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Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement MSc

2 years full-time, starting in September 2025

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Prepare for a career in forensic psychology on this BPS-accredited course. You’ll do a work placement in a forensic setting, enhancing your experience.

This course provides you with the background psychological knowledge, professional skills and experience you need to start your career in the field of forensic psychology.

It is British Psychological Society (BPS)-accredited. This means you’ll gain contemporary and relevant knowledge that you can use in a range of forensic psychology roles within the legal, criminal or civil justice systems.

You’ll combine theoretical learning with a work placement of up to 12 months. This is a key feature of our course and is designed to help you demonstrate your skills in an applied setting, while gaining important experience.

Throughout this course, you’ll develop an up-to-date understanding of psychological theory and practices. This will increase your ability to undertake research and development projects in forensic services, looking at governance, ethical and organisational issues.

You will also gain foundational skills in forensic psychology practice and spend time developing forensic practice skills that can be applied in a variety of settings through your work placement.

If you are a psychology graduate interested in progressing to a career in forensic services as a practitioner or researcher, this course is suited to your needs. It’s also suitable if you have an undergraduate psychology degree and are working in the criminal justice or forensic mental health systems and want to learn more about the theory and practice behind forensic psychology to progress your career.

Learn from experts in the field

You’ll learn from experts in forensic psychology, as well as staff in the wider Department of Psychology community. Their passion, knowledge, experience and research shape their teaching to enhance your learning experience.

Use specialist facilities

The Department of Psychology is located in a new £30 million building.

You can use this space for group meetings, personal tutor sessions and computer work. The building contains advanced psychology research facilities, including:

Gain important career skills

As part of the course, you’ll take part in timetabled sessions to support your professional practice and clinical skills development. These skills-based workshops are designed to help you become a reflective practice practitioner and develop your transferable skills for your work placement and future career.

We’ll also provide you with guidance and support for working in forensic settings (including interview support) and CV writing assistance. All of these are designed to enhance your future employability prospects.

Graduate Prospects

Thanks to the skills and relevant experience you gain, you will be well placed to secure work in NHS forensic services, the criminal justice system, probation and prison services, or voluntary sector organisations.

These posts could include training positions to allow the completion of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2) with the aim of becoming a Chartered Psychologist with the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology and a Health and Care Professions Council Registered Practitioner Forensic Psychologist. 

Successful completion of this course fulfils Stage 1 of the requirements towards Chartered Membership of the Society and full membership of the Division of Forensic Psychology.

2025/26 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail. If you apply to the University of Bath, you will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

Course structure

This course lasts 2 years. It starts in September 2025 and ends in 2027. Welcome week starts on 22 September 2025.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Year 1

Semester 1

Compulsory units

  • Advanced research methods for applied psychology

    15 credits

  • Assessment and intervention with offenders and victims

    15 credits

  • Forensic psychology practice and clinical skills

    15 credits

  • Fundamentals in psychology, crime and law

    15 credits

Semester 2

Compulsory units

  • Advanced research methods for applied psychology

    Continued

  • Assessment and intervention with offenders and victims

    Continued

  • Forensic psychology practice and clinical skills

    Continued

  • Fundamentals in psychology, crime and law

    Continued

Summer

Compulsory units

  • Forensic psychology placement

    60 credits

Year 2

Semester 1

Compulsory units

  • Forensic psychology dissertation

    30 credits

  • Forensic psychology placement

    Continued

Semester 2

Compulsory units

  • Forensic psychology dissertation

    Continued

  • Forensic psychology placement

    Continued

Summer

Compulsory units

  • Forensic psychology dissertation

    Continued

Placement

This degree features a work placement to help you gain important workplace experience and enhance your academic learning. You must be based in the UK for your placement.

You will spend up to 12 months working closely alongside a psychologist, or other suitably qualified professional working in a forensic setting or where forensic research is relevant. This is an opportunity to use the practice skills you’ll gain during your studies in a practical setting and learn from real-world professionals.

Your placement, which will usually start at the beginning of June in Year 1, is three days per week. You will also spend one day per week working on your dissertation.

While many of our placements are in the South West, as this is our catchment area, some are based in other locations across the UK. We have had recent placements available in Bath, Bristol, Devon, and Dorset; as well as Wales, Oxford, Leeds and London.

The placement will be organised by our academic team and can take place in a variety of settings, such as:

  • the NHS
  • prison in-reach services
  • charities
  • law enforcement agencies
  • children's services
  • research settings

Some placements require previous experience, which will be taken into account when they are allocated. Choices may be more limited if you have no or little experience.

Please note: if you are an international student, we advise that you gain some relevant documentation in your home country before starting the course. You will be provided with details regarding what will be required.

