What is Forensic Science at the UvA?

• Forensic Science at the UvA is an interdisciplinary programme for students with backgrounds in computer science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, mathematics and others related science fields. 

• Lecturers are not only from academia, but include experts from the forensic practice such as the Dutch Police, the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) and the Dutch Court. 

• You gain in-depth knowledge of the forensic process, criminalistic reasoning, forensic statistics, and the application of science in a legal context. 

• Our alumni contribute to the forensic field by applying specialist knowledge in a forensic context, whether as a researcher at the university, a forensic expert, or as a forensic advisor. 

Seeing the big picture and a sharp eye for detail

Forensic science deals with the analysis of traces left behind at a crime scene. A forensic scientist reconstructs past events by asking the right forensic questions and by investigating a wide variety of traces such as DNA, digital evidence, fingerprints, and explosives. Applying the latest scientific methods to help solve crimes demands well-educated scientists who are specialists in their own discipline while having knowledge of the forensic context. Therefore, forensic scientists should have a sharp eye for detail without losing sight of the big picture. This is how we train our students.