Psychology with Forensic Applications

Award

BSc (Hons)

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

UCAS code

CMV5

Start dates available

  • September 2026
  • September 2027

Start dates available

  • September 2026
University of Staffordshire Courses

11th for Psychology

The Guardian University Guide 2026

11th for Student Satisfaction

Complete University Guide 2026 - Psychology

8th for Assessment and Feedback

National Student Survey 2026 - Psychology

Explore the psychology behind crime and offending and discover how psychological research can be applied to real-world investigations, offender management and the justice system.

You'll analyse the ‘before, during and after’ stages of a crime, exploring how forensic psychologists support investigations and offender management. You can get hands-on through simulated crime scenes, practise interview techniques and explore offender management using our simulation and immersive facilities.

You'll explore topics such as whether criminals can be rehabilitated, how psychological factors can contribute to wrongful convictions and how psychological profiling can help build a picture of an offender's characteristics.

With specialist option choices, you can tailor your studies to your interests, with topics including cyberpsychology, sentence management, vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System, and the psychology of oppression and empowerment. You'll also have lots of support throughout your studies, including your own academic mentor.

The degree can lead to a variety of postgraduate study and career opportunities, including further specialisation in forensic or clinical psychology and roles in victim support, youth offending and probation services, or with police forces.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Applications

Duration

University of Staffordshire undergraduate courses are usually 3 years for full-time study.

Courses which offer other study options have longer durations:

  • Full-time with a placement year, 4 years
  • Full-time with a foundation year, 4 years
  • Part-time, 4-9 years

Work placements

Students have the option of undertaking a placement year. This typically involves working for three days a week for a nine-month period.

You'll be supported by our staff to find a placement that matches your career ambitions. Examples have included:

  • behavioural programmes
  • witness support
  • addiction/mental health charities
  • Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)
  • working with offenders and their families

Explore the psychology behind crime and offending and discover how psychological research can be applied to real-world investigations, offender management and the justice system.

You'll analyse the ‘before, during and after’ stages of a crime, exploring how forensic psychologists support investigations and offender management. You can get hands-on through simulated crime scenes, practise interview techniques and explore offender management using our simulation and immersive facilities.

You'll explore topics such as whether criminals can be rehabilitated, how psychological factors can contribute to wrongful convictions and how psychological profiling can help build a picture of an offender's characteristics.

With specialist option choices, you can tailor your studies to your interests, with topics including cyberpsychology, sentence management, vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System, and the psychology of oppression and empowerment. You'll also have lots of support throughout your studies, including your own academic mentor.

The degree can lead to a variety of postgraduate study and career opportunities, including further specialisation in forensic or clinical psychology and roles in victim support, youth offending and probation services, or with police forces.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Applications

Duration

University of Staffordshire undergraduate courses are usually 3 years for full-time study.

Courses which offer other study options have longer durations:

  • Full-time with a placement year, 4 years
  • Full-time with a foundation year, 4 years
  • Part-time, 4-9 years

Course content

First year:

You’ll explore core areas of contemporary psychology and how they can be applied to everyday life. When focusing on the forensic applications of psychology, we will look at the criminal justice system and cover key issues around the role of psychology in policing, the courtroom and sentencing. 

You will begin to hone your skills as a researcher, learning how to decide on research questions and hypotheses, plan your study, use software to collect and analyse data, and write up your findings in an academic report. Research skills are an important part of working as a psychologist.

You’ll also look at personal development for your future career.

Second year:

You’ll continue to expand your knowledge and skills in core areas of psychology and as a researcher. You’ll look at the psychology behind why people commit crimes and explore key issues in the understanding of crime and criminal behaviour such as external factors in crime, youth offending, and violent crime.

You can choose from a range of optional module choices to suit your interests and career aspirations. These include the opportunity to undertake a research assistantship. You can also look at psychological interventions and how they contribute to health and wellbeing.If you’re interested in a career in the criminal justice field, you can delve into victimisation and the experiences of those affected by crime. There’s a module dedicated to offender management and rehabilitation too, where you can practise your skills using role plays in our mock custody suite and cell.

