BHSc Honours Forensic Sciences at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Health Sciences with Honours in the field of Forensic Sciences focuses on a variety of forensic fields and provides practical training in medico-legal facilities that investigate unnatural deaths. The Bachelor of Science Honours in Forensic Sciences consists of two parts: Part 1 (FORM4003A) comprises the coursework component, which entails 5 modules. Part 2 (FORM4004A) comprises a research methodology module, which includes a research project.

Faculty: Health Sciences | Department: Clinical Medicine | Duration: 1 year | Study mode: full-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

The coursework component is designed as an introduction to various forensic fields and aims to prepare students to apply foundational knowledge and skills in the medico-legal investigations surrounding unnatural deaths in South Africa. The research component includes coursework on research methodology, journal club presentations, and a year-long research project. The coursework component consists

Career pathways

The BHSc(Hons) in Forensic Science does not train students to become forensic pathologists. The only way to become a forensic pathologist is to qualify as a medical doctor and then specialise in forensic pathology.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

To be considered for this course you should have a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Health Science, or Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering degree and at least 60% for each of your 3rd-year majors and be enrolled in, or completed TWO of the following courses: Internal applicants (Wits applicants): ANAT3002/A (Human Biology III) PHSL3002/A (Applied & Experimental Physiology III) PHSL3006/A (Human Physiology III) ANAT3011/A (Medical Cell Biology III) HAEM3002/A (Molecular Medicine III) PHAR3004 (Pharmacology III) CHEM3002A & CHEM3003A (Chemistry IIIA & Chemistry IIIB) OR CHEM3033A & CHEM3034A (Applied Chemistry IIIA & Applied Chemistry IIIB) MCBG3004 (Biochemistry and Cell Biology) APES3042A (Medical and Applied Entomology III) APES3029A (PalaeontologyIII) APES3057A (Physiological Entomology III) APES3067A (Experimental Field Biology III) ARCL3002A (Archaeology III) PSYC3001A

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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