Program Overview

MSc Forensic Psychology (BPS accredited)

The MSc Forensic Psychology course at Manchester Metropolitan University is a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited program that provides students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical awareness to work in forensic settings. The course is designed to equip students with the skills to assess, understand, and intervene with offenders and victims using evidence-based practice.

Course Overview

The course covers a range of topics, including the role of psychologists in legal settings, advances in the psychological understanding of offender behavior, and assessment and rehabilitation. Students will critically examine the role of psychology in various forensic settings, demonstrating how theory is applied to real-life situations.

Features and Benefits

• Accredited course: This course is accredited as Stage 1 MSc Forensic Psychology by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the first stage to becoming a qualified forensic psychologist.
• Contemporary teaching: Our teaching staff includes practicing researchers, counselors, and forensic, clinical, health, and community psychologists. Our innovative assignments are reflective of what is expected in forensic practice and include case studies, consultancy, and court reports.
• Reflective practice: You'll have the opportunity to develop your reflective practice skills within the Personal and Professional Development Unit. This is a key skill for practitioner psychologists.
• Research active academics: Our staff engage in a wide range of research areas, including police decision-making, trauma, eyewitness testimony and alibi evidence, forensic mental health, terrorism, juror decision-making, and risk assessment and formulation. We actively work with students to publish their dissertations in peer-reviewed journals.
• Enhanced student support: We strongly believe in enhancing student wellbeing. You'll have a personal tutor, and the programme support tutors will also work closely with you throughout the course.
• Outstanding facilities: You'll have access to our specialist facilities for psychology demonstration and practice, which includes an fNIR imaging research device, and psychology laboratories.

Accreditations, Awards, and Endorsements

The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Year 1

Over the duration of the course, you'll study seven core modules which follow the core curriculum content from the BPS.

• Personal and Professional Development: This module supports personal and professional development through your identification and monitoring of learning objectives and personal goals within a critical and supportive academic community.
• Psychology and Law: The overall aim of this module is to introduce how psychology is applied in legal settings. Topics covered include: psychologists as expert witnesses, the role of psychologists in the criminal and civil courts, the role of psychologists in mental health law, and psychological assessment in legal settings.
• Research for Innovation Dissertation: This module will develop and apply independent relevant research skills. You'll identify a discipline-relevant research question, for which you will complete a research proposal and gain ethical approval prior to commencing collection of data.
• Theory and Practice in Forensic Psychology: This module presents theory alongside practice and encourages students to develop an understanding of forensic psychology theory and practice.
• Assessment and Treatment in Forensic Settings: Within this module, you will develop a critical overview of specialist applications of forensic psychology in relation to offenders, in terms of assessment, formulation, management, and treatment.
• Psychological Measurement: The module develops an applied and critical understanding of the use of psychological measurements in a forensic setting and addresses the fundamental skills, principles, and issues within psychological measurement in general.
• Research Principles and Methods: This module will develop an understanding of research principles, both quantitative and qualitative, which will enable you to critically appraise and undertake your research project.

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 20% lectures, seminars, or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
• Part-time: 20% lectures, seminars, or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
• Full-time: 90% coursework; 10% practical; 0% examination
• Part-time: 90% coursework; 10% practical; 0% examination

Entry Requirements

A 2:1 or above in a BPS-accredited psychology undergraduate degree (or equivalent through a psychology conversion course) conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) is typically required.

International applicants have to show evidence that their undergraduate degree is eligible for GBC. Applicants must contact the British Psychological Society independently to verify this and upload the proof along with their application.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee £10,250 per year, Part-time fee £1139 per 20 credits
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee £20,000 per year, Part-time fee £2223 per 20 credits

Careers Support and Prospects

To practise as a forensic psychologist in the UK, you'll need to complete further training to achieve chartered psychologist status with BPS and apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). As a registered psychologist, you might work in a range of criminal justice settings such as prisons, probation, voluntary sector services, or the police.

This course will enable you to work in a range of forensic and clinical settings such as mental health, youth offending, prisons, probation, secure units, policing, and civil services.