Psychology and Law

Accredited by the British Psychological Society*, this exciting new degree brings together the best of Psychology and Law. You’ll be taught by experts conducting influential studies and discover real-world law in action.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE

Boost your employability

Combining two subjects boosts your employability and gives you the opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise in two subject areas, making you a more versatile graduate.

What you will study

This course has research at its heart, designed to help you become an effective, skilled and forward-thinking psychologist whilst developing all the key skills required to succeed in the legal sector - including drafting, advocacy, interviewing and negotiation.

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

This course is accredited by the BPS if you choose to major in Psychology and complete the credit-bearing modules. This shows we have met BPS standards for delivering a high-standard of psychology education and student development. This accreditation means you can apply for BPS student membership, offering you networking opportunities, discounts, access to academic journals, events and e-learning.

Specialist facilities

Our Psychology are used for both teaching and research. They include computing labs with specialist software for designing experiments and research. You'll use a range of psychological recording equipment such as the latest eye-tracker equipment for analysing eye movement and our Babylab for ethical research with babies and young children. We also have well-resourced lecture theatres, seminar rooms and social learning spaces. Our Law facilities are based in the heart of Derby’s city centre, featuring a replica Crown Courtroom and Custody Suite.

HOW YOU’LL LEARN:

You will learn from lecturers and tutors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and are carrying out research designed to offer fresh perspectives on issues that are significant at every stage of life. Your lecturers bring their latest thinking to your studies. And, in some cases, you’ll have opportunities to get involved in research projects yourself. You will learn through lectures, seminars, multimedia presentations, online collaboration, guest lectures and class debates. Quality inspectors have commended us for being “at the forefront of technology-enhanced learning” in Psychology. For Law modules, you will engage in real or simulated legal practice and build a range of the key skills required to succeed in the legal sector. You will also develop skills in legal scholarship, with the chance to undertake problem-based research and original academic enquiry.

YOUR CAREER:

Psychology and Law opens doors to many different sectors and professions - anywhere an understanding of people is valued - so your career options will be broad. Psychology and Criminology graduates have gone on to roles in: psychological/scientific/clinical research, mental health support and management, and occupational/educational/forensic/clinical psychology. This degree also allows graduates to engage in careers in business, banking and human resources – any profession that welcomes an exposure to studying law. You can go on to study at postgraduate level and achieve an LLM or complete a qualifying Solicitor exam.

STUDY OPTIONS:

On the Joint Honours programme, there are different pathways of study available. You can often study both subjects equally or choose to major in a subject. Please view the course page on our website for more information on pathways.