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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
Forensic Psychology is not only a key area within the Department of Psychology but is also an established profession, and one that is relevant to the whole community. This course provides stage 1 training towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist and a full member of the British Psychology Society (BPS) Division of Forensic Psychology, and is the only MSc Forensic Psychology course in the region.
The course is to be accreditited by the BPS division of Forensic Psychology and its exciting and engaging curriculum supports the Division's requirements, as well as incorporating the teaching team's research expertise. It will therefore cover areas such as criminological psychology, investigative psychology, psychology in the courtroom, and the assessment and treatment of offenders.
The course content is employment-focused, involving 'realistic learning' with aspects of forensic psychology tied to real scenarios and practice. A number of specialist lectures are delivered by professionals working in the field. The course will cover advanced training in research methods and professional skills. The final part of the course includes the dissertation unit, which allows the student to engage in detail within a research topic relevant to forensic psychology.
The course provides a strong integrated programme of Forensic and Criminal Psychology at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It can be taken as part of a pathway from a foundation degree, through the BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminal Behaviour or the BSc (Hons) Psychology degrees which confer the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the BPS, to the Master's level award and Stage One qualification in Forensic Psychology. It is also on track to include Stage 2 qualification in the near future.
Forensic psychology is used in a range of settings such as the prison and probation service, the NHS during criminal investigations and in the community, opening up a range of career options in these fields. In addtion, the advanced route to Chartership in forensic psychology also offers a range of career opportunities both inside and outside the forensic sector and the field of psychology.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
The assessment strategy reflects the academic rigor expected of a BPS accredited MSc degree.
The assessments are designed to test academic knowledge, oral and written skills, use of literature using primary and secondary sources, critical analysis of ideas, connections made between theory, practice, real life situations and the understanding and application of professional values, to include ethical issues as detailed by the BPS. The criteria for passing a unit are given in the University Regulations Section 3.1.7.
Examples of the range of assessment types are given below:
Written essays are used to assess:
Short answer questions assess:
Literature review used to assess:
Statistics worksheets
E-Portfolio
Court report / case studies
Treatment design and formulation
Design a training programme
Dissertation:
By the end of the course students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critically evaluate the different theoretical explanations for a range of offending behaviours.
2. Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the different theoretical and methodological approaches within investigative psychology.
3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the various elements within the criminal justice system, the processes involved in progression through the system and the application of psychological theories and research in relation to collecting and presenting evidence.
4. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of psychological theories and research contributing to the development of effective correction methods.
5. Apply skills in advanced research methods, statistical analysis techniques and the reporting of results using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
6. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of psychometric methods and assessment criteria enabling the application and critical appraisal of a variety of psychometric instruments commonly used to assess offender characteristics.
7. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of how psychological skills and methods relate to forensic psychological practice in the rehabilitation of offenders.
8. Demonstrate professional communication skills and the ability to assess and meet the training needs of other professionals by linking research and evidence base when designing training packages.
9. Demonstrate self direction and originality in systematically tackling and solving complex problems and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level.
For the PGCert, LOs (1) and (2) apply as well as (3) or (4) and (5) or (6)
For the PgDip LOs (1) to (8) apply
For the MSc LOs (1) to (9) apply
The programmes aims and objectives are informed by the QAA level 7 Descriptors from the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (QAA, 2008) and Masters Degree Characteristics (QAA, 2010) and the aims and objectives of a Stage 1 Qualification in Forensic Psychology as set out by the British Psychological Society (2010).
On successful completion of the course, students will:
The Psychology Department places strong emphasis on student support so that you are in a good position to achieve your maximum academic potential and to enjoy the University experience. We are very aware of the differing needs of our students and this is reflected in the range of support mechanisms that are available. The Psychology Department places particular emphasis on the accessibility and availability of the teaching team.
The induction programme is designed to introduce you to the Psychology Department and your degree programme. We aim to foster a sense of belonging to the University and your award programme in order to nurture your academic and professional identity. During induction you will hear about the structure of the curriculum and the British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation of our awards and what this means together with the opportunity to apply for student membership with the BPS. You will learn how to access your unit results using e-vision and practice using BREO the Universitys virtual learning environment. All students have access to a Personal Tutor, though generally this role is eventually covered by the dissertation supervisor. Short talks will be given by various services available to you in the University, for example, the Student Services, Professional and Academic Development (PAD) unit, Learning Resources Centre (LRC) and the Centre for Personal and Career Development (CPCD).
A feature of the psychology programmes are the levels of IT and technical support given. Tutorial and lecture material is supplemented with hands-on experience of using a variety of types of software and help with statistics and report writing is available. Additional IT / Statistical drop in sessions are available at different times during the week for students at all levels within the department, with extra sessions put on specifically for students undertaking their dissertation.
