Forensic Pathology is a field of pathology that specializes in determining the cause of death. The course trains students to perform an autopsy to determine the injury, poisoning, presence or absence of disease, collect medical evidence like secretion & trace evidence, document sexual assault, evaluate historical and law-enforced investigative information relating to the manner of death, etc.
Various UG and PG courses include forensic pathology in one of its semesters and also teach related subjects like toxicology, trace evidence, serology (blood analysis), DNA technology, firearms, etc. It could take around 5 - 9 years to build a career as a forensic pathologist.
Various medical institutes offer courses in forensics. The admission is usually based on entrance tests. The average course fee for government institutes is around INR 3,000 to INR 1,00,000 per annum. Whereas for private institutes the average fee is INR 90,000 to INR 5,00,000 per annum.
After completion of the course, the candidates are eligible to work as forensic pathologists. They can find jobs in local or state government organizations, psychiatric & substance abuse hospitals, investigation & security services, medical & diagnostic laboratories, etc, and can earn an average salary of INR 15 - 26 lakh per annum.
Top Forensic Pathology Courses
To build a career in forensic pathology, the candidates should have the following educational background:
- High School - In the 10+2 level, the candidates should study science, with physics, chemistry, and biology, to be able to take up forensic courses in college.
- Undergraduate - They should have completed their bachelor's degree either in the field of medicine or forensic science. The courses offered in these two areas will offer knowledge related to forensic pathology in one of the semesters.
- Postgraduate - A medical doctor can choose to build their career in forensic pathology by specializing in Forensic Medicine. Also, a candidate who has completed a bachelor’s in forensic science or pathology can take up master courses in forensic science to become a forensic pathologist.
Some of the courses that can be helpful to build a career in forensic pathology have been mentioned below:
| Course Name | Type of Course | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Forensic Medicine | Diploma | 2 years |
| MBBS | Undergraduate | 5.5 years |
| BSc Pathology | Undergraduate | 3 years |
| BSc Forensic Science | Undergraduate | 3 years |
| MSc Forensic Science | Postgraduate | 2 years |
| MD Forensic Medicine | Doctoral | 3 years |
| MD Forensic Medicine and Toxicology | Doctoral | 3 years |
Forensic Pathology: Why to Study?
- It is a field of study that helps the crime department solve cases by doing the autopsy of the victim’s body and figuring out the cause and manner of death.
- They can prepare the evidence that could be presented in the court and serve justice by helping the investigation team find out the right culprit for the crime.
- Forensic graduates are highly in demand and are offered positions in government organizations.
- The salary of forensic pathologists is considered to be pretty rewarding.
Forensic Pathology: Admission 2025
Admission into the forensic courses is usually based on entrance tests. Some of the private institutes take admission based on merit.
Admissions Process
- To apply, candidates must visit their application portal, whichever college they intend to apply to, and register themselves.
- After registration, candidates should fill in the personal and academic details that are required in the application.
- After filling in their details, candidates must pay the application fees, after which they can apply.
- If entrance exams are required, candidates must sit for appropriate entrance and will be shortlisted according to their performance.
- Candidates may also be called in for an interview or counselling as per the university’s requirement.
Entrance Exams
Some of the entrance tests for studying forensic pathology has been mentioned in the table below:
- NEET or NEET PG: It is a national-level entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency to offer admission into the undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by various medical colleges across India.
- INI CET: Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test is a national-level entrance test conducted by AIIMS Delhi for admission into PG courses offered by AIIMS, JIPMER, NIMHANS, and PGIMER. This exam is conducted twice annually.
- AIF SET: It stands for All India Forensic Science Entrance Test. It is a national-level entrance test conducted for admission into BSc Forensic Science courses at various participating institutes. This exam is conducted once a year in four phases.
- BHU PET: It is a university-level entrance exam conducted by Banaras Hindu University for admission into various postgraduate courses offered by the institutes. The admission into MSc Forensic Science is also through this exam.
- MET: It is a university-level entrance exam conducted by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education for admission into various UG and PG courses offered by the institutes. The admission into BSc and MSc Forensic Science in MAHE will also be conducted through MET.
- MDU CEE: It is a state-level entrance test conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University for admission into MSc and MPharm courses offered by the 7 affiliated institutes in Haryana.
Forensic Pathology: Top Colleges
Various medical and science colleges offer courses in forensic science and forensic medicine. The institutes have been categorized based on government and private and have been mentioned below:
Government Forensic Colleges
Top government institutes that offer forensic courses have been mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Course Offered | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 2,375 |
| Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 3,370 |
| Banaras Hindu University | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 22,860 |
| Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 3,810 |
| University College of Medical Sciences | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 40,600 |
| Punjab University, Chandigarh | MSc Forensic Science Criminology | INR 1,20,000 |
| Mumbai University | MSc Forensic Science | INR 11,325 |
| Maharshi Dayanand University | MSc Forensic Science | INR 11,315 |
| Kurukshetra University | MSc Forensic Science | INR 52,600 |
Private Forensic Colleges
Top private institutes that offer forensic courses have been mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Course Offered | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 4,95,000 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | MSc Forensic Science | INR 1,75,000 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 7,00,000 |
| St John’s Medical College | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 2,01,420 |
| JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysore | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 6,05,500 |
| MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore | MD Forensic Medicine | INR 2,99,177 |
| Amity University, Noida | MSc Forensic Science | INR 1,26,000 |
| KS Hegde Medical Academy | MD Forensic Science | INR 1,98,000 |
| Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry | MD Forensic Science | - |
| Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | MSc Forensic Science | INR 96,000 |
Forensic Pathology: Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantages and disadvantages of studying forensic pathology and building a career as a forensic pathologist have been mentioned below:
Pros
- Opportunities are huge to find jobs in a government organization with various benefits like health insurance and retirement plan.
