Join Us

Yes. Although SoFIGG is a registered charity in Scotland, membership is open to individuals based anywhere in the world, provided they meet the relevant criteria. Our membership includes individuals from a range of countries, from Europe, Americas and Asia.

While our first annual symposium will be held in the United Kingdom, we also offer online events and maintain a virtual network that is accessible irrespective of geographical location. That said, as a Europe-based organisation, our current focus and the scheduling of our online activities reflect European time zones.

In the UK, it is a common practice for professional societies to require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the profession. While there are currently no formal degree programmes specifically in forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG), given the field’s relative youth, we recognise that many current practitioners do not hold degrees in related disciplines such as genetics or forensic science.

However, the Society requires at least a Bachelor’s degree (or a statement of comparability, vide section below) – although not necessarily in a directly related subject – as a minimum qualification for associate or full member status. This requirement reflects a balance between maintaining professional standards and ensuring accessibility. It also aligns with practices across European professional communities, where the vast majority of practitioners do have higher education qualifications.

We anticipate that as FIGG becomes more established and gains broader academic recognition in Europe, more targeted educational pathways will emerge. Individuals interested in FIGG who do not have a Bachelor’s degree are welcome to join as affiliate members.

Statement of Comparability

In many jurisdictions, Bachelor’s degrees were not awarded until relatively recently. Other prospective members may have completed independent academic or professional courses. Applicants who have completed substantial university-level study may wish to submit their academic transcript(s) to UK ENIC (the UK national information centre for global qualifications and skills, managed by Ecctis for the UK government’s Department for Education) and request a Statement of Comparability.

If UK ENIC determines that the studies you have completed are comparable to a UK Bachelor’s degree, this will be accepted as sufficient evidence that you meet the educational requirements for associate or full membership of SoFIGG.

Yes – the Society is open to anyone with an interest in forensic investigative genetic genealogy. If you are not currently practising in the field, you are welcome to join as an affiliate member (which is the tier all members join initially). We also offer membership categories specifically designed for those who are active FIGG practitioners.

FIGG practitioners work on forensic investigations (e.g. unidentified human remains, suspects of violent crimes) and are involved in all three core aspects of FIGG work:

• Genealogical research
• Genetic analysis (e.g. working with DNA kits & matches, analysing relationships)
• Investigative methods (e.g., OSINT or identifying DNA matches)

Professionals who contribute only to one area — for example, performing bioinformatics analyses only, or building family trees without integrating genetic-genealogical analysis — are not considered FIGG practitioners for the purposes of professional tier membership but are much valued members of the SoFIGG community and are encouraged to join as affiliate members.

Yes – full-time undergraduate students are eligible for a discounted affiliate membership, available at £29 per year (as of 2025). Proof of current student status will be required. Please contact membership@sofigg.org to request a student discount.

Yes. SoFIGG is committed to fostering an inclusive community of FIGG practitioners, researchers and supporters across diverse regions and backgrounds. We recognise that financial barriers can disproportionately affect prospective members in countries classified by the World Bank as upper-middle, lower-middle or low income. To support equitable access, we offer reduced membership fees for affiliate (£29), associate (£49), and full members (£69) from these regions. If this applies to you, please contact membership@sofigg.org.

Individuals who signed up to become a member before the 1 November 2025 and completed their registration by the 1 January 2026 received an online “Early Member” badge as a small token of gratitude for their early support of SoFIGG.