Third year:

You will complete an in-depth project, which answers a research question of your choice. You will also look at career planning, including developing your CV.

We cover applications of psychology in forensic settings, such as profiling, deception detection, being an expert witness and managing offenders. You will also look at how social and cognitive psychology are used to tackle important issues in society, such as prejudice and discrimination.

You can choose from a range of optional module choices too, covering topics such as criminal justice and community initiatives that support reducing offending behaviour, vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System, behavioural medicine and cyberpsychology. You can also study parapsychology - from ghosts to kinetic powers and beyond.

First year:

You’ll explore core areas of contemporary psychology and how they can be applied to everyday life. When focusing on the forensic applications of psychology, we will look at the criminal justice system and cover key issues around the role of psychology in policing, the courtroom and sentencing. 

You will begin to hone your skills as a researcher, learning how to decide on research questions and hypotheses, plan your study, use software to collect and analyse data, and write up your findings in an academic report. Research skills are an important part of working as a psychologist.

You’ll also look at personal development for your future career.

Second year:

You’ll continue to expand your knowledge and skills in core areas of psychology and as a researcher. You’ll look at the psychology behind why people commit crimes and explore key issues in the understanding of crime and criminal behaviour such as external factors in crime, youth offending, and violent crime.

You can choose from a range of optional module choices to suit your interests and career aspirations. These include the opportunity to undertake a research assistantship. You can also look at psychological interventions and how they contribute to health and wellbeing.If you’re interested in a career in the criminal justice field, you can delve into victimisation and the experiences of those affected by crime. There’s a module dedicated to offender management and rehabilitation too, where you can practise your skills using role plays in our mock custody suite and cell.

Third year:

You will complete an in-depth project, which answers a research question of your choice. You will also look at career planning, including developing your CV.

We cover applications of psychology in forensic settings, such as profiling, deception detection, being an expert witness and managing offenders. You will also look at how social and cognitive psychology are used to tackle important issues in society, such as prejudice and discrimination.

You can choose from a range of optional module choices too, covering topics such as criminal justice and community initiatives that support reducing offending behaviour, vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System, behavioural medicine and cyberpsychology. You can also study parapsychology - from ghosts to kinetic powers and beyond.

Professional body accreditation

We continuously update our course modules to ensure our curriculum reflects the latest industry trends and insights. Our module content is refined in collaboration with professional and regulatory bodies and partners.

As such, this course is currently undergoing re-accreditation with The British Psychological Society (BPS), with confirmation expected before September 2027.

Professional body accreditation

We continuously update our course modules to ensure our curriculum reflects the latest industry trends and insights. Our module content is refined in collaboration with professional and regulatory bodies and partners.

As such, this course is currently undergoing re-accreditation with The British Psychological Society (BPS), with confirmation expected before September 2027.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Applying Psychology 30 credits
Becoming A Researcher 1 30 credits
Foundations In Psychology 30 credits
Psychology In The Justice System 30 credits
Steps To Success 1 N/A

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 3 compulsory modules
Psychology Placement Year 120 credits

Entry requirements

What do I need?

UCAS

96 UCAS points

A Levels

CCC

BTEC

MMM

Work out your estimated grades using the UCAS calculator

Other UK qualifications
  • Access to HE Diploma – Pass Access with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points. Applicants to Staffs who are taking the Access to HE Diploma receive a reduced tariff point offer as part of our access and participation plan activity
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – grade MMM

We welcome applications from students studying a range of international and UK qualifications, including Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers and the Irish Leaving Certificate. Offers will normally be made in line with our standard entry requirements and may include specific grade requirements in relevant subjects.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

What do I need?

