Introduction:

This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Forensic Psychology Masters degree is designed to prepare psychology graduates with the academic knowledge and skills necessary to conduct practical work and research within a forensic context. The BPS accreditation means that by obtaining the MSc in Forensic Psychology you'll be completing the first stage in your professional training required by the BPS to become a qualified practitioner within the field of forensic psychology (Chartered Forensic Psychologist).

The focus on blending research and practical expertise is reflected in the course team, which consists of forensic practitioners or academics who each have considerable experience working with offenders and victims in a range of forensic contexts in the UK. Attached to the MSc in Forensic Psychology is the Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit (SOCAMRU), which incorporates a group of active researchers currently engaged in collaborative work with:

• HM Prison Service
• the Police Service
• the National Health Service (NHS)
• High Secure Hospitals.

Careers and employability

Becoming a Chartered Forensic Psychologist

In order to become eligible to obtain Chartered Forensic Psychologist status you will need to be a Graduate Member of the Society with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and have successfully completed a Society accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology, which this course provides.

With this course completed, you'll need to complete a Qualification in Forensic Psychology Stage 2 (QFP Stage 2) consisting of two years' full time supervised practice (or part-time equivalent). Further information can be found on the BPS website.

During the course you'll study selected modules which cover the key knowledge and research skills recommended by the Division of Forensic Psychology in the British Psychological Society. The course will also equip you with core practical skills that will facilitate your progression towards becoming a practitioner in the field of forensic psychology.

Students generally choose the MSc Forensic Psychology because they wish to qualify as a BPS Chartered and Health and Care Professions Council Registered forensic psychologist and to pursue a career in forensic psychology. Others may choose to use their qualification as a stepping stone toward doctoral training in clinical psychology, to work in criminal justice and mental health settings, e.g. police, prison, probation services, the NHS, and so on.

It's also possible to pursue an academic and / or research career in psychology following graduation (for example by working as a research assistant or associate, or by studying for a PhD). Indeed, your qualification in forensic psychology is likely to be popular with a whole range of potential employers because, in addition to possessing in-depth theoretical knowledge of forensic psychology, you will also have demonstrated an ability to write essays and reports and to present in front of other people (amongst other transferable skills).

What are graduates of the MSc Forensic Psychology doing now?
The job titles below give you an indication of the careers our recent MSc Forensic Psychology graduates are following.

• Mental health support worker
• Force intelligence research officer
• Assistant psychologist
• Research assistant
• Interventions facilitator in a prison
• Programme facilitator in a prison
• Healthcare support worker
• Analyst at a police force
• Review officer at a police force
• Psychology graduate intern

What you’ll study

*We are currently reviewing the content of our courses to ensure that they remain relevant and current to our students’ future ambitions and society. Please continue to check this course webpage for the latest developments.

This course is designed to give you the academic knowledge and practical and research skills recommended by the BPS. You'll also develop the core practical skills that will equip you to become a practitioner in the field of forensic psychology.

During the course you may have the opportunity to gain real life experience within forensic settings. The team appreciate the difficulty of gaining experience in this field and the importance of doing so for your future career, and so offer a selection of different projects and opportunities which will open the door to the practical field of forensic psychology.

Example projects from previous students include: assisting with the evaluation of a treatment programme through interviewing staff; assessing the reliability of a scale with prisoners, including disseminating questionnaires; the impact on staff of working with suicidal prisoners; staff boundary management in Rampton secure hospital; detecting deception with eye-tracking; evaluating support for prisoners on release from prison including interviewing staff who work with mentally ill offenders and their families; testing suicide theories within an offending population.

A range of forensic work experience opportunities (usually one day per week during term time) and / or applied forensic projects are available each year. These will allow you to gain experience in the forensic field of work. For example, you may be working within a forensic environment or a secure hospital.

Course modules

1. Explanations of Crime, Criminal Behaviour and Victimology
2. Police, Justice System and Psychology
3. Prison, Rehabilitation and Aftercare
4. Assessment, Formulation and Treatment of Offenders and Victims
5. Professional Forensic Practice
6. Qualitative Research Design and Analysis One
7. Mixed Methods
8. Advanced Experimentation and Statistics One and Two
9. Forensic Research Project

* Scholarships available for international students.