Program Overview

This course provides a thorough and comprehensive training in the knowledge base of forensic psychology counting as the requisite Stage 1 component for the status of Forensic Psychologist of the British Psychological Society.

You experience a critical and questioning approach to the discipline of forensic psychology. You develop as an independent critical thinker, resilient and well prepared as a forensic psychology practitioner. The programme covers the key knowledge areas in a way which represents the stages and processes in the criminal justice system and the pathways offenders and victims take through it.

The integrative approach of the courses sees ethics, practice and professional skills incorporated as appropriate to each topic, enhancing the relevance of these issues, and applied psychological knowledge to the understanding, investigation, assessment, interventions and management of offenders.

For example, in the module Law, Justice and Psychology students act as expert witness and are questioned individually by a mock barrister. They then reflect on their performance and consider how it could impact on the decision-making process of the court in the criminal justice system. Students therefore have the opportunity to present in court, which is something they may then do once they qualify as a forensic psychologist.

Top reasons to study this course

• You employ a scientist-practitioner approach to issues relevant to professional practice and research in forensic psychology.
• Research laboratories and simulated environments including the mock courtroom, police station and interview suites develop your communication and delivery of evidence skills.
• The programme team are research and consultancy active, which underpins field their teaching. Areas of expertise include adolescent mental health, risk assessment and treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy, expert witness, intermediary work, investigative interviewing, police investigations, personality, false confessions, trauma-informed care, compassion based therapeutic approaches.
• Benefit from our strong external links with the local prison service, regional secure units and the NHS to pursue work experience in forensic settings, and a focus for your dissertation.
• Specialist external speakers may contribute to the delivery of the programme, giving you relevant and on topic insights.