Forensic Psychology BSc (Hons)

This course is in clearing

Overview

Course options

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Degree

UCAS code: C816112 UCAS points

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant
  • Full time, 3 years
  • Pound 9250 per year

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, home applicant, part time

  • Home Applicant
  • Part time
  • pro-rata full time fee

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, international applicant, full time

  • International Applicant
  • Full time, 3 years
  • TBC per year

Degree with foundation year

UCAS code: CC8164 UCAS points

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant
  • Full time, 4 years
  • Pound 9250 per year

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, international applicant, full time

  • International Applicant
  • Full time, 4 years
  • TBC per year
International applications are closed for 2024

What makes this course different

Our world-leading research

92% of research is world-leading, internationally excellent, or internationally recognised (REF,2021)

Access to excellent facilities

Get involved with cutting-edge technology - Virtual Reality in our Technology-enhanced Multipurpose Psychology Lab (TEMPL), eye-tracking or EEG in the cognitive neuroscience laboratory.

3rd in London

Our Psychology courses rank 3rd in London in the Guardian University Guide 2025.

Accreditation

Accredited by the British Psychological Society

This accreditation is a mark of quality that students and employers understand and value. Studying a BPS-accredited course will allow you to gain graduate or chartered membership of the Society which is useful for your psychology career.

Course modules

This course provides an understanding of modern psychology, covering key areas like biological foundations, cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, individual differences, conceptual and historical issues, and research methods.

In years 2 and 3, you can focus on forensic or criminal modules, exploring the interaction of behaviour, mental health, and the legal system. This will give you a deeper insight into research methods, measurement tools, and real-life applications within forensic contexts.

In your third year of your forensic psychology degree, you'll deepen your knowledge in advanced forensic and criminal psychology topics, honing your expertise in the field. These modules equip you with the skills and knowledge to excel in forensic psychology research and practice.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Your future career

A forensic psychology degree can lead to a variety of careers in the legal, criminal justice, and mental health fields.  You may work with young offenders and criminals to reduce offending behaviour, analyse crime profiles or assess the treatment of prisoners.  It may take several years to become a licensed forensic psychologist. Try to gain as much work experience as possible during your psychology degree.

Industry links

We have links with NHS Trusts across the North Thames region, MIND, Terrence Higgins Trust, Centrepoint, Women's Aid, National Autistic Society, Young Gamblers and Gamers Education Trust (YGAM).

Graduate employers

The largest single employer of UK-based forensic psychologists is the HM Prison and Probation Service. You could also work for the NHS, Home Office or other government departments.

Job roles

Roles you could go into include: forensic psychologist; probation officer; mental health nurse; researcher; high intensity therapist, recovery support worker. 

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

Further study

You could study clinical or counselling psychology at the postgraduate level. If you want to become a licensed forensic psychologist, you will need a Master’s degree approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), a minimum of three years of evidence-supervised practice and an HCPC-accredited doctoral programme.

Male student standing in front of books in the library
Our degrees in psychology will equip you with the tools and skills you need to investigate human behaviour and to adopt a critical analysis of what you discover. I very much hope you will join us in our search for behavioural insights and for solutions to the problems that face humanity, whether at the individual, group, national, international or global level."
Dr Richard Ralley

Head of Department of Psychological Sciences

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including: 

  • Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work 
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts 
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services 
  • Careers workshops and employer events 
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top:

  • Work-based projects
  • Networking and visits to leading organisations
  • Support in starting a new business
  • London on our doorstep

 

How you'll learn

When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.

Guided independent study

Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers. Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).

Academic support

Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisers (you’ll have an academic adviser from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us), and university central support services.

Dedicated personal tutor

If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, academic tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.

You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks.

UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).

Workload

Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars, and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

The approximate hours for this course are: 

  • Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
  • Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
  • Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Class sizes

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 20 - 25 students a year. Lecture sizes are normally 20 plus students.

In the seminars, you will be taught in smaller groups of students. However, this can vary by academic year.

How you'll be assessed

We assess your academic work through various methods like group work, exams, essays, presentations, case studies, professional development, and practical activities. Grades contribute to module marks, and assessment includes a combination of coursework and exams spread throughout the year.

The course includes a work-based learning module at level 5 (Work-based Learning in Psychology) with a minimum of 30 hours of included work experience. Assessment focuses on reflection, connecting to psychology research and theory, and personal/professional development. 

Feedback is provided within 15 working days according to UEL's policy.

Campus and facilities

Water Lane, Stratford

Who teaches this course

This course is delivered by School of Childhood and Social Care

The psychology teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

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Statistics for BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology Degree, Full Time

Statistics for BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology Degree, Full Time

What our students and staff say

Psychology Research
The course I’m studying covers a wide range of topics in forensic psychology, giving me a good understanding of the topic. The lecturers are very knowledgeable and supportive, and encourage students' personal development."

Simina Simon

Forensic Psychology, BSc (Hons), undergraduate

Psychology Student
"During my third year, I would have been lost without the support and guidance of my project supervisor. He was incredibly helpful as I worked on my final year project."

Aime Leahy

BSc (Hons) Psychology