Forensic Psychology
Full-time
Part-time
One year
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
This course will equip you with valuable professional insight and the skills necessary to progress into a career in forensic psychology. You will develop an awareness of the factors that can lead to criminal behaviour and the ways in which individuals can be supported to change. The course will also cover societal factors and disadvantages that contribute to antisocial behaviour, with a focus on victims, trauma, and mental health.
Building on our expert research and practice in the discipline, you will critically evaluate the current knowledge, theory, and evidence base in forensic psychology, while developing the skills and capabilities relevant to professional practice. The programme will utilise a range of practical techniques and research methods applicable to psychological enquiry. Forensic psychology is a growing field in the UK, offering multiple employment routes.
Please note, an application for accreditation has been submitted to the British Psychological Society, which can then lead to Stage 2 of professional qualification as Forensic Psychologists.
You will:
- Select a case study to explore in-depth throughout the course.
- Practice hands-on skills, such as interviewing and scoring psychological assessments.
- Hear directly from a range of guest lecturers in forensic psychology and related fields.
- Understand psychological theories central to modern forensic psychology practice.
- Receive support from a highly qualified team of research- and practice-informed psychology staff.
students accepted
This is for you if...
You want to be a forensic psychologist.
You want to make a difference in your community.
You are interested in pursuing further research in the forensic field.
You have an interest in working in specific forensic areas, such as sexual violence and victim support.
You have an interest in neurodiversity and mental health as they relate to offending behaviour.
All about the course
This course aims to enable you to develop a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of forensic psychology. You will be supported in pursuing relevant work experience and connecting with our course partners, who are specialists in the field.
The full-time route is structured over 12 months and consists of three 13-week trimesters. In trimesters one and two, you will complete two taught modules in each. In trimester three, you will complete your forensic empirical project under the supervision of one of the course tutors.
The forensic empirical project module will also give you the opportunity to pursue an area of forensic psychology directly related to your own work or interests.
Psychology of Criminal Behaviour and Investigation
This module will cover the range of contemporary approaches to understanding criminal behaviour within psychology and will also explore the psychology of the criminal justice system. You will look at approaches to investigation from detection to interrogation and conviction.
Research Methods in Psychology
You will develop a critical understanding and a creative and rigorous approach to the process of research. This will prepare you to complete an empirical project in the field of Forensic Psychology.
Psychological Assessment and Applications
This module will explore the psychological factors relevant to offenders in the criminal justice system, focusing on how offenders are assessed, managed, and treated. A range of treatment and intervention approaches, and the evidence for their efficacy, will be covered. The diversity of offenders will also be addressed, as well as ways in which risk assessment helps make sense of their behaviour.
Psychology of the Legal System and Courtroom
This module will examine the psychological aspects of each step of the legal process in the criminal justice system, and the ways in which forensic psychology assists. A range of practical and theoretical models will be covered and applied.
Forensic Empirical Project
You will be provided with the opportunity to pursue research in an area of forensic psychology that directly relates to your own work, interests, or future career aspirations.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
We are focused on enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients, service users and athletes and our commitment to public involvement help us retain our strong focus on real-world issues.
Facilities
We provide a comfortable and friendly environment for you to carry out a wide range of psychological testing. These include:
- The eye tracker laboratory uses the Tobii x50 eye tracker to monitor conscious and unconscious gaze movements
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
- Immersive environments
- An observation suite with a two-way mirror
- A video game analysis laboratory where you can analyse the psychological and physiological effects of violent video games
- A dedicated computer suite that allows access to a range of psychological programs such as ERTSLab and E-Prime
Programme tutors
Dr Helen Hart
Helen is the Programme Lead for this course and a Chartered Forensic Psychologist with over 25 years of experience. She completed her training through HM Prison Service, where she worked as Head of Departments in medium and maximum-security prisons, specialising in the assessment and treatment of high-risk violent and sexual offenders, psychopathy, and personality disorders. Helen supports professionals across the criminal justice system in areas such as sexual exploitation and risk assessment and provides expert witness reports, particularly in complex cases like non-accidental injury and domestic violence. She has completed a doctorate on trauma and community resilience following the Manchester Arena bombing. Helen is also involved with the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Division of Forensic Psychology and is an Associate Fellow of the BPS.
Rachael is the Deputy Programme Lead. She holds a degree in Psychological Studies and a master’s by Research from the University of Huddersfield. Her PhD explored ‘Morality and Offending: A Comparison between Sexual and Non-Sexual Offenders and Public Perceptions of These Offender Groups’. Rachael has a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, as well as a member of both the British Psychological Society and the British Criminological Society. She currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Criminal Psychology.
Kirstie joined the University of Salford in 2024 as a Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. With over 14 years of experience in higher education, she is an Associate Fellow and Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Kirstie works with the BPS nationally and internationally as part of accreditation teams and is a member of the BPS Undergraduate Education Committee. Her research focuses on neurological responses to visual stimuli like violent and gory content, with current projects involving key stakeholders such as police forces and the Home Office to explore sexual harassment and consent in online environments.
Professor Clare Alley
Clare is a Professor in Forensic Psychology and an affiliate of the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre at Gothenburg University, Sweden. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Manchester, an MSc in Forensic Psychology from Glasgow Caledonian University, and has research affiliations with the University of Glasgow and the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice. Clare acts as an expert witness in criminal cases and contributes to the evidence base for courts through her published work on psychology and legal issues.
Simon is a Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is also a recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Simon's research focuses on psychological resilience and the development of interventions to enhance resilience.
What about after uni?
You will have gained the practical skills and developed confidence to work in a range of criminal justice and mental health settings. You may want to continue your professional training towards becoming a forensic psychologist and can then progress into leadership positions within the field.
Some of our graduates will go on to complete a doctorate in Forensic Psychology or complete further training in related fields such as probation or the police.
Career Links
We have links across the criminal justice system. Specifically, Kemple View Priory Hospital works closely with us to offer enrichment opportunities for you alongside their own forensic psychologists and a wider multidisciplinary team.
Priory shares the same ethos as our course which is that clients are at the centre of all we do and working in the real world makes a difference.
What you need to know
Undergraduate degree
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree with a 2:1 or higher.
English Language Requirements
International applicants will be required to show proficiency in English. Overseas students must provide evidence of proficiency in English - IELTS 6.5 band score (minimum of 6.5 for reading and writing and no less than 6.0 for the speaking and listening components) or above is proof of this.
If you are an international student, you should check your country page for a list of the equivalent qualifications we accept from around the world and more information about English language requirements.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,100.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000.00per year |