Forensic psychology as a profession is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act; hence, no conviction is ever considered spent. You must disclose any convictions to the course supervisor and placement provider. If you do not satisfy any of the required checks then your placement opportunities may be limited.

Learning and assessment

You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.

Learning

  • Lectures
  • Practical sessions
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Assessment

  • Coursework
  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Practical

These lists are to give you an idea of some, but not all, of the learning and assessment methods used on this course. They are not exhaustive lists and methods are subject to change.

Learning and teaching

You are expected to spend approximately 35-40 hours per week studying, with around 10-13 hours of this being structured classes.

This will be made up of a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, practical sessions, and reflective practice. You will work as an individual and as part of small groups.

Assessment breakdown

You’ll experience a balance of different forms of assessment designed to support your professional development. This will be made up of coursework (including essays, presentations, reports and a professional assessment report), placement-related assessments, reflective practice and skills-based assessments, and a forensic psychology dissertation.

We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. Read our Disability Service’s pages for information.

Professional accreditations

By studying a course with a professional accreditation, you could have the chance to get workplace experience, learn about new developments in the industry and work towards membership with the accrediting body. Completing an accredited Stage 1 course is the first step to becoming a forensic psychologist.

British Psychological Society (BPS) Logo

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

Entry requirements

Origin of qualifications

British qualifications

You should have a bachelor's honours degree or international equivalent, typically a 2:1 or above. You should have also achieved a good mark in your dissertation, typically a 2:1 mark or above.

To apply for this course you should have an undergraduate degree in psychology. Relevant practical experience (ideally in a forensic or clinical setting) will also be an advantage, with some placement providers looking for students with experience.

Your degree must be recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as providing Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC).

If you do not have an undergraduate degree in psychology, we will consider applicants who have successfully completed a BPS accredited Masters conversion degree.

We may make an offer on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

In your application you will need to provide a personal statement (maximum 500 words) which should explain:

(a) why you are interested in studying for an MSc Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement and your subsequent career intentions

(b) how your academic, professional and personal experiences equip you to meet the demands of the course. You should be able to demonstrate previous experience working with a forensic or clinical population or in a related field that demonstrates transferrable skills. This may be voluntary work and can cover a wide range of experiences and organisations. (Please note, however, we cannot comment on the applicability of your experience prior to the submission of your application since we need to consider your application in its entirety).

If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in the UK you may be exempt from our English language requirements.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall with no less than 7.0 in all components
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 69 overall with a minimum of 69 in all 4 components
  • TOEFL IBT: 100 overall with a minimum of 27 in all 4 components.

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement MSc full-time

Fees

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees

See the most recent fees for postgraduate courses.

Extra costs

If you receive an offer, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £1,000 when you accept to secure your place. This will be deducted from your tuition fee when you register.

How to pay

Tuition fee loans

If you are studying a postgraduate course, you may be able to take out a loan for your tuition fees and living costs.

Read more about tuition fee loans

Scholarships and bursaries

You could be considered for a bursary or scholarship to help you study at Bath. You do not have to pay it back.

Read more about bursaries and scholarships

Other payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer. You may also be eligible for a student loan to help you pay your fees.

Read more about your payment options

Budgeting

You will need to budget at least £100 for the cost of photocopying, printing and binding. You will also need to budget for the cost of text books.

Placement

Your tuition fees during your placement year are significantly lower, but you will need to continue to budget for your costs during this period.

It is unusual for forensic placements to be funded and most are unpaid. Therefore, you’ll need to consider this in your financial planning.

Our placements are three days per week, plus one additional day a week for dissertation-related research. This enables you to consider paid work for one day of the week.

Travel to and from placements will be at your own cost. As the placement duration is one year, you can consider relocating, but you are responsible for the cost of this and your accommodation.

Different placements will have different requirements, but all will require:

  • a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (and sometimes higher-level vetting, such as for prison access). This will be at your own expense. Currently enhanced DBS checks cost £55.
  • health and safety regulations (such as checks on up-to-date immunisations and and additional vaccinations if required). These will be at your own expense.

During your placement, you may wish to consider professional indemnity insurance. Several organisations offer this, including three companies suggested for graduate members of the British Psychological Society.

Application information

  • Course title
    Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement
  • Final award
    MSc
  • Mode of study
    Full-time
  • Course code
    TDUPS-FP04
  • Department
    Department of Psychology
  • Location
    University of Bath
    Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
  • Home application deadline
    31 August 2025

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full.

  • Overseas application deadline
    31 May 2025

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full. We may consider late applications but if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, you will need time to apply for and receive your visa to be in the UK by the start of the course.

  • Application eligibility
    Home and Overseas students are eligible to apply
  • Regulator
    The Office for Students (OfS)

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