Forensic Psychology

This is a Connected Degree
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview
Explore how psychological knowledge informs criminal investigations and forensic practice, and help to understand offending behaviour on this BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology degree, accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

While a psychology degree covers the mind and behaviour in a wider sense, studying forensic psychology means focusing on the way people think, act and feel in relation to crime and legal issues.

- Put your investigative techniques to the test in our Forensic Interviewing Suite, which features thermal imaging cameras, eye tracking and virtual reality (VR) technology and advanced digital and video analysis

- Use our motion capture studios, which feature the latest Vicon optical system, to explore the mechanics and perception of human movement

- Have the chance to study abroad or take part in a year-long work placement, boosting your employability prospects after the course

- Learn from forensic psychology practitioners involved in the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology, the largest academic research centre for forensic psychology in the UK

- Become eligible to apply for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (with a 2:2 or higher) – an essential first step to becoming a professional forensic psychologist

Accredited by:
This degree confers eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Graduate Basis for Registration.

Careers and opportunities
When you complete the course with a 2:2 or higher, you'll be eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS), which is an essential first step to becoming a Chartered Forensic Psychologist. To become Chartered, you'll also need to do further academic training for up to 5 years, including an MSc Forensic Psychology.

What can you do with a Forensic Psychology degree?
Many graduates go on to do an MSc in Forensic Psychology after the course. You could also start a career in areas such as:

- teaching

- health associated professions

- social welfare

- police work

- probation service

- research

Graduate roles and destinations
Roles our previous graduates have gone on to include:

- clinical psychologist

- forensic psychologist

- educational psychologist

- counsellor

- health planning analyst

They've taken roles in the following organisations:

- National Probation Service

- Ministry of Defence

- North East London NHS Foundation Trust

Placement year
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the field. A placement year gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you stand out to employers after the course.

You can work for a company or organisation here in the UK or overseas, or you could go independent by setting up and running your own business with other students.

Potential prison placements
Previous students have completed work placements in medium secure units, youth offending teams and prisons, including:

- HMP Bronzefield

- HMP Ford

- HMP Winchester

Potential placement destinations
Other students have taken placement roles in organisations including:

- Broadmoor High Security Hospital

- Hampshire Constabulary Student Watch

- Catch 22 - a not-for-profit business involved in offender management, rehabilitation and victim services

- Motiv8 - a charity working for safer communities for young people and their families