Forensic Psychology - MSc
The MSc Forensic Psychology programme provides a comprehensive pathway to a career in forensic psychology, offering unique opportunities by exploring psychological practice in the legal and criminal justice context, working with client groups such as offenders, victims, and individuals across the life span. You will benefit from direct learning with forensic lecturers, participate in an employer panel assessment, and have the option to undertake a work-based placement, ensuring practical, real-world forensic psychology experience.
This course is currently seeking accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Month of entry
- September
Mode of study
- Full time, Part time
Fees for 2025/26 academic year
- UK - Full time £10,100 per year. Part time £5,600 per year.
International - £17,700 per year.
Duration of study
- Full time - 1 year, Part time - 2 years, Modular - Up to 5 years
Why study Forensic Psychology at Keele University?
Course summary
The MSc Forensic Psychology programme provides a comprehensive pathway to a career in forensic psychology. You will specialise in areas of crime and victim/survivor support, including child witness testimony, crowd behaviour, and crimes that affect older adults such as domestic violence.
Focus on psychology across legal and criminal justice contexts through conducting assessments and formulation of offending behaviour which can inform interventions aimed at reducing the risk of criminal behaviour. This may involve working with individuals of different ages, those who have offended or engaged in criminal behaviour and victims, helping you to progress on to offering evidence-based consultancy across various forensic settings.
You will advance your skills with experiential learning opportunities, engage with professional practice through research, placement opportunities, and practitioner-based projects.
You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a forensic environment through our 'Professional Practice in Forensic Psychology' work placement module, enabling you to apply your theoretical and practical skills. Demonstrate your knowledge and expertise through an array of authentic assessments developed with input from forensic psychologists, to solve real-life challenges faced by external forensic organisations.
At Keele, you can benefit from access to a suite of resources and equipment including the Forensic Science Simulation Centre which is home to a range of professional and domestic crimes scenes, to assist with independent research and your dissertation project, as well as the Moot Courtroom on campus. Throughout the programme, you will acquire a range of transferable skills in communication, research methods and critical evaluation, ready to pursue further study (PhD) or a rewarding psychology-related career.
You will also develop your understanding of the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct and the Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC) Code of Ethics and Conduct to enhance your competencies.
Please note: This course is currently seeking accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Next steps
Course structure
Our MSc Forensic Psychology programme can be studied as either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course, with a September start date. It is also possible to study more flexibly part-time on a modular basis, accumulating degree credits by taking individual modules over a period of a maximum of five years.
As a full-time student, you will complete 180 credits to obtain the master’s qualification, comprising five compulsory modules as shown below. Please note, the teaching delivery may differ for part-time students. The information below outlines a one-year full-time study schedule.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Compulsory modules
PSY-40163 Applied Psychological Research Methods (30 credits)
Benefit from training around a breadth of advanced research skills, research design and analysis to progress through the MSc Forensic Psychology course and beyond. The module develops an advanced and critical understanding of different quantitative and qualitative research skills, methods and philosophical approaches to equip you to both conduct and consume scientific research.
PSY-40167 Antisocial Behaviour Across the Lifespan (30 credits)
Explore the criminal justice system as it applies to individuals across the lifespan, including punishment and courts of law, mental health in the criminal justice system, and explanations around why people engage in antisocial behaviour from the perspectives of the offender and victim/survivor.
PSY-40141 Assessment, Formulation, and Intervention in Forensic Psychology (30 credits)
Develop your skills to undertake an assessment of various offending behaviours and complete a psychological formulation. You will also explore approaches to reducing the risk of offending through evidence-based approaches to treatment planning and interventions.
PSY-40171 Professional Practice in Forensic Psychology (30 credits)
Benefit from the opportunity to complete a practice-based or academic-based placement to gain experience and develop your employability skills in an applied setting. You will acquire necessary knowledge, practical skills and ethical ground to excel as a competent and reflective Forensic practitioner.
Please note: This may require off-campus travel. The costs associated with travel will depend on the chosen mode of travel and the frequency of travel arranged between the student and the supervisor.
PSY-40169 Applied Research Dissertation (60 credits)
An opportunity to engage in designing, developing, conducting, and reporting research in the area of Forensic Psychology under the supervision of staff with qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods expertise.
Please note: Additional costs may be incurred where a student elects to conduct a dissertation project that requires off-campus travel.
Next steps
Entry requirements
Next steps
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 in a BPS-accredited psychology or joint-Psychology degree conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) membership, or equivalent qualification eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS or 65% in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS from a '211' university.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information.
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in a psychology or joint-Psychology degree, or equivalent qualification, which is eligible to confer GBC membership with the BPS.
For more information please see BPS website.
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group C.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Funding
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Next steps
Your career
Our programme will equip you to advance your professional career, working across a variety of sectors such as policing, criminal justice or the NHS.
You may wish to work within social services, supporting families and young people, or explore careers in health services, rehabilitation units, secure hospitals or governmental organisations such as Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, or Home Office.
