Why choose the School of Psychology
This course was previously called Forensic Psychology BSc (Hons); it includes specialised forensic psychology units, developed with a panel of industry professionals.
In the National Student Survey 2025, our psychology courses scored 80% and over for student satisfaction with teaching (80%), academic support (82%) and learning resources (87%).
Take this course with a fee-free placement year where you gain valuable experience in the field.
About the course
Please note that this course was previously Forensic Psychology BSc (Hons).
If you are curious about the mind behind the crime, this degree explores the fascinating relationship between psychology, crime and justice. It offers a strong foundation in forensic psychology and is your first step towards becoming a forensic psychologist, offering a clear, streamlined route to our MSc Forensic Psychology. Teaching is delivered by a team of experienced academics and a registered forensic psychologist, combining cutting-edge research with real-world practitioner experience.
Course accreditation
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduating from a BPS-accredited degree with a 2nd-class Honours or above makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society. It also enables you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training, including our MSc Forensic Psychology.
Facilities and specialist equipment
Within the Psychology department, we have dedicated, specialist, industry-standard psychology laboratories and computing environments including:
- Cognitive neuropsychology lab
- Biological and cognitive psychology lab
- Virtual reality lab
- Research cubicles containing up-to-the-minute equipment and technology such as:
- Driving simulator
- Eye-tracking software
- Physiological data-acquisition system
- EEG recording equipment
- Podcasting equipment
- KAT Walk Mini 5 omnidirectional VR treadmills
- Data-analysis software
- Experiment and survey-building software
Industry links
Our specialised forensic psychology units have been developed with a panel of industry professionals including from the probation service and police.
Teaching is delivered by experts including a practising, registered forensic psychologist who brings real-world experience into the classroom.
Student experience
Previously titled BSc Forensic Psychology, the name change reflects an enhanced scope to meet accreditation standards and a broader exploration of psychology’s role within the justice system, while preserving the core forensic focus that students value.
Study key areas such as criminal behaviour, the criminal justice system, and applied forensic psychology, gaining insight into how psychological principles are used to understand, investigate and respond to offending.
Benefit from teaching that combines cutting-edge research with real-world practitioner experience, with assignments that reflect real-life tasks.
Apply your learning through research projects, laboratory work, and community-based or criminal-justice-related case studies.
Build transferable skills in areas such as communication, presentation and problem-solving, skills valued across forensic and other psychological fields as well as a wide range of unrelated career paths.
· Benefit from membership of our Student Research Institute, providing opportunities to engage in research; work with staff as an assistant; and attend research conferences.
Conduct supervised research on a forensic topic of your choice, presenting it to your peers and psychology professionals at our annual Student Research Conference.
Enjoy field trips to a range of organisations and locations including Luton Crown Court where you will observe real-life cases from the public gallery.
Hear from guest speakers who share their experience and expertise at special events run by the Psychology department.
For those interested in postgraduate study, the course’s specialist forensic psychology focus provides a smooth transition onto our MSc Forensic Psychology
Psychology Subject Spotlight
Take a look at our subject spotlight on Psychology! Dr. Joseph Adonu explores if love at first sight actually exists!
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Dr Andrew Clark
I am a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology in the School of Psychology, Sport and Social Sciences. I joined the University in 2016, after obtaining a from the University of Portsmouth.
My general research interest is human memory. I have recently (2025) published work with a PhD student using virtual reality (VR) to study eyewitness memory. Alongside my research, I have a strong interest in true crime and often discuss recent cases and documentaries with students to help connect psychological theory with real-world events. My teaching encourages critical thinking about how forensic psychology is represented in the media and applied in practice.
Course Leader - Dr Andrew Clark
I am a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology in the School of Psychology, Sport and Social Sciences. I joined the University in 2016, after obtaining a from the University of Portsmouth.
My general research interest is human memory. I have recently (2025) published work with a PhD student using virtual reality (VR) to study eyewitness memory. Alongside my research, I have a strong interest in true crime and often discuss recent cases and documentaries with students to help connect psychological theory with real-world events. My teaching encourages critical thinking about how forensic psychology is represented in the media and applied in practice.
Course Leader - Dr Andrew Clark
I am a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology in the School of Psychology, Sport and Social Sciences. I joined the University in 2016, after obtaining a from the University of Portsmouth.
My general research interest is human memory. I have recently (2025) published work with a PhD student using virtual reality (VR) to study eyewitness memory. Alongside my research, I have a strong interest in true crime and often discuss recent cases and documentaries with students to help connect psychological theory with real-world events. My teaching encourages critical thinking about how forensic psychology is represented in the media and applied in practice.
What will you study?
To prepare for your final-year research project, we include units focused on building your research skills: Introduction to psychological research methods and data analysis (Year 1); and two units on Qualitative and quantitative methods of research in psychology (Year 2).
Your subject-specific units are:
Year 1
Psychology and criminal behaviour – Explore the psychology of offending behaviour while examining offender types and criminal career pathways. Foundations to psychology - Explore key areas including the history, cognitive and biological aspects of psychology. Psychology in everyday life - Understand social, developmental and mental health theories and observe them in everyday life in yourself and others.
Year 2
Psychology and criminal justice - Study the role of psychology in criminal justice systems. Social processes and lifespan development - Explore developmental and social psychology, looking at how individuals change and develop through their life. Biological psychology - Focus on brain structure and behaviour and its role in thinking, perception, language, memory and learning. Cognitive psychology – Investigate how we process information in areas such as face recognition and eye-witness testimony.
Year 3
As well as completing your Psychology, Crime and Justice research project, there are three core units in your final year as well as optional units where you can follow a particular interest.
Core units:
Applied forensic psychology – Examine approaches to the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders in real-world settings. Psychology of mental health – Therapeutic approaches to disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety. Culture and individual differences – How cultural norms shape behaviour and psychological diversity.
Optional units:
Atypical child and adolescent development – For those interested in education, child health or welfare. Cognitive neuropsychology – Explore areas such as memory, amnesia and frontal lobe deficits using everyday examples. Critical social psychology – The role of social psychology in areas such as violence, relationships and personhood (self and identity). Problem solving – Different approaches to decision making.
How will you be assessed?
As this is a science-based course you will have the opportunity to take part in empirical studies in the early stages and to run your own later on as part of both your learning and assessment. The Virtual Learning Environment is used in a variety of ways including e-learning collaboration and communication using blogs and wikis and formative and summative assessments.
Careers
This degree will put you in an excellent position for the postgraduate training required to become a forensic psychologist. It is an essential first step in progressing to the MSc Forensic Psychology course offered at the University of Bedfordshire and then on to becoming a professional forensic psychologist.
For those who wish to pursue a career outside of psychology, your degree will equip you with a deep understanding of human behaviour, critical analysis, communication skills and other transferable skills valued across many sectors.
Graduates from this degree are well prepared for roles in:
• the police service and criminal investigation support
• probation, prisons and offender rehabilitation
• victim support services and social justice organisations
• research, policy and teaching within psychology and criminology.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Virtual Tour