- High-Income package, with the average being around INR 20 - 25 lakh per annum.
- Could be exciting for people who like to deal with criminal cases.
Cons
- It is not a field for chicken hearts. They have to deal with dead bodies every day and the work can be gruesome.
- It is a stressful job and can affect the doctor emotionally as they have to deal with graphic violence regularly.
- The jobs in this field are mainly physical. They have to visit the crime scene, work in a laboratory and also make court appearances.
Forensic Pathology: Course Syllabus
Forensic pathology is one of the subjects that is taught in forensic science and forensic medicine. The subjects covered in these courses have been mentioned in the table below:
The subjects covered in Forensic Sciences have been mentioned in the table below:
| General Principles of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology | Forensic Pathology |
| Basic Sciences and Allied Subjects (Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry, Pathology, Dentistry, Radiology, Fundamentals of Forensic Medicine) |
Toxicology |
| Medical Ethics and Law | Forensic Psychiatry |
| Clinical Forensic Medicine | - |
Forensic Pathology: Jobs and Scope
- The scope of forensic pathology is mainly in the field of crime investigation. They can find jobs in forensic laboratories, narcotic departments, CBI, law enforcement agencies, medical institutes, etc.
- They will mainly deal with conducting medico-legal autopsies for the police department. They will prepare a report and offer all the evidence to the investigating team.
- They can also work in educational institutes as a professor or research scientist in the research laboratories.
Some of the job options have been mentioned in the table below:
| Job Role | Description | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Forensic Medical Examiner | They are trained physicians who examine the bodies of the people who died unexpectedly and suddenly. They are responsible for determining the cause and death of the victim. | INR 26,63,765 |
| Forensic Scientist | Their work is to recover potential evidence in the forensic laboratory and the crime scene. They use scientific methods to gather and analyze materials that can be used as evidence in court proceedings. | INR 5,00,000 |
| Crime Lab Analyst | Their work is to collect, identify, classify, and process evidence collected from the crime scenes. They assist the investigators in identifying the methods used to commit a crime, possible suspects, etc. | INR 2,08,404 |
| Pathologist | Their work is to analyze the samples of tissues, fluids, etc and report his finding to the primary physician They also work with doctors performing autopsies to determine the cause of death, | INR 10,17,124 |
| Forensic Psychologist | Forensic Psychologists are licensed psychologists who specialized in forensic concentration. They evaluate the mental competency of the criminals during trials. They diagnose mental conditions and disorders, etc. of the criminals. | INR 5,65,000 |
Forensic Pathology: FAQs
Ques. What are the courses available to learn forensic pathology?
Ans. The candidates will have to complete their studies as medical students and then specialize in MD Forensic Medicine to learn forensic pathology. The non-medical students can choose to do a BSc in Forensic Science followed by MSc in Forensic Science.
Ques. After 12th how long does it take me to become a forensic pathologist?
Ans. The career as a forensic pathologist could take around 9 years if pursued through a medical background. Whereas for non-medical backgrounds it can take around 5 years.
Ques. Do forensic pathologists go to crime scenes?
Ans. Yes, forensic pathologists can be called to a crime scene, if the investigating officer doubts foul play. They may also be called to the scene to determine the preliminary examination or time of death.
Ques. How much does a forensic pathologist earn?
Ans. In India, the average pay scale of a forensic medical expert, based on the reports of salary experts, is around INR 26,63,765. The minimum pay is expected to be around INR 17,99,618 per annum.
Ques. Is NEET required for forensic pathology?
Ans. If a medical student wants to specialize in forensic medicine, then they will have to clear NEET-PG. But for the forensic science courses, NEET is not required. The institutes conduct their entrance exam or take admission based on merit.
Ques. Is forensic pathologist a good career?
Ans. Forensic Pathology as a career offers high income and job security. The job is good for people with good research, analytical, and investigation skills. The working hours may be long and candidates would need to be immensely clean so as not to get themselves infected or compromise the investigation.
Ques. Is there any entrance test for forensic science?
Ans. Yes, there is an entrance test for forensic science named AIFSET (All India Forensic Science Entrance Test). It is a national-level entrance test, mainly conducted to offer admission into UG forensic courses offered by various participating universities.
Ques. Where do forensic pathology graduates find jobs?
Ans. The forensic pathology graduates are usually hired by the local or state government organizations, psychiatric & substance abuse hospitals, investigation & security services, medical & diagnostic laboratories, etc.
Ques. What are the dangers of becoming a forensic pathology?
Ans. There are chances of potential injuries when becoming a forensic pathologist. Some potential injuries include radiation or chemical exposure, viral or bacterial infections, shock and more. To avoid them, you will have to be careful.
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