This course requires 112–128 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. We are happy to consider a combination of qualifications and grades to meet the overall tariff, for example A-levels A*BC, ABB, BBC or ACC, BTECs DDM or DMM. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.
If you do not meet these you may want to consider our foundation year, a one-year course that will prepare you for degree-level study.
If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components or equivalent.
Using state-of-the-art facilities, apply the concepts and principles of psychology to criminal investigation settings
Learn from forensic investigation experts about the criminal investigation process and relevant legal issues
Graduate with research skills and methods to investigate human behaviour and cognitive processes within the criminal justice system
Develop transferable skills including critical thinking, project management, presentation skills and professional practice
Work with world-leading researchers on projects through the Research Apprenticeship Scheme - many of our students have published work with members of the staff
Opportunity to take an optional 4-week or 30-week placement in industry to give you essential real-world experience and begin building a network of professional contacts.
Foundation year: We have a foundation year option for UK students who do not meet the entry requirements for the degree course. This additional year of study will give you a grounding in the scientific skills required for this course, building your confidence, knowledge and skills for further study. After successful completion of the foundation year, you will progress to the full degree.
UCAS Code: C803
With foundation year: C804
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Foundation year
Core units
Academic Study Skills: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development.
Applied Sciences: You'll gain a basic understanding of some fundamental aspects of science underpinning more specific disciplines, and an appreciation of how various scientific disciplines impact human life. You'll understand the differences between pure and applied science, as well as the roles of different ways applied science can be funded, and implications of these funding mechanisms.
Introduction to Biology: Biology is the study of life and hence knowledge of plant and animal cell biology is fundamental to understanding wider concepts in biology. This unit also introduces key themes in human, environmental and ecological sciences to provide a sound underpinning in knowledge for future studies.
Introduction to Psychology: This unit is designed to prepare you for advanced coursework in psychology. You will complete the unit with a good understanding of the various areas of psychology and how they seek to explain behaviour.
Mathematics in Science: You will build your confidence in mathematics, in order to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from biology, chemistry and psychology and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format, including graphs. In order to carry this out it is essential to be able to convert the data between systems of units and to understand how to present very large and very small numbers in standard form. Basic statistical analysis of tabulated data will be carried out to introduce the concept of confidence limits and familiarisation of statistical testing.
Foundation Year Project: You will carry out a research task on scientific topics chosen by the unit leader which you will be able to conduct a scientific investigation on. You will devise your own investigation and produce a literature review as a final scientific report.
Year 1
Core units
Experimental Methods & Statistical Analysis: This unit will introduce you to the planning, designing and conducting of experiments and research studies as well as the analysis and effective communication of experimental and research study findings.
Qualitative Research Methods: The unit will continue to develop your ability to plan, design and conduct experiments and research studies as well as the analysis and effective communication of experimental and research study findings.
Biological & Cognitive Psychology: Examines the relationship between the biology of the brain and how we process information, think and make decisions.
Social Psychology & Individual Differences: Discover the ways in which human behaviour is affected by the social context in which it occurs and how behaviour differs between individuals.
Developmental & Clinical Psychology: Explores developmental change cross the life-span through theory, research and practice. You’ll gain an understanding of the concepts and principles of clinical psychology in this unit.
Introduction to Forensic Investigation: This unit will provide you with a deeper appreciation of the legal aspects, command structure and operational procedures of UK forensic investigations and provide a deeper insight into a range of forensic sciences available. It will provide you with the theoretical understanding to enhance practical experience in the recovery of physical evidence.
Year 2
Core units
Statistics & Research Methods: Further developing experimental and non-experimental research skills, statistical analysis, interpretation and reporting of research findings.
Research Methods & Analysis: Continuing from Statistics & Research Methods, this is the final Research Methods unit before the final year project.
Developmental & Applied Forensic Investigation: This unit will further your knowledge and understanding of the concepts and principles of developmental psychology, and how such psychological knowledge and theories can be applied in forensic investigation contexts.
Personality, Intelligence & Social Psychology: Explores the measurement of differences in personality and intelligence, identity and self-perception, attitudes, social cognition, and group processes.
Biological Psychology: The study of the neural correlates of various core brain functions and impairment associated with brain damages. This unit will develop your analytical thinking, synthetic thinking and your ability to search for, recognise and critically evaluate information.