The Professional and Academic Development team are able to help you through study skills workshops or with one-to-one sessions to help you improve the quality of your written assignments, understanding statistical concepts, organisations skills to help you manage your study programme, language skills and much more. PAD can be contacted via the PAD BREO site that you will be automatically enrolled on.
Via the Student Information Desk you can also contact the Disability Advice Team and the Counselling Service. The Disability Advice Team is available to discuss any issues you may have and can provide services such as dyslexia screening. The Learning Resources Centre (LRC) offers a range of services and specialist software and equipment.
The LRC provides valuable resources to enable you to develop essential information literacy skills, knowledge and understanding of the range of online databases available to you so that you are in a good position to expand your knowledge of forensic psychology. The Psychology Department works closely with our subject specific librarian and with our commitment to supporting students employability skills we have embedded into the curriculum lectures and workshops to enhance your information literacy skills. In addition, our subject librarian is available for one to one support outside of the teaching programme.
The University of Bedfordshire Careers and Employment Service helps students to reflect on their unique capabilities, interests and circumstance which can be expanded whilst at University and to prepare you for successful employment or postgraduate study. This service offers one to one career coaching on job search, how to complete application forms, interviews techniques, and study and career planning. Also, available to help you with your future after graduating is the Job Shop which is a service designed to help you gain valuable skills such as team working, problem solving, communication, planning and organisation. If you are interested in Community Volunteering then visit the Careers and Employment Service to help to build your personal confidence and participate in work experience. The Psychology Department works closely with the Careers and Employment Service. The Service delivers lectures and workshops which are embedded into the Psychology curriculum to both get you to consider the Psychological aspects of your career choice and personal development along with facilitating you to develop very practical employability skills. We also host a Going Professional Conference every year where employers and graduates are available to discuss your career options.
Whilst there are no group work assessments, students will be expected to work in groups or discuss issues in groups as part of the teaching and learning programme. We encourage the year group to work in study groups for mutual support. You are also expected to work collaboratively with your peers and staff within all units and in particular within the dissertation component with your supervisor.
Careers development is built into the programme in the Forensic Psychology in Practice II module. There is also a research and careers focus event organised for postgraduate students where researchers and employers give talks and advice. There is a strong careers department in the university and a very effective interactive careers website.
There are sessions delivered by specialist professionals as well as by the careers service.
Forensic psychology can be evidenced in a range of settings such as the prison and probation service, the NHS, during criminal investigations and in community settings. However, the advanced route to chartership in forensic psychology is only one possibility and having completed your degree you will find that many career opportunities are open to you both inside and outside the forensic sector or even psychology. Whatever your thoughts, forensic psychology is compelling as both a discipline and a profession. Studying for the MSc in Forensic Psychology will give you a good grounding in:
Standard:
To be admitted to the course you are normally required:
Students from the European Union and International students:
As a general guide, to apply for a place on the course you need to have met the above requirement and have the required English qualification as outlined below:
- IELTS 6.0
- TOEFL 580 [paper]
- TOEFL 235 [computer]
- Cambridge CPE C
- Cambridge CAE C
- Bedfordshire test (TELAS) grade 2
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
The teaching team offers you an exciting and engaging curriculum that incorporates their research expertise and supports the requirements of the British Psychological Society, Division of Forensic Psychology. In terms of curriculum content the course covers the main topic areas as well as advanced training in Research Methods and Professional Skills. The programme offers an employability focused curriculum involving realistic learning with aspects of forensic psychology tied to real life scenarios and practice.
The teaching methods offer and are structured around a considerable range of learning experiences. These include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, presentations, supervised research work and group work. Each teaching method is carefully tailored to the needs of each unit and is designed to expose you to the material in the most appropriate style. To complement traditional teaching and learning methods such as lectures and seminars, students at Luton benefit from the use of electronic teaching and learning resources such as BREO. They are told how to enrol on and use the BREO site in the first week. It is hoped that there will be an opportunity to organise chat rooms and the like on BREO to allow you to discuss aspects of the course with your fellow students and staff.
Some of the MSc Forensic Psychology units, such as the Research Methods unit involve a great deal of laboratory work. In line with our core philosophy of practical, applied forensic psychology teaching and learning, students are guided in the use of SPSS and other software such as AtlasTi in the course of practical work in the laboratories. The lab and practical sessions are very closely linked to the sessions on the Research Methods units as well as being related to the content of some of the other units (e.g. the dissertation and requiring analysis of journal articles).
The psychology laboratories are available to psychology students for independent study most of the time. Room A201 is an open access IT suite. Rooms A213 and A214 are computer equipped teaching labs that are open access when not used for teaching. The Biological and Cognitive lab and video processing studio can be used by students with the agreement of supervisors for conducting studies related to projects or dissertations. When the Psychology labs are closed students can use the computers in the Learning Resources Centre.
