Overview
Ever wondered how the science of psychology is used to inform practice in forensic and legal settings?
This BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), is one of only a few undergraduate courses in the country specialising in this field. You’ll learn about investigative interviewing and deception detection, and cover topics such as eye witness identification and burglar selection strategy.
You'll be eligible for graduate membership of the BPS when you complete the course, which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. The skills you learn will also be useful in careers like police work, social welfare, the probation service and teaching.
What you'll experience
On this BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology degree course, you’ll:
- Be taught by academic researchers, who are conducting pioneering research in forensic psychology
- Have the opportunity to put your investigative techniques to the test in our Forensic Interviewing Suite, which features thermal imaging cameras and advanced digital and video analysis
- Develop transferable skills in communication, numeracy, teamwork, critical thinking, computing and independent learning
- Be able to use eye-tracking equipment and test minority influencing scenarios in our Observation Suite
- Take advantage of our connections with the local justice sector, offering opportunities for forensic psychology work placements
- Enjoy the benefits of studying in a department hosting one of the UK’s largest forensic psychology research groups
- Use our motion capture studios, which feature the latest Vicon optical system, to explore the mechanics and perception of human movement, looking at how body language influences our appraisal of others and affects interpersonal interactions
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- tutorial groups
- practical lab and studio sessions
There’s a priority on integrating research into all of our teaching. This ensures you'll learn about the most important and current issues in forensic psychology that effect real-life practice.
How you're assessed:
You’ll be assessed through:
- written examinations
- practical reports and essays
- poster presentations
- oral presentations
- self-led research project
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year 1 students: 25% by written exams, 22% by practical exams and 53% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 38% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 54% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 33% by written exams, 13% by practical exams and 54% by coursework
Careers and opportunities
When you complete the course, you'll be eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS), which is an essential first step to becoming a professional forensic psychologist. To become a professional forensic psychologist, you'll need to do further academic training for up to 6 years.
What can you do with a Forensic Psychology degree?
Many graduates go on to do an MSc in Forensic Psychology after the course. You could also start a career in areas such as:
- teaching
- health associated professions
- social welfare
- police work
- probation service
- research
What jobs can you do with a Forensic Psychology degree?
Roles previous graduates have gone on to include:
- clinical psychologist
- forensic psychologist
- educational psychologist
- counsellor
- health planning analyst
