Alongside general psychology modules, you’ll specialise in understanding the psychological factors behind why people may commit criminal or deviant behaviour. You’ll use critical skills and evidence, based on research, to explore how forensic psychologists may contribute to debates on policing, crime, the criminal justice system and rehabilitation. As well as understanding some of the reasons why people may commit offending behaviours, you will also explore the ways in which forensic psychologists can work to treat and rehabilitate offenders.

On this course, as well as gaining a thorough understanding of the broad range of topics relevant to modern day psychology, you’ll learn in depth about why people engage in behaviour that is harmful to others and what makes a psychopath. In addition, you’ll explore what happens to victims of crime or deviant behaviour and how we, as psychologists, can support them. You’ll also gain a real understanding of offenders and learn about developing interventions for people convicted of crime and how these people might be rehabilitated and supported. You’ll be introduced to how forensic psychologists use evidence from research to inform policies on crime, policing, criminal justice and rehabilitation. Some examples of the factors influencing criminal behaviour that you may explore include; substance abuse issues and mental health disorders, as well as exploring the incidence of offending behaviours in different populations, e.g. children and youth. As well as being taught by staff from psychology you’ll also be taught by staff from areas such as social sciences and education with expertise in the criminal justice system, policing and serial killers alongside students on courses such as Criminology and Criminal Justice and Childhood and Youth Studies.

Psychology at Bangor University was founded in 1963 and is one of the UK's oldest and largest psychology departments. We regularly rank among the top 10 in the National Student Survey for overall student satisfaction and with over 1,000 students we're also one of the largest departments in the UK. Not only are we highly ranked for our teaching but we also have a global reputation for the quality of our research. In the most recent Research Exercise Framework, we ranked in the top 20 in the UK with 89% of our research considered either 'Internationally Excellent' or 'World leading'. This research feeds directly into our teaching ensuring a fresh, vibrant learning experience and a large and varied range of modules studied with academics who have an international reputation in their specialist area.

We have a cosmopolitan feel and a global outlook that attracts staff and students from all over the world to work and study with us. A key aspect of our success is our focus on both the academic and pastoral sides of the student experience and this effort is led by academics in the teaching team who provide high levels of support to our students. All of this combines to provide you with what we believe is a uniquely supportive, exciting and rewarding environment in which to study Psychology with Forensic Psychology.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• 6th (of 119) in UK for student satisfaction (NSS 2020).
• 2nd (of 115) for course satisfaction (Guardian Good Uni Guide 2021).
• Top 20 for research quality (Complete University Guide 2021).
• Specialist research labs including an MRI scanner, TMS, ERP, EEG and a Brain Anatomy lab.
• Academic expertise in forensic psychology, criminology and criminal justice and an exciting array of dissertation topics.

You’ll learn through a variety of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practicals as well as self-guided learning taught by staff with expertise in psychology, criminology and social sciences. As an undergraduate student, you’ll gain an excellent grounding in various research methodologies used in the field by participating in current cutting-edge research being conducted in the school. We make extensive use of technology in order to enhance the learning experience including recording podcasts, and an innovative range of online assessments that, amongst other advantages, provide instant feedback. An increasing number of our modules can be followed through the medium of Welsh and students can choose to have a Welsh speaking tutor and complete their project in Welsh.

There is a wide range of continuous assessment on offer across the modules including essays, weekly homework, multiple choice tests, presentations, blogs, quizzes etc. throughout each semester and many modules include end of semester examinations.

What will you study on this course?

In your third year you’ll carry out a major research project in the area of forensic psychology. The project will be individually supervised by a staff member who is a specialist in the appropriate research field; you will thus have the opportunity to exercise your knowledge and skills alongside an expert. Our students regard the project as one of the most challenging, but also one of the most rewarding, elements of their course and our graduates have amongst the most highly developed research skills of any UK psychology graduates.

In years 1 and 2 you will take compulsory modules as for the BSc Psychology degree. These will give you a strong foundation in the wide-ranging reach of psychology before you go on to specialise in your third year where you will take at least half of your taught credits in Forensic Psychology-specific modules. Each year you study a total of 120 credits and the modules build over the years to provide both breadth and depth of understanding with a focus on Forensic Psychology.

All graduates who achieve at least a 2:2 will be eligible for Graduate Based Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS.

Your Research

We put great emphasis on developing your research skills. Right from the start of your course you’ll begin to build up an understanding of how to undertake research and you’ll also act as a participant in our ongoing research programmes. In this way, you'll gradually acquire the skills you need to design and conduct your own research project in year 3. Your project will be related to Forensic Psychology in an area that fits with the research strengths of our staff. Recent projects include studies of personality characteristsics and how they contribute to criminal or deviant behaviour, the accuracy with which humans are able to detect decption in other individuals and some of the childhood experiences that may contribute towards criminal behaviour. We have a wide range of specialist research laboratories including MRI, ERP, TMS, Eye tracking, etc. 

BSc Psychology with Forensic Psychology focuses on forensic psychology and other related areas (e.g. criminology) so is particularly relevant if you want to forge a career in that area or related professions such as the prison service, probation service or the Police. It is also suitable for students who want to follow any of the main psychological professions (clinical psychology, educational psychology, counselling psychology, health psychology etc). In addition, there are careers open to graduates and postgraduates from any discipline. These include, for example, careers in management training, accountancy, teaching, nursing, social work and the armed forces. Employers are usually looking for general or transferable skills, and a psychology degree provides a unique combination of these as it is both a literate and numerate discipline. Employability is a key theme of all the psychology programmes you can follow at Bangor and we have embedded a large number of opportunities within our degrees that provide you with as strong a CV as possible and equip you with a host of transferable skills that are relevant to both psychology and non-psychology related careers. The simple fact that you’ll graduate from an internationally renowned, research intensive psychology department adds additional value to your degree and improves your employability Further details on the exciting careers open to graduates of this course can be found on the BPS website.

Psychology is the scientific study of how people behave, feel, think and learn. As a science and as a profession, Psychology makes a difference to people in the real world, by improving quality of life across a wide range of areas. We are proud of our strengths in teaching, learning and research, ensuring that you’ll be learning the science and application of psychology from world class researchers and lecturers

A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Psychology (with Foundation Year).