With an MSc in Forensic Psychology, you can broaden your career prospects across different roles such as:
- Mental Health Support/Recovery Worker
- Rehabilitation Services Officer
- Crime Analyst
- Forensic Support Worker
- Assistant (Forensic) Psychologist
- Probation Officer
- Community Officer
- Social Worker
- Research Assistant
- Teacher
- Charity Worker
Next steps
Teaching, learning and assessment
How you'll be taught
Our Forensic Psychology MSc is delivered through a range of methods to reinforce your learning experience and suit a diversity of experiences. You will engage with lectures, seminars, and practical laboratory classes to support the theoretical and practical expertise you will gain from this programme.
As a postgraduate student at Keele, you will be encouraged to contribute to class-based discussions and interactive individual and group problem-solving to apply your knowledge in practice. You will benefit from one-to-one project supervision and have the opportunity to explore reading lists, receive written and in-person feedback and make use of the Keele Learning Environment (KLE).
How you'll be assessed
As you progress through your degree, you will engage with various assessments to evidence your knowledge, learning and expertise.
These may include:
- Case study report
- Oral presentation
- Scientific laboratory report
- Evidence-based report
- Reflective diary
- Dissertation research project
Next steps
Keele Postgraduate Association
Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.
Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.
Our expertise
Teaching team
Our teaching team includes, but is not limited to:
Dr. Harriet Dymond: A HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist researching paedophilia, sexual offending prevention, pornography and internet-based sexual offending. Harriet has worked with HMPPS, secure services, private practice and community forensic services with adults and children, and is a Treatment Manager with The Aurora Project.
Prof. Cliff Stott, MBE: Cliff aims to understand the nature and role of social identity processes and intergroup relationships in the psychology and dynamics of crowd behaviour, 'riots', 'hooliganism' and 'public order' policing. His work has informed policy, guidance and practice in the management of crows for a range of government and police organisations in the UK including the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, and Staffordshire, Sussex and West Yorkshire Police. His work has also affected the European Council and EU policy and guidance on the policing of crowds, as well as police forces globally.
Dr. Natalie Harrison: As a lecturer in forensic psychology, Natalie has undertaken evaluation work on community and health-based initiatives. Natalie's research primarily explores aggression in the family, including sibling aggression, domestic abuse and childhood trauma, making use of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
Dr. Katie Sambrooks: An expert on adult firesetting, Katie has been responsible for training forensic practitioners to deliver evidence-based treatment for adults with a history of firesetting. She has previously worked at Rampton Hospital, investigating the characteristics of patients admitted to the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women, and now carries out research at Keele University on the assessment and treatment of deliberate firesetting in adults through various methodologies including the use of virtual reality.
Dr. Chris N. H. Street: an expert in lie-truth decision making, Chris has published the contemporary textbook in his field, entitled 'An Introduction to the Science of Deception and Lie Detection'. His work has led to the development of one of two key theories in the area, the Adaptive Lie Detector account, and has been used to inform funded projects with external organisations including cybersecurity specialists. His work has been recognised by the international Association for Psychological Science as a Rising Star in the field. He is on the board of the international Deception Research Society and is the Executive Director of the international research society SARMAC: the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Next steps
Facilities
In the School of Psychology, you will have access to our laboratories that house advanced equipment for research involving adults and children. This includes:
- EEG equipment to detect electrical activity in the brain
- Eye-tracking software to gain deeper understanding of cognitive processes, such as problem solving and decision making
- Virtual reality headsets to perform controlled laboratory studies of large-scale human exploratory behaviour
- Video observation suites to watch, record and collect research data
- Brain stimulation equipment to research links between brain organisation and behaviour
- Suite of laboratories for qualitative research
You may also study in Keele's state-of-the-art, Central Science Laboratories and benefit from world-class learning facilities. An entire floor is fully equipped with PCs and all necessary software for practical labs throughout teaching semesters.
Forensic Science Simulation Centre
With a simulation centre on campus, you will have access to a number of professional domestic crime scene environments which will support your learning and application of theory on this programme.
Moot Courtroom
Explore a realistic courtroom on Keele campus, supporting your learning experiences and practical research.
Next steps
Research
By joining this course, you will become a member of the Justice, Security and Institutional Change research network which is a home to researchers exploring research areas including crowd behaviour, deception detection, domestic violence, firesetting, and more, and deploying techniques ranging from interviews and surveys to computational modelling and VR simulation.
A defining feature of this programme is the specialisation in Forensic psychology across the lifespan, exploring the interface of law, psychology and individuals and groups across the stages of life.
Next steps
Supporting you
At Keele, you will have access to a range of support including an Academic Mentor and staff from the Student Experience and Support team.
During your degree programme, you will engage with teaching staff across the School of Psychology, including research-active staff specialising in areas of crime and victim/survivor support across the lifespan, such as sibling bullying, crowd behaviour and domestic violence.
Our teaching staff have experience delivering training to forensic practitioners, demonstrating links to the professional industry, whilst also providing opportunities for you to hear from guest speakers.