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BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology with Integrated Foundation Year

Learn how criminal behaviour and the legal system have been conceptualised and approached. Examine violent offending such as murder, terrorism, stalking, cyber and sexual crime. Graduate and work with prisoners, offenders, and victims of crime.

A lecturer standing at the front of a classroom of students sitting at desks, some with laptops

Key course information

UCAS codeC817
Duration4 years
Fee (UK)£9,535
LocationOn campus

Course summary

Explore the fascinating link between psychology and the criminal justice system to understand why people commit crimes and how we can support them through rehabilitation.

You’ll study the five core areas of psychology as set out by the British Psychological Society (BPS), learning how the mind works and how this knowledge applies in real-world forensic settings. You’ll look at topics like violent and serious offending, risk assessment, and how forensic psychologists support the police, courts, and prisons.

Throughout the BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology course, you’ll develop practical skills used by professionals in the field. You’ll learn how to:

  • Use and understand psychometric tests
  • Assess risk and write reports for courts or parole boards
  • Analyse police interviews
  • Present evidence in court as an expert witness
  • Plan and carry out your own psychological research.

You’ll be taught by experienced lecturers who are active researchers and practitioners in forensic psychology. They’ll guide you through real-life issues, using up-to-date research and case studies.

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). If you graduate with at least a 2:2 degree, you’ll gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step to becoming a professional Forensic Psychologist.

Psychology gives you skills that are useful in many careers. Some of our graduates go on to study forensic psychology at postgraduate level and become Chartered Forensic Psychologists. Others work in settings such as prisons, secure hospitals, probation services, courts, and rehabilitation centres. Whether you want to work in criminal justice, support mental health, or apply psychology in a different way, this course gives you strong knowledge, practical experience, and transferable skills to build your future.

Integrated Foundation Year

This course is also available with an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year is an extra year before starting your three-year undergraduate degree, designed to build your study skills and subject knowledge so you feel ready to succeed.

If you've narrowly missed the entry requirements for the standard three-year route, or have relevant work experience and want to broaden your subject knowledge and study skills before starting your degree, completing an Integrated Foundation Year could be for you. Please note, this route isn't available to international students.

My confidence and career have blossomed since graduating. I've secured a job working in a trauma-informed school, helping children who've had adverse life experiences, and I've just applied for a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Caitlin Latimer

Read Caitlin Latimer's story

What you'll study

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some of these options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific required modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

Undergraduate module credits should total 120 credits per academic year. If optional modules are available alongside core modules on your course, you should choose an amount that totals 120 credits.

How you'll learn

Teaching methods include a mixture of large and small lectures, seminars and workshops, one-to-ones, and group tutorials. You'll also have personal development sessions with academic staff to help with your studies and developing your employability skills.

As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are ongoing assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning. Assessment methods include essays, scientific reports, presentations, multimedia web pages, expert witness reports, writing formulations, case studies, exams, portfolios, online quizzes, academic posters, patchwork text, an exhibition, an academic poster conference, post occupancy evaluation, and designing behaviour change interventions.

This course shares a common first year with BSc (Hons) Psychology, BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling, and BSc (Hons) Clinical Psychology, which allows you to change routes at the end of the first year should one of these specialisms appeal to you.

Entry requirements

Fees and finance support

UK£9,535

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2026/27 will be £9,535. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student on the Integrated Foundation Year route, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Apply now

UK students

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