About

The Forensic Linguistics Short Course (FLsc) was first launched in 2018 as a one-off initiative of the Student Council of Linguistics and Phonetics at the University of Cologne, in collaboration with Dr Isabel Picornell and Dr Ria Perkins. What was originally intended as a single event quickly developed into a regular programme, driven by an unexpectedly high number of applications and the enthusiastic feedback of participants.

Since then, the course has grown into an international spring school. In 2021, it became an official part of the Association for Diversity in Linguistics (div-ling e.V.) and is now organised in cooperation with the English Language and Linguistics Department at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.

A defining principle of the FLSC is its strictly non-profit ethos. Neither the organisers nor the partner institutions receive any share of the participation fees. Instead, the fees are used exclusively to cover costs such as lecturers, catering, excursions, and the digital tools required for online formats. Any surplus is reinvested in maintaining the website and supporting other events of div-ling e.V. This approach allows the course to remain accessible and affordable while still offering participants an intensive and high-quality experience.

Each edition combines in-depth sessions on central topics of forensic linguistics with hands-on work on authentic cases, opportunities for participants to present their own research in an open poster session, and excursions that showcase the local academic and cultural environment. Over the years, the FLSC has developed into a unique international platform for exchange, debate, and collaboration at the intersection of linguistics, law, and digital methods.