Last Updated on August 10, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
Are you interested in pursuing M.Sc. Digital Forensics course? If yes, this article will be of help to you! Here, we will have an in-depth analysis of the M.Sc. in Digital Forensics course!
How’s this article of help to me, you may ask? Here, you will find everything you need to know about M.Sc. Digital Forensics program. This article covers important topics such as – duration, eligibility criteria, colleges, admission process, fees, career prospects, and salary details.
In short, this is your master guide, where you will find all the details about this academic program. Come, let us take a look at the course overview. Here it is –
- Name of the course: M.Sc. in Digital Forensics.
- Type of course: Master’s Degree course.
- Duration: 2 years.
- Eligibility: Completed relevant Bachelor’s Degree program.
Technically, it is a PG (postgraduate) level program. The degree awarded on course completion is – Master of Science.
If you want to build a career in the Digital Forensics domain, this course will be of help to you. It is also an ideal program for B.Sc. Forensic Science graduates. It will help them acquire detailed knowledge and advanced skills!
What is Digital Forensics? What’s the scope and potential associated with it? What is it like to become a Digital Forensics professional? You will find answers to these questions in the next section.
Table of Contents
Digital Forensics: Introduction, Details & Scope
Before heading to the meat of the matter – what is Digital Forensics – let us check out some basic details about the broad domain of forensic science.
In simple terms, Forensic Science is a branch of science that deals with various aspects of crime investigation and the criminal justice system. It is a multidisciplinary field. Its areas of application are – criminal and civil laws.
As I mentioned before, it is a multidisciplinary field and employs principles of the following domains –
- Fingerprint science.
- Chemistry.
- Biology.
- Toxicology.
- Computer Science.
- Criminal Law.
- DNA Analysis.
- And more…
Forensic science professionals aid Police, other investigation agencies, and court of law in crime investigation. A Forensic scientist may do field work or laboratory work role. Here are some of the main tasks performed by a Forensic Science professional –
- Analyze and study the crime scene.
- Collect crucial evidence.
- Mark and label the evidence properly.
- Store and preserve the evidence safely.
At their respective laboratories, they perform the following tasks –
- Keep a record of all the evidence collected.
- Analyze the evidence using scientific methods and equipment.
- Arrive at conclusions after analyzing.
- Prepare reports related to their findings.
Digital Forensics is a part of forensic science. It primarily deals with the recovery and analysis of digital devices used in a crime/found at the crime scene. We are living in the Digital Age! Computers and Digital Devices are used by criminals to commit cyber crimes, banking frauds, identity theft, and impersonation. The Computers/Digital Devices used by them may have crucial evidence and files, which could be of help to the Police or other investigating agencies.
Also, check – M.Sc. Forensic Science.
It is the task of a digital forensic analyst to recover such devices and analyze them thoroughly. He/she is knowledgeable in areas such as –
- Data Recovery.
- Network Security.
- Relevant Software.
- Data Analysis.
- Computer Forensics.
Come, let us take a closer look at the course details.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates holding Bachelor’s Degrees in relevant disciplines such as – Engineering, Pharmacy, Criminology, Forensic Science, and Science are eligible to pursue this course. The minimum aggregate marks required is 45-55% marks. It may vary from one College to another.
Colleges
There exists many Government and Private colleges across India offering this course. Government colleges charge relatively lower fees than their private counterparts.
Gujarat Forensic Sciences University is a popular institute offering forensic science programs in India. This institute offers exclusive forensic science programs.
Also, check – Forensic Science courses in India.
Admission Process
Reputed institutes rely on merit-based admission processes. Such institutes make use of relevant entrance tests to select deserving candidates. Some institutes are also known to conduct their own qualifying test in order to select deserving candidates.
Some other institutes are also known to conduct direct as well as donation-based admission processes.
Syllabus
Here are some of the important subjects present in M.Sc. Digital Forensics curriculum –
- Data Recovery.
- Network Security.
- Relevant Software.
- Data Analysis.
- Computer Forensics.
Fees
Fees charged for the academic program may vary from one institute to another. Course fees depend upon the following factors –
- Type of institute (Government, Private, Aided, etc).
- Location of the college.
- Status and rating of the college.
- Scholarship status (of a student, if applicable).
Government colleges are known to charge low fees. Average fees in private colleges could be anywhere between 50-150K INR per semester.
Career Prospects
Some of the prime recruiters are –
- Police Department.
- Government Forensic Laboratories.
- Income Tax Department.
- Commercial Tax Department.
- Crime Branch.
- Intelligence Bureau.
- CBI.
- Armed Forces.
- Government Hospitals.
- Government Banks and Finance Institutes.
Salary
Starting salary of Digital Forensics professionals depends upon a number of factors. Some of the prominent factors are –
- Institute from which the candidate completed the course.
- His/her specialization.
- Job location.
- Profile of the employer (Government or Private).
On average, starting salary could be anywhere between 50-70K INR per month. In the case of a Government job, the salary will be as per the pay scale and grade. Abroad, the salary is much higher than what it is in India.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.