Cognition & Language: Examines the psychology of attention, memory, and problem-solving. Also explores the effects of brain damage (e.g. aphasia, spatial neglect).
Optional placements
Final year
Core units
Psychology Project: You will have the opportunity to conduct your own research allowing you to explore in depth an area in psychology by working one-to-one with a member of academic staff to develop a research idea, design your own experiment, gather data, analyse it, and finally bring it all together with a written scientific report of your work. The research areas will draw from staff expertise which touch upon a wide range of fascinating topics and methodologies using departmental resources, including experimental labs, observational suits, eye-tracking, electroencephalography (EEG), Transcranial Electric Stimulation (TES), and Virtual Reality lab. If required, you will receive individual support and training on this equipment. In addition, we offer the possibility to gain invaluable experience conducting applied research with some of our external collaborators, including the NHS and Dorset Police, on projects with ‘real-world’ application.
Forensic Psychology: This unit will demonstrate the way in which psychological research underpins the understanding of forensic psychology and professional practice within the criminal justice system. As well as providing a critical understanding of the psychological processes, you will explore key theories and apply them to real-world settings.
Forensic Law & Practice: You will critically consider the criminal justice system in England and Wales and engage with the central issues common to any major criminal justice system. You will be equipped with a greater knowledge of criminal procedure including a comprehensive coverage of the entire criminal process from police investigation through to trial process to appeals and rectifications of miscarriages of justice.
Option units (choose two):
Memory & Decision Making: This unit builds a comprehensive understanding of key contemporary issues in memory research and decision-making research.
Mind, Brain & Evolution: Through comparative psychology study the course will consider the differences between humans and animals, explore how the mind can be unmade after a stroke and examine consequences of mental disorders.
Neuroimaging: Acquire in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of various neuroimaging and neuroscientific techniques, including practice.
Applied Clinical Psychology: Using current research and clinical experience, the emphasis will be on exploring therapeutic practice, investigating NHS, local authority and third-sector service provision, and understanding the role of service users and carers in recovery from mental illness.
Mind Over Matter in Medicine: This module will teach you an understanding of key issues in placebo, nocebo, hypnosis, suggestibility and clinical communication research. This includes learning about the experimental, medical and neuroscience techniques used as well as the theoretical constructs that seek to explain suggestibility.
Face Recognition & its Disorders: In this unit, you will gain a detailed understanding of the key models and contemporary debates in face processing research, and develop critical evaluation skills in the assessment of research papers.
Health Psychology: This unit will provide you with an understanding of the role of psychology in promoting health and well-being, and the impact of this as we grow older.
Educational Psychology & Special Educational Needs (SEN): An introduction to educational psychology, SEN, labelling and inclusive education. You will discuss how psychological theories and research have influenced our understanding of child learning and teaching, and consider the effects on schools and teachers.
Cultural Psychology: This unit focuses on human behaviour and neural correlates of human mind across cultures, and the underlying theories. The cross-cultural difference of psychological phenomena will be highlighted in the context of a globalised, multiple-culture world.
Current Trends in Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience: You will acquire comprehensive knowledge about the current trends in clinical and cognitive neuroscience as well as neuropsychological research and practice and related methodologies in order to be able to critically evaluate models and evidence in the research field.
Psychology of Social Media & Videogames: You will critically examine, evaluate and understand the impact of social media and videogames on individuals, groups, organisations and society, using psychological theories and methods.
Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare: In this unit you will study and understand the psychological factors that determine how individuals engage with cybersecurity, either as targets, perpetrators, designers or practitioners.
Counselling Psychology: Using current research and practical experience, you’ll acquire an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the concepts and principles relating to real-world applications of counselling psychology.
Emotions, Mental Health & Affective Neuroscience: This unit will explore the role of emotions in various mental illnesses and the link between emotions and cognition.
Psychology of Sexualities: You'll think critically about how sex categories, sexual identities and gender are experienced and interpreted by individuals, and how they are influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
Accredited by the BPS, this course will be widely recognised by employers. Our degree will prepare you for a range of careers including security and forensic, criminal investigation, cybersecurity, online training, teaching, management consultancy, social media marketing and advertising, health promotion and personnel work.
This degree will also provide a basis for postgraduate studies for professional or academic careers in Psychology as to some extent they all use technology (e.g. forensic, educational, occupational, sports, clinical and health psychology).
OSHC: 624 ($) GBP per year