UCAS

96 UCAS points

A Levels

CCC

BTEC

MMM

Work out your estimated grades using the UCAS calculator

Other UK qualifications
  • Access to HE Diploma – Pass Access with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points. Applicants to Staffs who are taking the Access to HE Diploma receive a reduced tariff point offer as part of our access and participation plan activity
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – grade MMM

We welcome applications from students studying a range of international and UK qualifications, including Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers and the Irish Leaving Certificate. Offers will normally be made in line with our standard entry requirements and may include specific grade requirements in relevant subjects.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Facilities

Science Centre

Our £30 million Science Centre in Stoke-on-Trent contains specialist laboratories with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. Read more

Find out more about our Science Centre Facilities. 

Psychology Observation Suite

The Observation Suite contains an Observation Laboratory setup with a one-way mirror, video cameras and microphones to allow activities to be observed and recorded from the Control Room. Read more

Find out more about our Psychology Observation Suite. 

Psychology Simulation Facilities

Simulation equipment is available throughout the psychology laboratory areas and as stand-alone resources for facilitating research and teaching. Read more

Find out more about our simulation facilities.

Psychology Eye Tracking Cubicles

The Psychology Eye Tracking Cubicles house desktop and portable eye trackers that allow us to track participants’ visual attention during psychology experiments. Read more

Find out more about our eye tracking cubicles.

Psychology Human Sciences Suite

The Psychology Human Sciences Suite has an impressive array of laboratory equipment which includes the Electroencephalography (EEG) Laboratory, the Pain Laboratory, and the Cardiovascular Laboratory. Read more

Find out more about our Human Sciences Suite. 

Psychology Cognitive Cubicles

The Psychology Cognitive Cubicles are a set of small cubicles used to run Psychology based tests on individual participants using specialist software. Read more

Find out more about our Psychology Cognitive Suite.

Careers

This degree combines Psychology with forensic and investigative applications, giving you the knowledge and skills to explore careers across criminal justice, offender rehabilitation, victim support, psychology and the wider community.

Depending on your interests and career goals, you could go on to work in roles such as:

  • prison officer
  • probation officer
  • victim support worker
  • rehabilitation worker
  • psychology support worker
  • research assistant
  • roles in mental health or addiction services
  • roles supporting vulnerable people within the criminal justice system

Some careers in psychology require further study and professional training. Your degree can provide a foundation for postgraduate study towards areas such as forensic, clinical, counselling, educational or health psychology, while your forensic and investigative knowledge can support further study and specialist careers related to criminal justice.

You don't have to look far for your next step. We offer a range of postgraduate psychology courses at University of Staffordshire, giving you the opportunity to continue developing your knowledge and specialise in areas of psychology that interest you.

Explore our postgraduate Psychology courses

The course also gives you opportunities to gain relevant experience through a placement year, with previous students completing placements involving behavioural programmes, witness support, addiction and mental health charities, and the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT).

Students on this programme have the opportunity to enhance their studies with a placement year, gain valuable work experience, and take part in international activities—potentially supported by the Turing funding.

All students have access to Careers, Placements & Employability, our dedicated careers team.

This degree combines Psychology with forensic and investigative applications, giving you the knowledge and skills to explore careers across criminal justice, offender rehabilitation, victim support, psychology and the wider community.

Depending on your interests and career goals, you could go on to work in roles such as:

  • prison officer
  • probation officer
  • victim support worker
  • rehabilitation worker
  • psychology support worker
  • research assistant
  • roles in mental health or addiction services
  • roles supporting vulnerable people within the criminal justice system

Some careers in psychology require further study and professional training. Your degree can provide a foundation for postgraduate study towards areas such as forensic, clinical, counselling, educational or health psychology, while your forensic and investigative knowledge can support further study and specialist careers related to criminal justice.

You don't have to look far for your next step. We offer a range of postgraduate psychology courses at University of Staffordshire, giving you the opportunity to continue developing your knowledge and specialise in areas of psychology that interest you.

Explore our postgraduate Psychology courses

The course also gives you opportunities to gain relevant experience through a placement year, with previous students completing placements involving behavioural programmes, witness support, addiction and mental health charities, and the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT).

Students on this programme have the opportunity to enhance their studies with a placement year, gain valuable work experience, and take part in international activities—potentially supported by the Turing funding.

