Students Forensic Science
I started this master in September 2023, after having previously studied a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with a major in mathematics and statistics. Throughout high school and my bachelor, I developed an interest in Forensic Science. Although I always enjoyed mathematics and statistics, I also wanted to find a way to apply them in a concrete way, hence forensic science.
"Before starting in forensic science, I completed a double bachelor’s in mathematics and (astro)physics. During my bachelor's studies, I realised that I wanted to pursue something with a more direct impact on society, so I began looking for potential master’s programs. When I came across the UvA Forensic Science program, I immediately knew that this was what I wanted to do after graduation."
"The main reasons why I wanted to study this particular Master's were that I was looking for a field where various disciplines come together, my knowledge has a direct impact and which allowed me to give back to society. ”
"Because this is an interdisciplinary master, I expected that I would be good at computer-related courses and that I would be struggle with courses focused at chemistry and biology. It turns out that as long as you follow the lectures and do the homework, it is not that hard to understand the concepts."
"Starting at the University of Amsterdam, I learned appropriate forensic science reasoning, how to communicate pertinently as a forensic expert to diverse publics and gain the ability to extract relevant aspects/tools/methods of a scientific discipline to forensically apply it. "
What is it like to be a Forensic Science student at the University of Amsterdam? Anna Knes, first-year Master's student, will tell you all about this in her vlog. Follow her to class, study meetings and the gym and see her eat a delicious 'oliebol' (Dutch food).
"This master turned out to be much more than I anticipated and I mean that in a good way. Conventional lectures sometimes made way for laboratory sessions, mock crime scene investigations, moot court ‘interrogations’, physical experiment performances and classical (ethical) discussions. "
"I studied chemistry before I started the master Forensic Science in 2022. I have always liked analytical applications of chemistry and I also was interested in crime and everything related to this. I always thought that Forensic Science could be a great help in combining those two interests."
"In 2021, I embarked on this master's programme with a clear goal in mind. Forensic Science had always been my calling, and this programme offered an exciting opportunity to explore disciplines that were yet to be fully developed in my country. I saw this as a chance to acquire new expertise and contribute to alleviating the burden on South Africa's justice system."