Information for Participants

The Course

This is a part-time evening postgraduate course run over 30 weeks, covering a broad range of topics within the general theme of forensic medical sciences. The emphasis is on medical aspects of forensic practice,but with important contributions fromforensic science and the legal process.

The course will allow those who wish to do so to take the Diploma in Forensic Medical Sciences offered by the Society of Apothecaries in London, butis equally open to those simply wishing to attend such a course in its own right without sitting an examination at the end, or for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes. It is not necessary to make a decision on whether or not to sit for the Diploma until well into the year.

Suitable for

The course is intended for anyone with a relevant University degree or professional qualification and should be of interest to the following groups of people:

  • forensic medical examiners (police surgeons)
  • general practitioners
  • emergency medicine staff
  • pathologists
  • dentists
  • other health professionals
  • solicitors, advocates and barristers
  • members of the procurator fiscal service
  • police officers and support staff
  • others in the emergency services
  • forensic scientists and toxicologists
  • anyone else with a genuine interest

Subject material covered

The course deals with legal aspects ofmedicine and the relevant areas of forensic science and the law. Lecturescover a range of topics within each field, assuming minimal prior knowledgei.e., it is not necessary to have previous medical or legal training. A detailed syllabus will be provided but the main subject areas to be covered are:

Introduction to the human body and its functions / Forensic science and investigation of crime
Legal systems, personnel and courts / DNA methodology and use
Investigation of a death; Procurator Fiscal and Coroner / Forensic toxicology
Natural disease / Alcohol, drugs and road traffic offences
Injury types and recognition / Fire investigation and explosions
Head injuries, firearms / Forensic anthropology and related sciences
Asphyxia, drowning etc / Forensic dentistry
Child deaths and child abuse / Forensic psychiatry
Forensic aspects of emergency medicine / Medical confidentiality and consent
Clinical forensic medicine and sexual offences / Roles of prosecution and defence
Examination of prisoners; custody deaths / The expert witness
Alcohol and drug abuse / International forensic expertise

All lectures are delivered by experienced practitioners in their own field, often ofnational or international standing.

Timing, venue and costs

The course constitutes a total of 30 lectures which can be either attended in person or will be available on line. The live lectures will take place on aThursday evening from 6–8pm; the venue will be at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital,Glasgow (TBC). The course will start on 5thOctober 2017 and continues over the following three traditional University terms until June 2018. A detailed timetable will be circulated nearer the start date.

The Course Fee is £1000, payable by the start. The Examination Fee for sitting the DipFMS is a further £560 (subject to change), payable to the Apothecaries on application to sit the examination (see below).

Distance learning

We offer a distance learning facility to allow participants to take part in the live lectures from home via an internet link. This is real-time involvement i.e., linking into the lecture theatre during the lectures, with the ability to contribute (e.g., questions) in the same way as for those physically present.

This is now a well-established methodology within the University and those wishing to use the option will require no more than an internet connection. Full technical details and requirements will be provided prior to the start of the course. The Course Fee remains the same.

Completion of the course

  • For those satisfactorily completing the course(minimum 70% attendance throughout the year)a Certificate of Attendancewill be given.
  • The Certificate of Attendance is required in order to sit the examination for theDiploma in Forensic Medical Sciences(DipFMS). This examination comprises a dissertation on a specified subject (announced at the beginning of November) and a written paper taken after the end of the course (June 2018) in Glasgow or London. The examination is set by the Society of Apothecaries of London,a long-establishedbody offering medically based diplomas. Further details can be obtained direct from the Apothecaries( but full information will also be provided during the course.

Forensic Medicine and Science

University of Glasgow