PG Diploma in Forensic Science: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Colleges, Syllabus, Jobs & Salary

Updated on Mar 27, 2025

Dharti Bhadla

PG Diploma in Forensic Science is a 1-year postgraduate certification course with specialized knowledge and skills in various forensic disciplines. The PG Diploma in Forensic Science leads to careers in law enforcement, criminal justice, or forensic laboratories.

The course equips students with the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to work in forensic laboratories or related fields.
It offers a wide range of specialisations like Forensic Biology and DNA Fingerprinting, Forensic Ballistics, Fingerprint Science, etc.
Course fee ranges from INR 2 to 3 Lakhs for private institutes whereas INR 20,000 to 40,000 for government colleges.
Admission to the PGDM Forensic Science is generally on the basis of graduation merit.

PG Diploma in Forensic Science: Course Details

PG Diploma in Forensic Science covers a broad curriculum with multiple specialisations in Forensic Science and related laws. It imparts the required skills like identifying fingerprints, collecting samples from crime scenes, analyzing samples for evidence, recording and documenting the data, crime scene photography, handwriting analysis, etc.

Program name	Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Science
Duration	1 Year
Eligibility	UG in any discipline of science with a minimum of 50% marks from UGC recognized university
Admission	Graduation merit or entrance exam
Average Course Fee	Private colleges: INR 2,00,000 - 3,00,000 Public colleges: INR 20,000 - 40,000
Average Salary	INR 3 - 8 LPA
Job Positions	Forensic Scientist, Crime Scene Investigator, Forensic Expert, Professor, Forensic Physiologist, Forensic Anthropologist, Forensic Toxicologist, Forensic Handwriting Expert, Forensic Entomologist
Top Recruiting Sectors	Medical Sectors, Crime Branch, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Quality Control Bureau, Police Departments, Detective Agencies and Law Firms etc

PG Diploma Forensic Science Specializations

Many institutes offer different specializations for PG Diploma in Forensic Science.

Forensic Biology and DNA Fingerprinting: Analyzing biological evidence and DNA analysis.
Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology: Examining chemical substances and toxins.
Forensic Ballistics: Studying firearms and ammunition.
Fingerprint Science: Analyzing and identifying fingerprints.
Investigative Psychology: Understanding criminal behavior and its application to investigations.
Crime Scene Management: Protecting and processing crime scenes.
Forensic Biotechnology: Analyzing DNA profiles, genes, and other biological samples.

PG Diploma in Forensic Science: Course Benefits

PG Diploma in Forensic Science is a valuable certification course for those seeking jobs in forensic investigations and contributing to justice.

Diverse Sectors: The course offers a promising career in diverse government and private sectors such as law enforcement, courts, intelligence bureaus, hospitals, detective agencies, and forensic labs.
Emerging Field: Forensic science is a growing field hence guarantees job security.
Fascinating and Rewarding Career: The field fascinates individuals who enjoy solving mysteries, and it ensures a well-reputed job.

PG Forensic Science: Eligibility

To be eligible for admission for a post graduate diploma in forensic science, one must possess a bachelor’s degree in relevant fields like Forensic Science, Medicine, Life Science, Pharmacy, etc with at least 50% marks from a recognized university.

Working professionals can also apply for this value-added certification course.

PG Diploma Forensic Science: Admission Process

PGDM Forensic Science admission is generally direct, based on graduation merit. However, some renowned universities like NFSU may ask to qualify university-specific entrance exam for admission.

A general online process for admission is as follows.

Fill out the application from the official admission portal of a specific institute.
Upload the qualification documents and submit the application.
Appear in the entrance exam, if applicable.
Wait for the cut-off release and confirmation from the institute.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to appear in the counseling session and personal interview.

PG Diploma Forensic Science Top Colleges in India

In India, NFSU is a key institute for forensic science studies and recruitment. Here are some of the best colleges offering PG Diploma in Forensic Science with different specializations.

Name	NIRF 2024 Ranking	Admission based on	Avg. Course Fee (INR)
Galgotias University	151-200 (overall)	Graduation/CUET PG merit	35,000
Banaras Hindu University	11 (overall)	BHU PET merit	20,000
Chandigarh University	20 (university)	Graduation merit	-
Mumbai University	16 (university)	Graduation merit	30,000
National Forensic Sciences University	-	NFAT/GATE merit	3 Lakhs
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences	1 (medical)	INI-CET merit	-
BBA University Lucknow	58 (overall)	CUET PG merit	1 Lakh

PG Diploma Forensic Science: Syllabus

PG Diploma in Forensic Science covers a broad spectrum of forensic, cyber, and crime investigation subjects. The curriculum differs among the various institutes and their specializations. Generally, the syllabus involves theoretical aspects like fundamentals of forensics, history, advanced tools and technologies, and hands-on training on various analysis methods.

The syllabus followed by University of Mumbai is given below.

PG Diploma Forensic Science and Related Laws
Fundamentals of Forensic Science
Essentials of Forensic Science
Prefecture of Forensic Science
Criminology and Law
Laboratory sessions

Jobs Prospects for PG Diploma in Forensic Science

After completing the course, one can pursue various career paths in government or private firms. For instance, CBI, CID, or IB, Judiciary firms, etc. Some of the well paid job profiles are Forensic analyst, Document analyst, Crime Scene photographer, Counsellor, etc.

Job Profile	Description	Average Salary (INR)
Digital Data Analyst	They deal with analyzing evidence from computers and other forms of digital data.	6 LPA
Crime Scene Investigator	They deal with the process of crime scene investigation, fingerprint identification, and forensic imaging and hence providing the details to police departments and other agencies.	3 to 5 LPA
Forensic Technicians	They are responsible for collecting and analyzing the evidence at the crime scenes.	2 to 4 LPA
Forensics Physiologist	They provide physiological services and analysis for every facet of the criminal justice system.	1 to 3 LPA
Forensic Ballistics Expert	They examine the evidence related to firearms at the crime scene and explain the findings to the court of law.	3 to 6 LPA

FAQs

How can I join government agencies after studying PGDM Forensic Science?

To get a government job after PGDM Forensic Science, one must qualify recruitment exams such as UPSC, state-PSC, NFSU recruitment exams, etc. The recruitment process for each government-leading forensic sector is different. Therefore, one should be very specific about career goals and interests.

What is the difference between fingerprinting and DNA fingerprinting?

Fingerprinting and DNA fingerprinting are two different techniques used in forensic investigations. The former is a testing and matching of physical prints present on the individual’s fingers while the latter involves matching of DNA profiles of two individuals. It is used to solve parental mystery cases, murder or rape cases.

What is cyber forensic?

Cyber forensics is one of the specialisations in forensic science that combines computer science and legal forensics to gather and analyze digital evidence, ensuring its integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings.

What is the highest paid forensic job?

The highest paying job in the forensic field is ‘Forensic Medical Examiner’ aka forensic pathologist. They are responsible to determine the cause and manner of death through the examination of deceased individuals.

What is the salary of a forensic officer?

In India, the salary of a forensic office varies based on experience, specialization, and sector (government or private). With entry-level positions one can earn between INR 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 per annum that further rise to INR 8,00,000 or more.

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