MSc MSC APPLIED FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY F/T

Postgraduate, Full-time
MSC APPLIED FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY F/T MSc



You will develop real-world professional skills, along with robust theoretical understanding, which will stand you apart as a job candidate.

Overview

Your learning will be based on what the UK’s two largest employers of forensic psychologists told us that they need in a trainee forensic psychologist.

When you graduate from the Master’s Programme in Applied Forensic Psychology, you will have rigorous analytical skills alongside practical skills, which will set you apart from others competing for the same jobs. You will enter employment with your eyes open to the challenges that you will face as a criminal justice professional, in terms of the populations with whom you will be working, and in terms of the challenges that are faced by criminal justice sector organisations. You will be skilled in understanding and conducting research, which you will learn to do to submission standard. Your robust research skills will enable you to apply independent critical analysis to existing and new theories and practices, throughout your career.

Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.

Inclusion: Edinburgh Napier University aims to build a community where all of our members are empowered to fulfil their full potential and find their own unique place in the world. We don’t just accept difference, we promote and celebrate it. Find out more here.

Due to extremely high demand, this programme is now closed for September 2024. We’re sorry that you won’t be able to join us in September. Applications for our September 2025 intake will open towards the end of the year.

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Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

1 year

Course details

You will develop a robust understanding of the psychology research on which forensic psychology practice is based. This will be complemented by learning some of the real-life skills that forensic psychology practitioners use in their daily work. You will also have opportunities to engage in critical discussions with experienced forensic psychology practitioners, and with professionals from other criminal justice agencies.

All of this will be underpinned by developing your own research skills to submission standard. Your robust research skills will enable you to apply independent critical analysis to existing and new theories and practices, throughout your career.

Modules
Trimester 1:
Evidence and Investigation (20 credits)
Assessments and Treatments (20 credits)
Advanced Research Skills (20 credits)
Advanced Research in Psychological Practice (20 hours)

Trimester 2:
Advanced Forensic Psychology (20 credits)
Practical Forensic Psychology (20 credits)
Advanced Research in Psychological Practice (180 hours)

Trimester 3:
Advice and Consultancy (20 credits)
Advanced Research in Psychological Practice (Tri 1, 2, + 3) (60 credits)

Lead Academics

Marc Kozlowski has been Head of (forensic) Psychology at four UK prisons – two in England and two in Scotland. In those roles he recruited, managed and clinically supervised many Forensic Psychologists in Training, so he has first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities that will be faced by our MSc graduates once they step into the workplace. The organisational knowledge and the clinical experience that Marc brings, will keep the programme honest in terms of its real-world relevance and currency.

Dr Faye Skelton’s expertise covers all things facial-recognition and eyewitness reliability. Faye has taken some of her ideas public in the formidable arena of the Edinburgh Fringe, and survived to tell the tale. The Practical Forensic Psychology MSc module that Faye co-delivered in 2018-19, received a 100% student satisfaction rating.

Dr Alex McIntyre’s publications cover many aspects of eyewitness accounts in the context of criminal investigations. She has active working links with a number of organisations who work within and alongside the criminal justice system, and has successfully placed Napier students to gain experience in those organisations. Alex also co-delivered the Practical Forensic Psychology module that achieved a 100% student satisfaction in 2018-19.

Dr Adam Mahoney has recently taken up a lectureship in forensic psychology at Edinburgh Napier University and continues to provide consultancy based services to various forensic organisations.

Dr Duncan Carmichael joined Edinburgh Napier as a psychology lecture in 2019.
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    How you’ll be taught

     This full-time course will take a year to complete and is structured to support you through your journey. Knowledge, critical understanding, and skills are acquired through lectures, practical sessions with formative feedback, online group work, face-to-face group work, and guided independent learning.
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    Assessments

     You will receive formative assessment through participation in activities, a written portfolio, a written essay, a written ethics form, and a written learning agreement. 

    You will receive summative assessment through written essays, written reports including a written risk formulation, oral presentations, written portfolios, a written dissertation proposal, a written ethics submission, an oral assessment, and a written research project.

ACCREDITED BY

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Applied Forensic Psychology?

You must have achieved a minimum of 2:2 on the BPS-accredited degree and you must have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (by completing a BPS-accredited degree or conversion course).

Please note that you will need to provide your BPS accredited degree certificate/comparable BPS accredited conversion qualification AND where applicable, evidence of eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). You should apply for this evidence upon application submission and send it to pgadmissions@napier.ac.uk as soon as possible as it can take several weeks to obtain which may impact an offer being made.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

 

English language requirements

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.


We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students From 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £6,930 £7,280
Overseas and EU £17,090 £18,800
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

  • The largest UK employers of forensic psychologists are Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (in England and Wales) and the Scottish Prison Service.
  • Forensic psychologists also work across other settings including hospitals, secure children’s homes, police forces, courts, and universities. 
  • In practice this means forensic psychologists assess, formulate, and intervene in those engaging in harmful behaviours to lead to safer societies. They communicate psychological knowledge and advice to other professionals. They develop and facilitate training for other professionals in forensic settings. They contribute to the international evidence base for forensic psychology.
  • UK-trained forensic psychologists have also been recruited to jobs in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Barbados, mainland Europe, and the USA (note: USA jobs are in academia, because forensic psychology practitioners are not used in the same way there).
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