting of a dissertation leading to the award of the MSc in Forensic Medicine.

Examinations

Modules 1 and 2 (taught modules)

The taught modules will be assessed by continual assessment and written examinations at the end of each module (December and May).

Module 3 (Casebook)

• The casebook is assessed separately and there is an oral examination. Learning profiles will also be assessed.
• The course is divided into three modules each counting as 20 ECTS enabling students to proceed to a fourth module - a dissertation, with a further 30 ECTS to gain the MSc in Forensic Medicine.

• The course will be part-time over two academic year with lectures and distance learning with feedback and discussions in small groups. There will be workshops in practical skills including the preparation of witness statements and courtroom skills. Course members will prepare personal learning profiles to plan, implement and assess their learning. They will prepare a casebook with commentaries.
• The first year (part-time) will complete the requirements for a Graduate Diploma in Forenic Medicine and by successful completion of a dissertation over two semesters, students will be able to secure a Masters (MSc.) degree award.

• Students who successfully complete the UCD Graduate Diploma in Forensic Medicine, or who have gained UCD accreditation of prior certified learning for qualifications gained at other institutions, may apply to complete the UCD MSc degree by dissertation.
• UCD accreditation of prior certified learning is awarded on individual application. The PgDip For. Med. (University of Ulster), PGDip. For. Med. (UCLAN), DMJ (Apothecaries of London) and DFMS (Apothecaries of London / Cameron Centre / Glasgow University) are generally considered equivalent to the UCD Diploma.

International applicants should contact the academic programme director for a full list of entry requirements.

A list of FAQs for international applicants is available here.

• To apply online, please click here www.ucd.ie/apply
• Once online to UCD, the first step is to create a user account, then select "Graduate Taught Courses" as your application type and from the list of programme choices you can select MSc in Forensic Medicine. 

Qualification and training in Forensic Medicine create opportunities to you to develop a special interest within any medical, scientific or legal specialty, enhancing your career or developing new opportunities such as a Forensic Specialist or an Expert Witness.

Past graduates have developed their careers in a wide range of fields including Forensic Physician, Toxicologist, Forensic Odontologist, Forensic Psychiatrist, Coroner, Medicolegal Advisor, Barrister, Specialist Nurse and many more. 

You can develop your personal interests or a new career direction within the overlapping specialties of medicine, law and science. You will learn a wide range of new skills including medical and legal research, presentation, report writing and court-room skills.