Program Overview

Forensic Psychology BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

Forensic psychology applies psychological expertise to the criminal justice system. This course delves into all core areas of psychology, ensuring a strong foundation in the field.

What You'll Study

Year One

• Professional Practice in Psychology (20 credits): Essential academic and professional skills for a successful student and graduate employee.
• Fundamental Concepts in Psychology (20 credits): Thematic approach to key concepts and theories within psychology.
• Introducing Quantitative Research Methods (20 credits): Experimental and non-experimental research methodologies and basic descriptive and inferential statistics.
• Psychology and Popular Culture (20 credits): Psychological research informs and is represented within popular culture.
• Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing (20 credits): Overview of key topics in mental health and wellbeing from a biological, psychological, and cultural perspective.
• Introducing Qualitative Research Methods (20 credits): Qualitative research methods and their application across applied areas of psychology.

Year Two

• Perspectives in Forensic Psychology (20 credits): Theoretical explanations of human criminal behavior across different contexts.
• Psychology of Culture, Gender and Sexuality (20 credits): Critical and international perspective examining culture, gender, and sexuality within forensic psychology.
• Theories and Applications of Cybercrime (20 credits): Theoretical explanations for cybercrimes and their differences from overt forms of criminal tendencies.
• Forensic Psychology in Context (20 credits): How forensic psychologists have contributed to the development of effective models and frameworks to better understand, support, and interact with both victims and offenders.
• International Perspectives on Crime (20 credits): Global crime issues and how psychology can explain the underlying reasons for crime and support tackling such challenges.
• Research Methods and Project Planning (20 credits): Conducting, reporting, and interpreting a range of statistical tests and planning psychological research projects.

Placement Year

• UK Work Placement (0 credits): Opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during the program.
• International Study/Work Placement (0 credits): Opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during the program.

Final Year

• Project Design and Ethics (20 credits): Designing a supervised independent research project to address an appropriate psychological research question.
• Independent Research Project (20 credits): Conducting and reporting an independent piece of empirical research.
• Becoming a Forensic Psychologist (20 credits): Essential personal and professional skills required to be a successful student and graduate employee within the field of forensic psychology.
• Optional Modules: Choose three modules from a list of options, including Addictive Behaviours, Child and Educational Psychology, Criminal Behaviour and its Contexts, Aggression and Violent Behaviour, Counselling Psychology, and Clinical Neuroscience.

Entry Requirements

• UCAS Points: 112
• A-Level: BBC excludes General Studies
• GCSE: GCSE maths at grade 4/C or Functional Skills Level 2
• BTEC: DMM
• IB Diploma: 28 points to include 15 points at Higher level
• Access to HE: The Access to HE Diploma in a Science, Social Science, or Health subject to include 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction

Fees and Funding

• UK Students: £9,535 per year
• EU Students: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary, £18,300 per year without EU Support Bursary
• International Students: £18,300 per year
• Professional Placement: £1,500 for UK students, £1,800 for international students

Facilities

• Specialist teaching facilities, including light and dark multisensory laboratories, 'mock' prison cells, an observation suite, and counselling rooms
• Specialist software, such as Gorilla, Opensesame experiment builder, E-Prime, SPSS statistical analysis, Pinnacle Studio, and NVIVO
• EEG, eye tracking, and Virtual Reality Headsets

Careers and Opportunities

• The course aims to equip you with a range of skills and competencies that could set you apart from other graduates and make you attractive to potential employers.
• Graduates are equipped with highly sought-after employability skills to embark on a career in applied psychological settings or complete one of our postgraduate degrees.
• Many graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate study and continued their work as practicing psychologists.