All students have access to Careers, Placements & Employability, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You'll learn through lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars, workshops and practicals give you the opportunity to explore topics in smaller groups, while regular meetings with your academic mentor provide additional support throughout the year. You'll be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course.

Assessment

Reflecting the different needs of learners, we use a wide range of formal or ‘summative’ assessment methods at the end of each module. These are carefully designed and monitored to enable students to demonstrate the learning outcomes for each module and also to allow elements of choice and co-creation (e.g., Steps to Success career planning assessments and Psychology Project).

Methods range from traditional essays and exams, through to case study analysis, research report writing, critical reviews, group presentations, live briefs, advisory reports, presentation pitches, independent projects and reflective writing. All modules have formative assessment opportunities, and we ensure that students undertake a variety of assessment methods at each level and that they are interesting, challenging and develop skills valued by employers. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

The course will also provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final marks. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, where you can receive feedback from your module tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

  • study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
  • written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
  • academic writing and how to reference
  • research skills
  • critical thinking and understanding arguments
  • revision, assessment and examination skills
  • time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Teaching

You'll learn through lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars, workshops and practicals give you the opportunity to explore topics in smaller groups, while regular meetings with your academic mentor provide additional support throughout the year. You'll be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course.

Assessment

Reflecting the different needs of learners, we use a wide range of formal or ‘summative’ assessment methods at the end of each module. These are carefully designed and monitored to enable students to demonstrate the learning outcomes for each module and also to allow elements of choice and co-creation (e.g., Steps to Success career planning assessments and Psychology Project).

Methods range from traditional essays and exams, through to case study analysis, research report writing, critical reviews, group presentations, live briefs, advisory reports, presentation pitches, independent projects and reflective writing. All modules have formative assessment opportunities, and we ensure that students undertake a variety of assessment methods at each level and that they are interesting, challenging and develop skills valued by employers. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

The course will also provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final marks. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, where you can receive feedback from your module tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

  • study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
  • written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
  • academic writing and how to reference
  • research skills
  • critical thinking and understanding arguments
  • revision, assessment and examination skills
  • time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Staff

Please note, teaching team staff members may change during your studies.

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Mel Hall

Lecturer

Mel's research interests include legal and criminological psychology and the impact of psychology in E-learning and the web. She is module leader for 'People Behaving Badly', 'The Psychology of Crime', 'Psychological Contexts of Crime and Punish…

Mel's profile
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Sarah Higgins

Lecturer

Sarah is a Lecturer in Psychology, teaching across a range of psychology modules at all levels. Her research interests include eating behaviours and psychological interventions.

Sarah's profile
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Dr David Gordon

Senior Lecturer

David is a senior lecturer in psychology. His main areas of research are the evolution of human cooperation, life-history theory and human decision-making, and the psychology of conspiracy theory beliefs.

David's profile
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Dr Romina Vivaldi

Senior Lecturer

Romina's research interests are focussed on symbolic development as it relates to pictures and occupational gender stereotypes.

Romina's profile
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Dr Amy Burton

Associate Professor

Dr Burton is an Associate Professor of Qualitative Health Research and a Chartered Health Psychologist (HCPC registered) with extensive expertise in participatory, qualitative, and mixed methods research.

Amy's profile

Dr Andrew Edmonds

Lecturer

My main area of research interest is face perception, which I first developed during my undergraduate degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Andrew's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 21 September 2026 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,790 per year of study £17,085 per year of study

For the course starting on 20 September 2027 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £10,050 per year of study £17,285 per year of study

For the course starting on 21 September 2026 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,790 per year of study £17,085 per year of study

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by reading our additional funding web pages, or visiting www.gov.uk.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply now to Psychology with Forensic Applications

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus BSc (Hons) Full-time 21 September 2026 Apply now
Stoke-on-Trent campus BSc (Hons) Full-time 20 September 2027 Apply now

Apply now to Psychology with Forensic Applications

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus BSc (Hons) Full-time, with a placement year 21 September 2026 Apply now

Not ready to apply yet?

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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