Psychology (Forensic Contexts)

Our degree is your first step towards becoming a chartered and registered practitioner psychologist. Accredited by the British Psychological Society, our degree will give you a broad understanding of psychology and a more specialist understanding of its role in the criminal justice system.

You’ll cover all the British Psychological Society required content, and share modules with Psychology BSc. You have the choice of topic for your assignments, giving you the opportunity to understand how general psychology theories apply to crime. Your second and third year feature bespoke modules focusing on the causes and effects of crime, how psychology can be applied to the criminal justice system, and the roles of forensic psychologists.

Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to crime and criminal justice, from police investigations to rehabilitation of offenders. This can be a challenging subject, as you will have to consider material relating to a range of different kinds of offenders and their offences.

You’ll also consider the impact on victims and the kinds of support they may need to help them contribute as witnesses in the criminal justice system. While sometimes distressing, you’ll need to approach these topics with a thoughtful and professional mindset. 

Throughout your studies, you’ll build professional skills in communication, ethical practice and decision-making, preparing you for a wide range of careers within and beyond forensic psychology.

This course is taught through a mix of interactive lectures, seminars and simulations, helping you apply psychological knowledge to real-world contexts.

You’ll explore how psychology is used across areas such as criminal justice, healthcare and wider society, while developing specialist knowledge in forensic psychology alongside a strong foundation in the subject.

You’ll gain hands-on experience designing research, collecting and analysing data, and using specialist digital tools, giving you insight into how psychological evidence is developed and then applied in professional settings.

You’ll develop skills of collaboration and team-working by conducting group projects researching how general psychology can be applied to forensic settings. You’ll also learn how to assess and support vulnerable individuals involved in that process.

You’ll earn to communicate in ways that are appropriate to different audiences, including presentations, poster creation and blogs. 

Between second and third year, there is an option to take a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable industry experience and apply your learning in a professional setting.

This course is designed to ensure you complete the core curriculum requirements set by the British Psychological Society, which means you can pursue a wide range of psychology-related careers and postgraduate study. Careers span from working in prisons, probation and rehabilitation units to the security service and research.

Your future career is important to the course, and we aim to give you plenty of opportunities to develop your professional skills, including a placement module in year two. You’ll also have the opportunity to take a placement year, helping you gain practical experience, build confidence and explore your career options before you graduate.

Guest lecturers will give you overviews of different careers available, and how you can pursue both chartered psychology and non-chartered routes.

Many graduates choose to continue their studies with a postgraduate degree in order to become a registered forensic psychologist. This usually means taking a BPS-accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology, such as the programme we offer here at UoG, followed by supervised practice in order to qualify as a registered practitioner forensic psychologist.