Programme summary for BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology
About the programme
Forensic psychology is the application of psychological knowledge to the criminal justice system and criminal behaviour. You will study the range of topics to be found on any BPS-accredited BSc Psychology programme. In addition, the programme introduces you to the underlying skills that forensic psychologists use in assessing, interviewing and case formulation, together with related theories and research evidence. Moreover, it examines the contextual aspects of forensic psychology and the applications of psychological theory to the understanding of offending behaviour and criminal conduct.
Professional qualifications
Our BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology degree offers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society.
2-subject degrees
not possible to combine this programme with another subject as part of a 2-subject degree.
Programme structure
BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology is a three-year full-time programme or normally a minimum of four and a half years part-time, though this can often be reduced to four years, depending on previous qualifications and experience.
There are two semesters in each year of study, and in each semester a full-time student would usually study and be assessed in three modules. Each module carries a 20-credit value. At Level 3, however, there is a double, 40-credit research project module, which runs for the entire year.
To be awarded an honours degree in forensic psychology, a student would have completed (or been given prior accreditation in up to two-thirds of) a total of 18 modules, with a value of 360 credits. This would comprise 120 credits at Level 1, 120 at level 2 and 120 at Level 3. The research project Level 3 module must be passed in order to achieve an Honours degree.
A student studying part time would progress at a slower pace. Up to two modules per semester may be followed and assessed in the part time mode.
Career opportunities
A good degree in forensic psychology is the first step towards becoming a professional forensic psychologist. A degree in this field is also relevant to a wide range of other areas of forensic work. For example, graduates would be well suited for posts within organisations such as the Police, the probation and prison services, youth offending teams, and drugs referral and treatment agencies. Alternatively, graduates may pursue a career in other areas where knowledge of psychology is a positive asset, for example sport and leisure, human resource management, consumer research and advertising, media and community work.
Support
Students joining the programme are offered an induction programme in the week before classes begin. Returning students also receive induction to the next level or year of their programme.
All students are allocated a personal and academic tutor. Additional help is available from year group tutors, the programme leader and leaders of individual modules. The School of Psychology has a well-established mentoring scheme in which volunteers from the second and third years of the programme act as mentors to the first year students.
First year students are supported by a programme designed to help them develop study skills, covering IT skills, library use, report and essay writing, the ethics of study and research, and working in groups. Research Methodology teaching is supplemented by on-line interactive programme materials & discussion groups.
Final year project supervisors also provide personal support and help with career choice, job applications and preparation of CVs.
Students can take advantage of the flexibility of our provision (full-time/part-time, and for core modules day or evening teaching), to adjust their mode of study to suit changes in their financial, occupational or family responsibilities.
Specialist support (for example, for financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is also available from central University services. The University has a student special needs advisor.
Admission
For admission to the BSc Forensic Psychology programme candidates normally need:
- 240 UCAS tariff points, with at least 140 points obtained from A2 qualifications or new GNVQ equivalent;
- We also accept people with Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate
- We also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications.
- Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.
- In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required.
- International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes
For further information or clarification, please contact the Psychology Field Administration Team at psychology@uel.ac.uk or telephone 020 8223 4609
Key facts
You can start many programmes in either September or February and applications are simple to make. Click below to:
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