Program Overview

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Postgraduate Taught

Study

Key information

Study mode:

Full time

Part time

Duration:

1 year full time (part time option available for Research Pathway only). See Course Essentials for more information.

Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent):

UK 180/ECTS 90 (MSc)

Application status:

Open

Start date:

September 2025

Course essentials

Our course aims to equip you with the knowledge and advanced skills necessary for a career that will involve clinical and/or research work with mentally disordered offenders. You will develop an understanding of key neuroscientific advances in the field, and engage in a critically informed review of forensic services and the criminal justice system. There is an emphasis throughout on the clinical relevance of research findings. You will also benefit from a non credit-bearing voluntary clinical observation period in a forensic setting. We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. You will be required to choose one of two pathways. This means that the combination of modules chosen will lead to a qualification which reflects your chosen focus of study. There are specific entry criteria for each pathway. Please note there are two pathways: 1. Clinical Forensic Psychology (full-time only) - accredited by the BPS as Stage 1 in forensic psychology training. 2. Forensic Mental Health Research (full- time or part-time) - NOT accredited by the BPS. Students on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will undertake a 60-day (minimum) clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist and complete a module on Forensic Psychology Practice. Students on the Forensic Mental Health Research pathway will not complete a clinical placement but will complete additional research methods training and can also benefit from a 10-day voluntary clinical observation period in a forensic setting. “The IoPPN is the main postgraduate research and education centre in this field, in the UK. Because we explore psychology, psychiatry and neuropsychiatry, students develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the area” Dr Nigel Blackwood, Course Leader

Base campus

Denmark Hill Campus

Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification , or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

** The following criteria apply to all applicants:**

Applicants should have, or be predicted to achieve, a 2:1 honours degree (minimum) or the equivalent, including an introduction to empirical research, in a relevant subject, such as Psychology, Neuroscience, Criminology, Psychiatry, Mental Health Nursing or Occupational Therapy. In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree, if you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.

Non-graduates (e.g. nurses with a Diploma) will be asked to provide evidence of their capacity to study at postgraduate level and will be expected to have considerable relevant work experience since qualifying.

Pathway specific entry criteria:****Clinical Forensic Psychology Pathway

Applicants must have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS. For more information on GBC and careers in forensic psychology in the UK, please consult the BPS website.

Forensic Mental Health Research Pathway

Applicants should display evidence of a genuine interest in the relationship between mental illness and crime, and an aptitude for research. Please supply your degree transcript: we are particularly interested in your marks for research methods, statistics and your undergraduate dissertation.

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a countrySelect a countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustralasiaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCote d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechia (Czech Republic)Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea- BissauGuyanaHaitiHome Fee Status StudentsHondurasHong Kong SARHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt Kitts and NevisSt. HelenaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & the GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe GambiaTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamWalesYemenZambiaZimbabwe __

English language requirements

English language band:

D

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

Format

You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

MSc Clinical Forensic Psychology

Prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (117 hours)

Specialist forensic services: assessment, treatment and development

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (117 hours)

Research Methodology and Statistics A

Lectures (44 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (10 hours) | Self-study time (96 hours)

Forensic Psychology Practice in Context (Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway only)

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (15 hours) | Placement Hours ( 420) | Self-study time (135 hours)

Forensic mental health practice in the criminal justice system: legal and investigative processes

Lectures (35 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (117 hours)

Dissertation Forensic Mental Health

Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-study time (580 hours)

Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

MSc Forensic Mental Health Research

Prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (267 hours)

Specialist forensic services: assessment, treatment and development

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (267 hours)

Research Methodology and Statistics

Lectures (85 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (12 hours) | Self-study time (203 hours)

Forensic mental health practice in the criminal justice system: legal and investigative processes

Lectures (35 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (262 hours)

Dissertation Forensic Mental Health

Seminars / Tutorials (8 hours) | Self-study time (592 hours)

Teaching

You’ll be taught by clinicians who split their time between King’s and running specialist services in the community. They might work with sexual offenders, in prisons, or at threat services monitoring risk to politicians.

At King’s, not only are we building knowledge in the field, we’re also discovering innovative ways to apply research to clinical practice. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the skills to make an impact in the area that interests you.

Assessment

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Required modules

You will be required to choose one of two pathways. This means that the combination of modules chosen will lead to a qualification which reflects your chosen focus of study. There are specific entry criteria for each pathway. The two pathways are: Clinical Forensic Psychology (full-time only) Forensic Mental Health Research Students on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will undertake a 60-day (minimum) clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist and complete a module on Forensic Psychology Practice. Students on the Forensic Mental Health Research pathway will complete additional research methods training and can also benefit from a 10-day voluntary clinical observation period in a forensic setting. We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment

Clinical Forensic Psychology

Prosocial & Antisocial Behaviours Across the Lifespan (15 credits)

Specialist Forensic Services: Assessment, Treatment & Development (15 credits)

Forensic Mental Health Practice in the Criminal Justice System: Legal & Investigative Processes (15 credits)

Research Methodology & Statistics A (15 credits)

Forensic Psychology Practice in context (60 credits)

Dissertation Clinical Forensic Psychology (60 credits)

Forensic Mental Health Research

Prosocial & Antisocial Behaviours Across the Lifespan (30 credits)

Specialist Forensic Services: Assessment, Treatment & Development (30 credits)

Forensic Mental Health Practice in the Criminal Justice System: Legal & Investigative Processes (30 credits)

Research Methodology & Statistics (30 credits)

Dissertation Forensic Mental Health (60 credits)

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this course.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

• PhD programmes
• Forensic or clinical psychology training
• Research assistants or assistant psychologists
• Expert forensic clinicians
• Police graduate schemes
• Third sector organisations
• Civil service

Destinations

Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:

• St Mungo's Broadway
• The Priory Hospital
• Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
• Metropolitan Police Service
• Edgware Community Hospital
• West London Mental Health NHS Trust
• Early Intervention Service NHS

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £8,475 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £40,000 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £20,000 per year (2025/26)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non- refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

• If you receive an offer before March, payment is due by 20 March.
• If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

IOPPN Postgraduate Taught Scholarships

Scholarships of £5000 are available for this programme for 2025/26 entry, to support students with the financial commitments of postgraduate study. the scholarships are available for all full-time Home and International fee status students, with a deadline to apply of Friday 21 February 2025 click here to find out more.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses and to placements/clinical observations (some placements extend beyond London)
• DBS Check (Psychology Pathway only)

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Application closing date guidance

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process.

The final application deadlines for this programme are:

· Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)

· Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)

If the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications. Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.