MSc Anatomy and Advanced Forensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology is the analysis of human remains for the medico-legal purpose of establishing identity. 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 juvenile skeletal remains, produce and present forensic skeletal reports, and learn how these reports are used in the legal process. You will also gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of gross anatomy through full body dissection of Thiel embalmed cadavers. These cadavers are soft-fix, which means they retain real-to-life qualities, including realistic colour, tissue quality, and flexibility.

You will have access to our skeletal collections helping you learn how each bone in the body forms and develops, and how this knowledge can be applied to the identification process. Our collections include:

• the unique Scheuer collection of juvenile skeletal remains
• the adult osteology collection
• the animal osteology collection

Careers

There is a requirement for anatomically-trained forensic anthropologists who are competent in dealing with both soft and hard tissues. Completing this MSc degree will give you the skills to continue into academic research or take the next steps in forging a career as a forensic anthropologist or anatomist.

Our graduates have gone on to roles in the following areas:

• academia
• teaching
• research
• museums
• technical
• forensic practice
• further postgraduate training.