Can you determine whether a violent offender will reoffend? How reliable is a child’s witness testimony? How do you conduct a HCR-20 risk assessment?
Examine the role of psychologists in legal settings, advances in the psychological understanding of offender behaviour, and assessment and rehabilitation. You’ll critically examine the role of psychology in various forensic settings, demonstrating how theory is applied to real-life situations.
Our masters course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is the first stage towards gaining chartered psychologist status with the BPS. You’ll explore topics such as investigating and prosecuting crime, rehabilitation, and other current issues within forensic psychology.
In practical sessions, you might work on case formulations, complete violence risk assessments and undertake behavioural investigative advice reports.
Alongside workshops, you’ll have the o...
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
To give you a thorough understanding of forensic psychology, you’ll study core curriculum content from the British Psychological Society (BPS). This includes the application and use of assessment tools within forensic practice and applying psychology to legal processes. You’ll look at how we assess offenders within forensic settings and how we apply theory to practice.
Some of the areas you’ll typically explore include the role of psychologists in the criminal and civil courts and offender assessment. You’ll consider interviewing and eyewitness testimony in different types of victims of crime and witnesses, as well as psychological measurement.
You’ll also learn practical skills in how to conduct risk assessments, such as the completion of HCR-20v3 (a set of assessment guidelines that helps you to consider an individual's risk of violent offending).
Alongside building your academic knowledge of forensic psychology, we’ll help you to develop skills in communication (including presenting), report writing, analytical thinking, and reflective practice. These are transferable skills that you’ll be able to use across your career.
Some of our areas of expertise in forensic psychology include juror decision making, expert witness evidence, eyewitness and alibi evidence and risk formulation.
When you successfully complete this course, you’ll fulfil stage one of the requirements towards Chartered Membership of the BPS and full membership of the Division of Forensic Psychology.
The MSc Forensic Psychology course is only open to applicants who have a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree (or equivalent through an accredited conversion course). International students will have to provide evidence that their degree meets the BPS requirements.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
A 2:1 or above in a BPS-accredited psychology undergraduate degree (or equivalent through a psychology conversion course) conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) is required.
International applicants have to show evidence that their undergraduate degree is eligible for GBC. Applicants must contact the British Psychological Society independently to verify this and upload the proof along with their application. For information, please check the BPS website.
Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here.
Full-time fee: £9,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £1056 per 20 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Full-time fee: £18,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £2056 per 20 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Optional estimate: £400
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, you may choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
To practise as a forensic psychologist in the UK, you’ll need to complete further training to achieve chartered psychologist status with BPS and apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). As a chartered psychologist, you might work in a range of criminal justice settings such as prisons, probation, voluntary sector services or the police.
This course will enable you to work in a range of forensic and clinical settings such as mental health, youth offending, prisons, probation, secure units, policing, and civil services.
Please contact our course enquiries team.
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You can review our current Terms and Conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme Review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the
changes section of our Terms and Conditions .
Important Notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
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our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
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