Program Overview

The course is designed to meet the requirements for stage 1 towards becoming a Chartered Forensic Psychologist (for students who also have the required Graduate Basis for Chartership). It aims to provide you with a thorough grounding in the theory, themes, issues and practical skills we consider to be central to forensic psychology.

• It is aimed at people who are embarking on, or who wish to continue in, a career associated with forensic psychology in a range of forensic settings.
• You will have an opportunity to study a range of topics associated with forensic psychology, including offending behaviour and the Criminal Justice System. You will also explore the theories, research and practice related to intervention with diverse client groups, with a specific focus on violence and sexual offending.
• Throughout the course you will investigate what makes people think, feel and act in ways that lead to crime, and how our Criminal Justice System can respond to this. This course also offers coverage of legal approaches that we consider to be relevant to psychology.

Why you should study this course

This course gives you the opportunity to have not only the theoretical understanding of the principles of Forensic Psychology, but also helps encourage the development of the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to go on into a career in a forensic setting. In this course, you be taught the principles of how to assess and work with forensic clients, including understanding appropriate treatment approaches and interventions. You will be encouraged to apply your knowledge and understanding to think about the importance of this analytical approach, to apply in whatever setting and job role you go on to do.

• Our current staff for this course have many years of combined, varied professional psychological experience, either as British Psychological Society Chartered/Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Members themselves, and/or as active researchers (staff may be subject to change).
• This course is delivered on campus full-time over one year, starting in September or it can also be studied online on a part-time basis over two years, starting in January. We recommend the part-time option for anyone who has significant responsibilities outside of university, life, because although the content is the same, the delivery is at half the pace.
• The 100% online part-time course delivered over two years is a half-paced option for those with work and/or family commitments. As the course is delivered solely online, with assessment deadlines made available at the start of the course, you have more flexibility and control around your weekly study timetable. Many of our online students work or have other commitments they need to juggle. For others, online delivery better suits their preferred ways of learning in terms of pace, ability to go back to learning resources, and flexibility.
• There is also a sister course, Forensic Psychology and Mental Health MSc, which is also available on-campus or online, if you’d prefer to specialise further at this stage. Five core mandatory modules will be delivered alongside students on this course. Additionally, three mandatory pathway modules will then be delivered separately for students on the Forensic Psychology MSc to specialise the content and differentiate them from the Forensic Psychology and Mental Health MSc course. It is therefore important to read all course webpages related to the two pathways and compare the specific topic areas covered, to ensure you apply for the most appropriate course for you.