Program Overview

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MSc Forensic Psychology

Overview

This Master's in Forensic Psychology will give you the knowledge and skills to work in the criminal justice system, or train to become a qualified forensic psychologist. The course brings together the disciplines of clinical, social and cognitive psychology, with criminology and law.

Key Information

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited by the British Psychological Society.

Study Mode and Duration:

• 1 year full-time
• 2 years part-time

Start Date:

• September 2025

Course Information

Overview

If you want to apply what you learned through your undergraduate psychology studies to the field of offender behaviour, then this Master's in Forensic Psychology will give you the knowledge and skills to work in the criminal justice system, or train to become a qualified forensic psychologist.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.

Course Highlights:

• Learn from the largest group of actively researching forensic psychology academics in the UK
• Work with professionally qualified practitioners and researchers in forensic psychology
• Use our specialist facilities for interview observation including eye-tracking and digital analysis
• Study themes including professional competence, assessment and interventions with offenders, and investigative psychology and the legal process
• Complete a research project on a topic of your choice, applying your research and data analysis skills to produce a piece of work to a publishable standard
• Fulfil stage 1 of 2 stages of training required to become a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist

Entry Requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.

UK Qualifications

• A 2:1 honours degree in Psychology or a Pass in an MSc Psychology conversion course. In either case, the course must be recognised by the British Psychology Society as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
• Consideration will also be given to applicants with a 2:2 degree where the applicant can demonstrate, through their account of their relevant education and experience in their personal statement, commitment to and awareness of diversity and inclusion (eg. caring responsibilities, disability, exclusion/unconscious bias).

Non-UK Qualifications

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Required Experience

There are always considerably more applicants than places on this course – we usually take 24–30 new students a year but up to 100 applicants. So it pays to strengthen your position as much as possible.

How well you do in your initial degree counts. So too does taking any opportunities to do modules or a research project relevant to forensic psychology. However, we recognise that sometimes a degree result can be affected by extraneous factors and that not all courses provide the opportunity to study directly relevant aspects. In such circumstances, it’s especially important you demonstrate your commitment and awareness of what the field involves and the best way is through relevant experience. This is important anyway, even if you are strong academically.

Types of Experience

Applicants are expected to have some relevant experience at the time of application. This can be one or more of three kinds:

1. Paid employment directly within or related to the criminal justice system (e.g. Assistant Psychologist in the Prison Service/Forensic Mental Health Setting, a role in probation/the police, Youth Offending Team or similar).
2. Paid work in a setting where you have used transferable skills (e.g. interpersonal skills/problem-solving) with relevant populations such as the homeless, individuals with learning disabilities, those with mental health/substance related problems.
3. Voluntary work with relevant agencies that again work with populations relevant to the criminal justice system (e.g. Victim Support, NACRO, Circles, SOVA, Motiv8, Appropriate Adult services).

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees (September 2025 start)

• UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students:
  • Full-time: £10,900
  • Part-time: £3,630 in year 1 and £7,270 in year 2
• EU students (including Transition Scholarship):
  • Full-time: £10,900
  • Part-time: £3,630 in year 1 and £7,270 in year 2
• International students:
  • Full-time: £19,200
  • Part-time: £6,400 in year 1 and £12,800 in year 2

Funding Your Studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

Modules

Full-time

Year 1

All modules on this MSc Forensic Psychology Master's are core.

• Applied Psychological Research Methods - 30 credits
• Assessment and Interventions With Offenders - 30 credits
• Empirical Research Project for Forensic Psychology - 60 credits
• Investigative Psychology and the Legal Process - 30 credits
• Theory Into Practice: Foundations of Professional Competence in Forensic Psychology - 30 credits

Part-time

Year 1 Year 2

• Applied Psychological Research Methods - 30 credits
• Assessment and Interventions With Offenders - 30 credits
• Empirical Research Project for Forensic Psychology - 60 credits
• Investigative Psychology and the Legal Process - 30 credits
• Theory Into Practice: Foundations of Professional Competence in Forensic Psychology - 30 credits

Facilities and Specialist Equipment

These are just a few of the facilities you'll use during your forensic psychology degree, plus you'll get priority booking during term time.

• Eye tracking and VR technology
• Psychophysiology laboratory
• Thermal cameras

How You'll Spend Your Time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

• Teaching
• Assessment
• Course structure

Career Development

Careers This Master’s Prepares You For

Forensic psychologists usually start by doing a minimum of 2 years full-time supervised practice in an employment setting. The work of forensic psychologists is varied, ranging from criminal investigations to organisational change, and from matters of civil justice such as child access to operational emergencies such as hostage incidents.

Graduates of This Course Have Gone Onto Roles Such As:

• Trainee Forensic Psychologist
• Research Officer
• Assistant Psychologist
• Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
• Probation Practitioner
• Wellbeing and Recovery Practioner
• Interventions Facilitator
• Resettlement Facilitator
• Police Staff
• Mental Health Consultant
• Support Worker

Graduates of This Course Have Gone On to Work For Companies Such As:

• Ministry of Justice
• NHS
• Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service
• Seetec
• STR Group
• Youth Justice Services
• Motive 8

Supporting You

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed.

• Personal tutor
• Learning support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Library support
• Maths and stats support
• Support with English

How to Apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

• Extra information for international students
• Ready to apply?
• September 2025 start

Apply now (Full-time) – 1 year

Apply now (Part-time) – 2 years

• I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

• a shorter application form to complete
• access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
• a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses

Learn more about fast track

• After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application.

• Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.