There are no particular issues of accessibility to the curriculum for disabled students. Any new developments within the Psychology Department are reviewed to ensure that they comply with the 2001 Special Needs and Disability Act. The combination of face-to-face and online resources enables a flexible approach that aims to be learner centred. Where individual support needs are recognized the course team works with others within the University to ensure that student needs are addresses.
There is some laboratory based work although this is mostly on computers and should not normally pose a problem. There are procedures for students with dyslexia and some software that might help some students with dyslexia or mild visual problems. Students with hearing problems have been successful on Psychology courses in the past. The Psychology Department has technical support and if your disability causes problems with the use of conventional computers then alternative arrangements can be discussed.
The MSc Forensic Psychology is designed to be accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Forensic Psychology. It is only available to those able to demonstrate the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) with the BPS. It provides stage 1 training towards becoming a Chartered Forensic Psychologist. Thus the skills development strategy is to build upon those core skills developed through successful achievement of GBC and to move towards the competences required of a Chartered Forensic Psychologist as outlined in draft Subject Benchmark statements for Applied Psychology (BPS, 2005) and implied by the Candidate Handbook for the Stage 1 Qualification in Forensic Psychology (BPS, 2010).
Communication
To help with the development of this you will:
Be encouraged to develop cogent arguments supported by relevant evidence to write both essays, scientific-style reports, through experience in giving oral feedback and a court report. You will be supported through feedback, formative and summative assessment procedures. Group work and in class discussion and debate will also help to develop your communication skills.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will:
Be expected to make full use of the Universitys Learning Resource Centre and to be proactive in researching your work. You will also be given guidance on using the facilities provided by Learning Resources. All units are designed to enhance the development of your information literacy skills culminating in the Dissertation Project. You will be encouraged to retrieve and organise information and demonstrate abilities in locating and critically evaluating primary source material. All units are linked to BREO (a Virtual Learning Environment) which in turn incorporates links to Learning Resources and relevant pedagogical websites. You will be expected to develop your skills in word processing and the use of software such as Powerpoint. You will be given advanced training in the commonest and one of the most powerful statistics packages (SPSS) as well as introduced to a qualitative analysis package (ATLAS Ti) and methods of systematic reviewing and meta-analysis.
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will be given training in advanced research methods and ethical implications of conducting research to develop a degree of autonomy, specifically in using and interpreting statistics and data analysis together with detailed knowledge of ethical considerations.
You will be helped in the acquisition and mastery of a range of research skills and methods, both quantitative and qualitative, for investigating experience and behaviour, culminating in an ability to conduct research independently. These research skills feature in the advanced research methods and professional skills units and build on the skills developed at undergraduate level.
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will be required to evaluate arguments and underlying assumptions underpinning theories and research in psychology in light of important debates in the discipline and the application to real world situations. Problem solving is an integral part of the programme and you will be faced with a wide variety of novel tasks (including responding to consultancy briefs). Explicit advice will be given on those topics within the relevant unit.
It is an aim of the course to develop a substantial degree of autonomy in the students. This necessitates reflection on both your approach to the development of academic skills but also to the specialist skills required of a forensic psychologist.
As part of your MSc you will be expected to keep up a Progress File with evidence of how you have developed skills and knowledge and how you have reflected on your learning and performance during your MSc. At Masters level you are expected to have a degree of autonomy over how you develop these skills, how you prepare for your career and hence, how you maintain the Progress File. Please bear in mind that this aspect of your learning is as important as working for high grades since it covers general skills that are important for lifelong learning and for employability.
The core curriculum conforms to that described the British Psychological Societys Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 1).
The objectives of BPS Accreditation are designed to ensure that programmes of study:
Professional Standards in Psychology are incorporated into the subject skills and teaching and learning elements of the BPS Forensic Psychology core curriculum.
The curriculum infrastructure has been drawn from significant documents including those above which identify the benchmarks for a BPS accredited forensic psychology programme and the standards to be achieved and maintained by both students and psychologists. The mapping of these documents against the curriculum (incorporating relevant skills and aptitudes) for this award is conducted on a regular basis and is a requirement for BPS accreditation. We are required to undergo five year reviews to maintain full accreditation. There are also interim resource reviews at department level (focusing on undergraduate accreditation, but with reference to accredited postgraduate provision) to ascertain that physical and human resources are adequate to ensure professional standards and continued accreditation.
The role of ethics and ethical procedures for psychologists are explicitly taught and incorporated into all practical assignments including relevant aspects of the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct. There is a BREO site dedicated to ethical procedures for students and staff including guidelines and the relevant forms to obtain ethical approval. The Code of Ethics and Conduct is available from the BPS website:
