Course overview
- Description
The Master of Forensic Anthropology has been designed specifically for students to gain knowledge in current developments in forensic sciences and particularly those medical and social sciences which are of direct relevance to the application to forensic anthropology. The degree will enable students to undertake advanced studies in forensic anthropology. There is considerable diversity of research related to forensic anthropology, ranging from traditional morphometrics through to computer-graphic facial reconstruction.
- Course title
- Master of Forensic Anthropology (coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MForAnth
- Course code
- 72580
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Social Sciences
- CRICOS code
- 093807B
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year (mid-year intake for part-time study only)
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 2 years
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor Daniel Franklin
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Take all units (90 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | FNSC5515 | Molecular Osteology |
| lectures: 8 x 1.5 hours; tutorials: 8 x 1.5 hours; lab work: approximately 2 hours per week |
| S1 | FNSC5516 | Forensic Odontology and Introductory Osteology |
| lectures: 8 x 1.5 hrs; tutorials: 8 x 1.5 hrs |
| S1 | FNSC5611 | Ethics and Research Methods in Forensic Science | None | lectures: 2–3 hours per week; practicals: 1–2 hours per week; seminars: 6 x 2 hours |
| S1 | FNSC5612 | Forensic Anthropology I—Introductory Theory and Method |
| lectures and labs: 40 hours (2–3 hours per week) |
| S1 | FNSC5614 | Forensic Archaeology—Theory and Method |
| lectures/tutorials/practicals/a final examination: 50–60 hours |
| S2 | FNSC5622 | Scientific Expert Testimony |
| workshops: 4 full days; mock court: 2 full days (1 as an observer, 1 assessed), practical work 2-3 hours per week. |
| S2 | FNSC5626 | Forensic Anthropology II—Advanced Theory and Method |
| lectures: 9 x 3 hours per week; practicals: 9 x 3 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | FNSC5627 | Forensic Anthropology Professional Project Part 1 (12 points) | by arrangement with supervisor—laboratory/practical work: 10 hours total per week | |
| S1, S2 | FNSC5628 | Forensic Anthropology Professional Project Part 2 (12 points) | by arrangement with supervisor—laboratory/practical work: 10 hours total per week | |
| S1, S2 | FNSC5649 | Forensic Anthropology Dissertation Part 1 (12 points) |
| by arrangement with supervisor |
| S1, S2 | FNSC5650 | Forensic Anthropology Dissertation Part 2 (12 points) | by arrangement with supervisor |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | FNSC4497 | Bio-Archaeology Fieldschool | None | 3 weeks full-time international field work (150 hours) |
| S2 | FNSC5615 | Medicolegal Death Investigation |
| lectures: 2–3 hours per week; labs: approx. 2–3 hours per week. |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
and
(c) successfully completed prior study in a field relevant to Forensic Anthropology; or
(2) completed a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Anthropology or Graduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology at UWA.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:
- 72280 Graduate Certificate in Forensic Anthropology (24 points)
- 72380 Graduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology (48 points)
- 72580 Master of Forensic Anthropology (96 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Forensic Anthropology course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).