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Are you planning to pursue a career as a Forensic psychologist? Would you like to learn from expert psychologists with specialist skills and experience working in prisons, including with young offenders and vulnerable prisoners?
Examine the role of psychologists in legal settings and develop your understanding of crime, criminal behaviour and the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with a history of offending.
Our MSc Forensic Psychology course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This accreditation is the first stage to becoming a Forensic psychologist.
This specialist programme is aimed at students who hold a BPS-accredited Psychology degree or professionals working within a relevant Forensic setting.
On this course, you’ll develop a robust understanding of a spectrum of contemporary issues relating to Forensic psychology including ethical considerations, research and practice-based theory.
The course is delivered by a range of staff, including academics with research experience in Forensic psychology and practitioner psychologists. They have experience working across a broad range of Forensic and Forensic mental health settings and by specialist Forensic or Forensic mental health researchers. The programme team consists of HCPC-registered Forensic psychologists and Chartered psychologists with the BPS. They will share their experiences to enhance your learning through numerous practice-based clinical examples and research-led teaching
Following a critical and theoretical introduction to Forensic psychology and the development and context of research in Forensic psychology and its application, you’ll explore the practice of Forensic psychology including the role of the Forensic psychologist.
The team will help you develop your understanding of approaches and techniques used when working with Forensic populations as well as research methods needed for psychological enquiry and how to apply these to research projects in Forensic settings.
You’ll also complete a supervised piece of research in an area relevant to Forensic Psychology.
This postgraduate degree has a strong applied Forensic focus, which offers excellent preparation for your future career in Forensic psychology. This could include working in a variety of Forensic or community settings, for example, prisons, probation, Forensic mental health settings or in an academic setting.
You’ll benefit from our established links within the industry, and you will hear from academics and practitioners who work in professional settings.
Whether or not you're already working in the field, the course will allow you to develop both the theoretical and practical understanding of Forensic psychological practice and the confidence to take the next step in your career.
The next step is to complete approved applied training, such as the Qualification in Forensic Psychology provided by the BPS. The Prison Service is the largest employer of Forensic psychologists, but opportunities also exist in the wider Criminal Justice System, the Home Office, the NHS (in special hospitals and rehabilitation units), the police and social services. Alternatively, graduates may choose to pursue a career in academia and research, including progressing to PhD study.
Face-to-face teaching is delivered in three one-week blocks at the University in October, January and March, and is supported by online learning. In addition to the on-campus blocks there will also be online sessions delivered via Microsoft Team which will run on a Wednesday and a Thursday from 1-3pm throughout Semester 1 and Semester 2.
A wide range of teaching and learning approaches are utilised including lectures, tutorials, specialist guest speakers, time for self-study and online supervision.
While this course is delivered in a way that is flexible enough to allow you to continue to pursue existing work commitments, it is also possible for you to study on a part-time basis.
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This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), thereby accounting for Stage 1 of the Qualification in Forensic Psychology.
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You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
You will study the following modules as part of your degree.
This module provides core curriculum content from the BPS, including a critical and theoretical introduction to forensic psychology and the development and context of research in forensic psychology and its application.
The academic team will support you to develop an in-depth understanding of theories and practice for psychological assessment and formulation, which will inform risk management and treatment interventions when working with forensic populations.
On this module, you’ll explore forensic psychology practice in greater detail. This predominantly involves enhancing your understanding of the role of the forensic psychologist, and developing practical skills. A registered Forensic Psychologist will share their knowledge and experience of reflective practice which is a crucial part of the training process. You will enhance your critical thinking and reflective practice skills and discuss the importance of professional ethics and social justice issues in forensic psychology.
This will provide an introduction to the techniques and research methods needed for psychological enquiry at an advanced level, including systematic reviewing skills and ethical considerations. This module will enable you to apply these research method skills to designing research projects in forensic settings, applying for research ethics approval and collecting and analysing research data.
You’ll complete a supervised piece of research work in which you’ll develop your independent research skills and apply them to an area relevant to forensic psychology. Your academic supervisor will support you to design, conduct and analyse your research project to a publishable standard.
| Year | Semester | Module | Credits | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semester 1 | Forensic Psychology: Context, Theory & Application | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching |
| Assessment, Formulation & Treatment in Forensic Settings | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching | ||
| Semester 2 | Advanced Research Methods for Practitioner Psychologists | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching | |
| Professional Development in Forensic Practice | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching | ||
| Semester 2 and Summer | Applied Research Project | 60 | TBC face-to-face hours + 10 hours supervision |
| Year | Semester | Module | Credits | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semester 1 | Forensic Psychology: Context, Theory & Application | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching |
| Semester 2 | Professional Development in Forensic Practice | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching | |
| 2 | Semester 1 | Assessment, Formulation & Treatment in Forensic Settings | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching |
| Semester 2 | Advanced Research Methods for Practitioner Psychologists | 30 | 10 face-to-face hours + 30 hours online teaching | |
| Semester 1, 2 and Summer | Applied Research Project | 60 | TBC face-to-face hours + 10 hours supervision |
You will be assessed through a variety of projects and coursework such as:
The type of assessment will vary from module to module, with the focus on helping you to develop your knowledge, skills and understanding of the application of forensic psychology in practice.
At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.
Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:
We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.
We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:
To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.
We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:
Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.
The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.
As part of the admission process, applicants will be invited to interview if they meet entry requirements. Applicants can be expected to be asked about their interest in Forensic Psychology and understanding of the course, their research interests and relevant experience or plans, and what they hope to gain from the course. The interview aims to get to know the applicant, their knowledge and understanding, and allow the applicant to get to know the course better.
This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.
For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.
If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.
Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses.
The MSc Forensic Psychology offers the following discount for eligible students.
| Postgraduate course | Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount |
|---|---|
| MSc Forensic Psychology | 50% for Leeds Trinity graduates with a 1st class honours degree |
| MSc Forensic Psychology | 35% for Leeds Trinity graduates with a 2:1 honours degree |
This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.
There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.
Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or [email protected]
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Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).
The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter.
Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, invite to an informal interview or an application decision.
You should accept or decline your offer by emailing [email protected].
If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.
You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus, if originals are not needed you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.