StudyLink logoHome
Students on a university campus

Forensic Psychology, MSc, University of Portsmouth

the United Kingdom

University of Portsmouth

Study options for this course

The award How you will study Study duration Course start Domestic course fees International course fees
MScFull-time, Part-time1 - 2 yearSeptemberGBP 0 per yearGBP 0 per year

About Forensic Psychology, MSc - at University of Portsmouth

Overview

If you want to apply what you learned through your undergraduate psychology studies to the field of offender behaviour, then this Master's in Forensic Psychology will give you the knowledge and skills to work in the criminal justice system, or train to become a qualified forensic psychologist.

The course brings together the disciplines of clinical, social and cognitive psychology, with criminology and law. You'll address the major issues concerning the justice system in relation to individuals, organisations and society, and when you successfully complete your studies, you'll be able to apply your knowledge in a range of contexts from criminal investigations, to welfare, wellbeing and rehabilitation.

Accredited by the British Psychological Society, the course represents the first of 2 stages of training required to become a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist. 

Course highlights:

  • Learn from the largest group of actively researching forensic psychology academics in the UK
  • Work with professionally qualified practitioners and researchers in forensic psychology
  • Use our specialist facilities for interview observation including eye-tracking and digital analysis
  • Study themes including professional competence, assessment and interventions with offenders, and investigative psychology and the legal process
  • Complete a research project on a topic of your choice, applying your research and data analysis skills to produce a piece of work to a publishable standard
  • Fulfil stage 1 of 2 stages of training required to become a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist

Career development

Careers this Master’s prepares you for

Forensic psychologists usually start by doing a minimum of 2 years full-time supervised practice in an employment setting. The work of forensic psychologists is varied, ranging from criminal investigations to organisational change, and from matters of civil justice such as child access to operational emergencies such as hostage incidents. 

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:

  • Trainee Forensic Psychologist
  • Research Officer
  • Assistant Psychologist
  • Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
  • Probation Practitioner
  • Wellbeing and Recovery Practioner
  • Interventions Facilitator 
  • Resettlement Facilitator
  • Police Staff
  • Mental Health Consultant
  • Support Worker

Graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:

  • Ministry of Justice
  • NHS
  • Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service
  • Seetec
  • STR Group
  • Youth Justice Services
  • Motive 8

Notes about fees for this course

https://www.port.ac.uk/study/masters-and-postgraduate-taught/fees-and-funding

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree in Psychology or a Pass in an MSc Psychology conversion course.
In either case, the course must be recognised by the British Psychology Society as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

Consideration will also be given to applicants with a 2:2 degree where the applicant can demonstrate, through their account of their relevant education and experience in their personal statement, commitment to and awareness of diversity and inclusion (eg. caring responsibilities, disability, exclusion/unconscious bias).

Applicants are expected to have some relevant experience at the time of application. This can be one or more of three kinds. First is paid employment directly within or related to the criminal justice system (e.g. Assistant Psychologist in the Prison Service/Forensic Mental Health Setting, a role in probation/the police, Youth Offending Team or similar). Second is paid work in a setting where you have used “transferable skills” (e.g. interpersonal skills/problem-solving) with relevant populations such as the homeless, individuals with learning disabilities, those with mental health/substance related problems. The third is voluntary work with relevant agencies that again work with populations relevant to the criminal justice system (e.g. Victim Support, NACRO, Circles, SOVA, Motiv8, ‘Appropriate Adult’ services).

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Courses you may be interested in at other institutions

Below are some suggested courses at other providers that you may also be interested in:

European Law in a Global Context Master Degree

University of Groningen

Find out more

Political Science UG:Diploma

International Career Institute

Find out more

Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions MSc

EIT Urban Mobility Master School

Find out more

Film BA (Hons)

University of Kent

Find out more

Economics & Policy of Energy & Climate Change MSc

Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde

Find out more

Postgraduate pathways and pre-masters at other institutions

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these postgraduate preparation courses from another institution:

Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction

Australian Catholic University (ACU)

Find out more

Midwifery

Trinity College Dublin

Find out more

Graduate Diploma in Health Management

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Find out more
See all Postgraduate pathway courses

Other courses at University of Portsmouth

There are 492 other courses listed from University of Portsmouth. A selection of these are displayed below:

Accounting and Data Analytics MSc

University of Portsmouth

Find out more

Accounting and Finance MSc

University of Portsmouth

Find out more

Accounting with Finance BA (Hons)

University of Portsmouth

Find out more

Accounting, Economics and Finance PhD, MPhil

University of Portsmouth

Find out more
View all 492 courses at University of Portsmouth

Related Information

Find out more about studying in the United Kingdom