Forensic Psychology

To become a great Forensic Psychologist you first need to become a good psychologist. Therefore in the first year of the course you will gain an understanding of the core areas of Psychology whilst beginning to develop your understanding of Forensic Psychology through both the ‘Topics in Forensic and Criminal Psychology’ module and the ‘Current Topics in Psychology’ course that introduces a range of exciting and new research developments.

The second year of the course provides you with the coverage of the core BPS defined curriculum that ensures both your professional body accreditation and your ability to progress, should you wish, to postgraduate study. These modules are studied alongside Forensic Psychology and you can develop your knowledge further by selecting an additional module from our options list to complement your interests and career goals.

In the final year of your degree you will be able to spend two-thirds of your time studying Forensic Psychology through the project and the specialist final year Forensic Psychology modules. In addition, you select two further modules from related areas to enable you to focus upon the areas that you are interested in and develop the expertise that you need for either employment or further postgraduate study.

Throughout the course, your modules will involve a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as practical workshops to help reflect the professional practice of a Forensic Psychologist. Independent study is also an important aspect. Assessments don’t just take the traditional approach of essays, presentations and research reports. Instead, where practical, they mirror the work that you might undertake as a Forensic Psychologist. This provides you with a range of experiences to take with you to a potential employer.

Much like the facilities, our staff are world-class; you’ll be taught by specialists in their fields who not only will provide you with the information you need to become a great psychologist but inspire you to become involved in collaborative research.

Our Forensic Psychology team conduct world-class research and publish their findings internationally, whilst the majority of the Forensic Psychologists that teach you apply their knowledge in real-life forensic settings. You will be taught by professionals who work with offenders in prisons and hospitals, including Forensic Psychologists and probation officers.

Our links with the Professional Body are such that we will provide you with Student Membership of the British Psychological Society, which provides you with the monthly magazine The Psychologist containing information on new developments in Psychology and developing career opportunities.

Applications for advanced entry to this course will be considered on an individual basis. We can recognise prior learning from other institutions but must ensure that all our graduates have covered the curriculum required by the British Psychological Society for the award of Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). No exemptions can be made against the empirical project.

The major aim of this postgraduate course is to equip psychology graduates with the British Psychological Society Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) for Stage 1 professional training in Forensic Psychology, and to equip them with some of the knowledge needed for future practice as Chartered Forensic Psychologists, following completion of Stage 2 training - a minimum of two years supervised practice.

Progress to the sector-leading MSc Forensic Psychology course and pursue a career as a Chartered Forensic Psychologist: MSc Forensic Psychology reflects the academic skills underpinning the application of psychology to a forensic setting. It is currently accredited by the British Psychological Society to provide Stage 1 (academic) training for Full Membership of the Division of Forensic Psychology. In common with other accredited MSc courses, Stage 2 training for Full Membership (supervised practice element) is not provided via the MSc.