Forensic Anthropology (MSc) (Taught)

Forensic anthropology is the study of the human, or what remains of the human, for medico-legal purposes. It plays a key role in UK and international investigations in cases of inter-personal violence and homicide, repatriation, mass disasters and war crimes.

You will learn how forensic anthropology contributes to the analysis and interpretation of human remains. Many of our expert staff are forensic practitioners. They will help you gain the skills needed to interpret skeletal remains, produce and present expert witness reports, and learn how these reports are used in the legal process. You will also study either skeletal development or the techniques used in the search for human remains.

You'll have access to our skeletal collections to aid you in your understanding and knowledge of the human skeleton and the differentiation of human and animal remains. Our collections include:

The unique Scheuer collection of juvenile skeletal remains
The adult osteology collection
The animal osteology collection

Forensic osteology; peri and post mortem processes; disaster victim identification training; research methods; forensic human identification; forensic science and the law; developmental juvenile osteology; research project.

Assessments will take the form of in-course essays, paper appraisal and presentation exercises in addition to final degree examinations and MSc research dissertation.