Introduction:

This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Forensic Psychology Masters degree is designed to prepare psychology graduates with the academic knowledge and skills necessary to conduct practical work and research within a forensic context. The BPS accreditation means that by obtaining the MSc in Forensic Psychology you’ll be completing the first stage in your professional training required by the BPS to become a qualified practitioner within the field of forensic psychology (Chartered Forensic Psychologist).

The focus on blending research and practical expertise is reflected in the course team, which consists of forensic practitioners or academics who each have considerable experience working with offenders and victims in a range of forensic contexts in the UK. Attached to the MSc in Forensic Psychology is the Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit (SOCAMRU), which incorporates a group of active researchers currently engaged in collaborative work with:

• HM Prison Service
• the Police Service
• the National Health Service (NHS)
• High Secure Hospitals.

What you’ll study

*We are currently reviewing the content of our courses to ensure that they remain relevant and current to our students’ future ambitions and society. Please continue to check this course webpage for the latest developments.

This course is designed to give you the academic knowledge and practical and research skills recommended by the BPS. You’ll also develop the core practical skills that will equip you to become a practitioner in the field of forensic psychology.

During the course you may have the opportunity to gain real life experience within forensic settings. The team appreciate the difficulty of gaining experience in this field and the importance of doing so for your future career, and so offer a selection of different projects and opportunities which will open the door to the practical field of forensic psychology.

Example projects from previous students include: assisting with the evaluation of a treatment programme through interviewing staff; assessing the reliability of a scale with prisoners, including disseminating questionnaires; the impact on staff of working with suicidal prisoners; staff boundary management in Rampton secure hospital; detecting deception with eye-tracking; evaluating support for prisoners on release from prison including interviewing staff who work with mentally ill offenders and their families; testing suicide theories within an offending population.

A range of forensic work experience opportunities (usually one day per week during term time) and / or applied forensic projects are available each year. These will allow you to gain experience in the forensic field of work. For example, you may be working within a forensic environment or a secure hospital.

Careers and employability

Becoming a Chartered Forensic Psychologist

In order to become eligible to obtain Chartered Forensic Psychologist status you will need to be a Graduate Member of the Society with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and have successfully completed a Society accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology, which this course provides.

With this course completed, you’ll need to complete a Qualification in Forensic Psychology Stage 2 (QFP Stage 2) consisting of two years’ full time supervised practice (or part-time equivalent).

Entry requirements

• You will need a British Psychological Society (BPS) recognised undergraduate degree (minimum 2.1) in Psychology or an equivalent qualification that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the BPS.
• All applicants must explain why they want to study the Forensic Psychology course in their personal statement.
• Applicants whose undergraduate degree is a 2.2 or equivalent will also be considered, but will be required to demonstrate relevant forensic experience and ability to study at the required academic level.
• One academic and one vocational reference is required. Applicants who have not been in academic study for several years and cannot provide an academic reference will be required to provide a second vocational reference.
• Final selection is based on an interview process with members of the course team.

In order to engage in the interview process and receive enrolment materials in good time we advise that applications are submitted as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Interview dates

Interview dates for 2022 entry are TBC.

Please note that interview dates may be subject to change and will be confirmed to successful applicants when they are invited to interview, additional dates may be organised in August or September.

To avoid delays, we advise that you submit your completed application, including one academic and one vocational reference, as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Fees and funding

Study route	International / EU students
Full-time	£18,000
Part-time (cost per year of study)	£9,000 (for Year One*)

Fees are for 2022 entry.

* Please note that if you are considering a part-time route that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for Year One of study. The course fee for Year Two is subject to annual review.

Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your postgraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

If you choose to study the two-year route of an eligible course, which incorporates a work placement, the fee for Year Two will be £1,385.

If you’re starting a postgraduate course in January 2023 you’ll pay the 2022 fee.

Late Applications

If you missed the UCAS January deadline, it’s not too late to apply to join us in September 2022.

Applying to university after the January deadline isn’t anything to worry about – we accept applications for most of our undergraduate courses until Thursday 30 June 2022.