Doctor of Medicine in Forensic science is a three-year postgraduation course. Forensic science focuses on the application of scientific principles for crime investigation. Subjects studied under this degree are Forensic Science, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Jurisprudence, and legal procedure, Law & Medicine and Autopsy.
There are a lot of ethical implications in this field as it deals with science and law. After completion, one can offer technically competent technology services to health, home and law departments in connection with medico-legal work, crime investigation process and courts.
MD Forensic Medicine Highlights
Degree |
Doctorate |
Full-Form |
Doctorate of Medicine in Forensic Medicine |
Duration |
Course Duration of Doctorate of Medicine (MD Forensic Medicine) is 3 Years. |
Age |
No age limit |
Minimum Percentage |
50% |
Subjects Required |
Subjects corresponding to MBBS degree |
Average Fees Incurred |
INR 42,000 - 12.3 LPA |
Similar Options of Study |
MD (Pathology), MD (Microbiology), MD (Physiology), MD (Paediatrics) etc. |
Average Salary Offered |
INR 10 LPA |
Employment Roles |
Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Medicine Professor & Tutor, Forensic Medicine Junior Resident, Medical Officer, Research Assistant, Forensic Scientist |
Placement Opportunities |
Enforcement Agencies, Police Department, Legal System, Investigative Services of the Government & Private Agencies |
Eligibility Criteria for MD Forensic Medicine
1. Aspiring students should have passed M.B.B.S./B.D.S. Degrees or any other equivalent qualification in relevant subject with minimum 60% marks from a recognized university board.
2. Permanent registration with the Medical Council of India or any state medical council.
3. Some of the very reputed universities and colleges conduct an entrance examination for admission.
4. Mostly the admission is done through the performance in the entrance tests.
Admission Process
Candidates can get admission to M.D. in forensic medicine and toxicology in various ways. Some institutions tend to conduct their own entrance tests to offer admission. Also, some colleges provide admission on a merit-based. Due to this, the admission process varies from college to college.
NEET - This, also known as the National Eligibility cum entrance test
UPSEE - Uttar Pradesh state entrance examination
AICET - All India combined entrance test
KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) - This is a state-level entrance exam for admission into colleges of the same state.
Other state-level entrance examinations
Career after MD Forensic Medicine
Career prospects for MD Forensic Medicine vary greatly. It depends on the respective specialization and demand. Candidates also make use of the general education provided in the degree to get a job in Government, University Administration, or in the Non-Profit or Law Sector.
They can work as private Investigators working with various firms. There are also jobs in several government-oriented firms, which are completely legalized etc. They take up employment in government hospitals, medical colleges- universities, medical writings, private clinics, research labs etc. As of now, autopsies can only be conducted by professionals in government hospitals.
Job Role |
Job Description |
Forensic Pathologist |
Forensic pathologists perform post-mortems (autopsies) to determine the cause of death. By studying tissue and laboratory results, they're usually able to determine how a person died and give evidence in court about the cause and time of death. |
Forensic Toxicologist |
Forensic toxicologists perform scientific tests on bodily fluids and tissue samples to identify any drugs or chemicals present in the body. Working in a lab, the forensic toxicologist performs tests on samples collected by forensic pathologists during an autopsy or by crime scene investigators |
Forensics Manager |
Forensics managers oversee the work of life and physical scientists. These managers direct research and investigative laboratory projects and coordinate activities such as testing and quality control. |
Forensic Odontologist |
The role of the Forensic Odontologist is to establish a person's identity. Teeth, with their physiologic variations, pathoses, and effects of therapy, record information that remains throughout life and beyond. Forensic odontology has an important role in the recognition of abuse among persons of all ages. |
Forensic Medicine Professor |
A Forensic Medicine Professor teaches and conducts research in the field of forensic medicine, produces journal articles, seminar reports, and research papers. |
Job Profiles and Scope
Some job profiles in the field of Forensic Science are listed below -
Forensic Expert |
Investigative Officers |
Crime Scene Investigator |
Forensic Scientist |
Teacher/Professors |
Law Consultant |
Crime Reporter |
Forensic Engineer |
Handwriting Expert |
Fingerprint Expert |
Forensic Linguists |
Forensic Chemists |
Forensic Pathologists |
Forensic Anthropologists |
Forensic Geologists |
Forensic Photographer |
Forensic Artists and Sculptors |
MD Forensic Medicine Syllabus
Syllabus of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology as prescribed by various Universities and Colleges.
Semester I |
Semester II |
Forensic Medicine In Relation to Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics |
Forensic Pathology, Forensic Immunology, and Forensic Biochemistry |
Forensic Medicine including Physical Anthropology and Forensic Odontology |
Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Psychiatry, and Medical Jurisprudence |
Elective I |
Elective II |
Semester III |
Semester IV |
Forensic Toxicology |
Medical Jurisprudence and Legal Procedure |
Law & Medicine and Autopsy |
Elective III |
Crime and Society |
Physics |
Digital Forensics |
Forensic Psychology |
Semester V |
Semester VI |
Zoology |
Anthropology |
Botany |
Questioned Documents |
Research Proposal |
Research Project |