Experience
Forensics
In The Field
Go beyond the lecture hall. The Forensic Times Field Visits Programme takes students, researchers, and professionals inside real forensic laboratories, investigation units, courts, and institutions — providing structured, expert-guided access to the environments that define professional forensic practice.
Participants gain direct observational access to working forensic environments, guided by senior practitioners and subject matter experts. Every visit includes a formal pre-visit briefing, facility tour, expert Q&A session, and structured debrief. A certificate of participation and CPD hours are awarded upon completion.
The programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic researchers, practising professionals, and institutional groups. Universities and colleges may also participate through our dedicated inter-institutional visit and student exchange frameworks.
Types of Field Visits
Forensic Science Laboratory
Supervised visits to accredited forensic science laboratories. Participants observe analytical processes in DNA analysis, toxicology, trace evidence examination, and ballistics under the guidance of active laboratory scientists.
Court & Legal Proceedings
Guided visits to Crown Courts and Magistrates Courts. Access to public gallery proceedings followed by expert briefings on forensic evidence presentation, expert witness procedure, and criminal trial methodology.
Criminal Investigation Unit
Structured visits to police forensic investigation departments. Participants observe scene-of-crime procedures, evidence handling protocols, and the forensic chain of custody process with senior investigating officers.
Cybercrime & Digital Forensics Unit
Access to specialist cybercrime investigation units and digital forensics laboratories. Covers digital evidence acquisition, device examination workflows, and an expert briefing on cybercrime investigation methodology.
Forensic Pathology Department
Professional visits to forensic pathology departments for verified practitioners and advanced students. Includes a structured briefing on post-mortem procedure, cause-of-death analysis, and forensic pathology's role in criminal investigation.
Cold Case & Evidence Archive
Supervised access to historical case files, forensic evidence archives, and cold case review units. Participants engage with evidence re-examination processes and investigative review frameworks led by senior detectives.
Inter-University & Exchange Programmes
Inter-College & University Visit Programme
The Forensic Times Inter-College Visit Programme facilitates structured, cross-institutional field visits for universities and colleges with forensic science, criminology, and law faculties. Partner institutions gain coordinated access to forensic facilities, investigation units, and legal environments as a cohort — enabling collaborative learning across academic boundaries.
Participating institutions benefit from joint visit scheduling, shared briefing materials, and access to a wider range of facilities than individual institutions could access independently.
- Open to all universities and colleges with relevant forensic or legal faculties
- Coordinated joint visits with partner institutions
- Shared pre-visit briefing and post-visit debrief materials
- Faculty and student participation — mixed professional groups
- CPD certificates issued to all student and staff participants
- Dedicated institutional point of contact at Forensic Times
Student Exchange Programme
The Forensic Times Student Exchange Programme connects forensic science and law students from different countries for structured field visits, academic knowledge exchange, and professional networking. The programme is designed to broaden participants' understanding of how forensic practice and criminal justice operates across different legal and scientific frameworks internationally.
Exchange participants are paired with students from partner institutions in other countries and undertake joint field visits, collaborative case study sessions, and cross-cultural academic discussion under expert supervision.
- Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students in forensic or legal disciplines
- Cross-country pairing with students from partner institutions
- Joint field visits to forensic facilities in both countries
- Collaborative case study sessions with international peers
- Certificate of international exchange participation issued
- Facilitated by Forensic Times in partnership with academic institutions
What to Expect
Pre-Visit Briefing
A structured briefing document and preparatory reading list issued to all participants 72 hours before each visit to ensure productive engagement on the day.
Expert-Led Guided Access
All visits are guided by senior practitioners with active professional experience in the relevant forensic, legal, or investigative discipline — not academic observers.
Q&A with Host Professional
Every visit includes a dedicated question and answer session with the host practitioner, providing direct access to expert knowledge, career insight, and professional guidance.
CPD Certificate
Upon completion, all participants receive a Forensic Times CPD certificate detailing the visit content, duration, host institution, and accredited professional development hours earned.
Who Can Participate
Individual Participants
- Undergraduate students in forensic science, criminology, or law
- Postgraduate and doctoral researchers in relevant disciplines
- Practising forensic scientists and laboratory professionals
- Legal professionals — barristers, solicitors, legal academics
- Criminal investigators and law enforcement professionals
- Journalists and researchers covering forensic or legal topics
Institutional Participants
- Universities and colleges with forensic science or law faculties
- Academic departments seeking inter-institutional collaboration
- Law firms and forensic organisations arranging group professional development
- Research institutes and think tanks in the forensic and legal sectors
- International institutions seeking student exchange partnerships
- Government departments and public sector forensic bodies
From Registration to Field Visit
Register Your Interest
Send Proposal Email with your name, institution, discipline, and preferred visit type. For institutional and exchange programme enquiries, include your faculty details and the number of participants.
Individual and institutional registrations both welcomeConfirmation & Scheduling
Our education team will contact you within 5 working days to confirm your registration, discuss available visit dates, and provide full details of your selected programme or visit type.
Response within 5 working days of registrationPre-Visit Briefing
72 hours before your visit, you will receive a comprehensive briefing document covering the visit agenda, facility information, participant guidelines, and preparatory reading. Institutional groups receive additional coordination materials.
Briefing issued 72 hours before visit dateAttend the Field Visit
Attend your visit with your Forensic Times confirmation. All participants are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the host institution's professional standards. Photography and recording may be restricted at certain facilities.
Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start timeReceive Your CPD Certificate
Within 48 hours of completion, your CPD certificate is issued by email. Institutional groups receive a consolidated attendance record alongside individual participant certificates.
Certificate issued within 48 hours of visit completionForensic science is not fully learned in lectures alone. It is understood in laboratories, in courtrooms, and in the field — where theory meets the weight of reality.
Register Your Interest in a Field Visit
Send Email to register your interest as an individual participant or on behalf of your institution. Our education team will contact you within 5 working days to confirm your registration and discuss available programmes.