Program Overview

Graduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology

About the course

This course will acquaint you with current developments in basic forensic sciences and particularly those medical and social sciences of direct relevance to the application of forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology has practical applications in forensic investigations as well as humanitarian efforts for the investigation of both living and deceased individuals.

Course Details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1, Semester 2
• Weekly contact time: 8-12 hours
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Course Code: 72380
• CRICOS code: C
• Full time/part time duration: 1 year
• Degrees course is available in: Graduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology

Course Structure

Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units. Refer to the course structure for more information.

Core

• Take all units (42 points):
  • FNSC5515 Molecular Osteology (6)
  • FNSC5516 Forensic Odontology and Introductory Osteology (6)
  • FNSC5611 Ethics and Research Methods in Forensic Science (6)
  • FNSC5612 Forensic Anthropology I—Introductory Theory and Method (6)
  • FNSC5614 Forensic Archaeology—Theory and Method (6)
  • FNSC5622 Scientific Expert Testimony (6)
  • FNSC5626 Forensic Anthropology II—Advanced Theory and Method (6)

Option

• Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
  • FNSC4497 Bio-Archaeology Fieldschool (6)
  • FNSC5615 Medicolegal Death Investigation (6)

Admission Requirements

• To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have:
  • A Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA
  • The equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent
  • Successfully completed prior study in a field relevant to Forensic Anthropology
• Or completed a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Anthropology at UWA

Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

English Competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

• Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic Student Fees

• Annual course fee: $31,500.00 (2025)
• Full-Fee Paying Place

International Student Fees

• Annual course fee: $50,700.00 (2025)

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Careers and Further Study

Career Pathways

As a graduate, you'll have a range of employment options. You could pursue a career as a forensic scientist in general, or an anthropologist specifically, in both public and private sectors. Opportunities might include working in forensic science industries, other science-based fields, teaching, or with government agencies, state and federal police, ASIO, correctional services, and community services. You could also consider freelancing as a forensic anthropologist or working with a private forensic company, a national institution, or even the United Nations.

Further Study

Students completing this degree may have the option to pursue further studies in research.

The Centre for Forensic Anthropology

The Centre for Forensic Anthropology is committed to the development of a new generation of morphometric tools and standards for application in forensic identification in Western Australia. A requirement in routine casework involving unidentified skeletal remains is the formulation of an accurate biological profile.

Choice of method is invariably related to skeletal preservation and by association the bones available. It is vital however that the method applied affords statistical quantification of accuracy rates and predictive confidence, so that evidentiary requirements for legal submission are met. Achieving the latter requires the application of contemporary population-specific standards.

Our research group is working towards developing these standards through the integration of morphological computer-based (geometric morphometric) analytical approaches and multivariate isotopic and elemental chemical methods for the identification of unknown human remains. The Anthropology research group is keen to develop a ‘Human Identification Package’ (HIP) for specific application within forensic casework and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI).

The group welcomes international and interdisciplinary collaborations of value to the fields of Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology.