MSc Forensic Psychology
Course Overview
The University of Greater Manchester's MSc in Forensic Psychology brings this fascinating discipline to life both in and away from the classroom by offering you an array of innovative and practical learning opportunities relevant to the role of psychology in the criminal justice system. Studying in our well-respected, vibrant learning and research culture allows you to develop an in-depth understanding of offending behaviour from both offender and victim perspectives.Our supportive and experienced team will help you gain a strong foundation in the theories and practice of psychology, focusing on forensic theories such as aggression, sexual offending, and offending behaviour. We'll also lead you in exploring legal and court psychology, including interviewing techniques used by the police and issues around court testimony. In addition, you’ll consider risk assessment and developing treatment plans for individuals within the criminal justice system.
As a graduate of this course, you'll be well prepared to pursue further study and careers in various areas, including the prison service, health, police, probation service, victim support, and services targeting families of offenders or victims.
Highlights
- We’ll support you as you develop an in-depth and advanced knowledge of this in-demand field of psychology and its applications in the criminal justice system.
- Based at our main campus in Bolton, the University of Greater Manchester has invested in creating a learning environment that offers innovative teaching and assessment methods using top-class facilities, such as our observation and psychophysiology laboratories.
- We work hard to ensure the course evolves in response to current issues in psychology. Our curriculum includes up-to-date teaching on a variety of exciting topics in forensic psychology.
- Our highly qualified staff, who have substantial experience in the field, deliver our course content. By offering personal supervision throughout the course, we aim to give you the best possible opportunity to achieve your true potential.
- Learning and teaching are student-centred, with small group sessions, one-to-one tutorials, and access to the University’s virtual learning environment.
- This exciting postgraduate programme includes contributions from expert guest speakers on a range of subjects.
- The programme is designed to enhance your employability, particularly in areas related to criminal justice, or to help you progress to further studies in psychology.
Key Features
- You'll explore the theories and principles of forensic psychology and how these are applied in legal and other offender settings. You'll also discuss the social and psychological context of offending and examine methods for collating, assessing, and analysing data.
- To help you learn how psychological theories are applied to the activities of psychology staff when working with offenders or victims of crime, you'll have the chance to participate in various workshops where you can practise and receive feedback on core skills.
- Your personal tutor, one of our helpful and approachable psychology staff with a diverse range of research interests and professional experience, will be on hand to support you throughout your degree.
- We focus strongly on employability skills, the practical application of your studies, and academic success. Workshops include leading group therapy and conducting a risk assessment, with work-based learning opportunities in a relevant work setting.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- You should have an upper second-class (2.1) honours degree (or above) in a British Psychological Society (BPS)-accredited psychology undergraduate degree (or equivalent through a psychology conversion course) conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
- If you have a lower second-class degree (2.2), your application will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the academic team will review your degree transcripts. You may be asked to attend an interview before an offer can be made.
- Relevant work experience can provide an advantage, but it is not essential.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University's Fitness to Practice declaration.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
The University of Greater Manchester's MSc Forensic Psychology degree will help you develop a deep understanding of how psychology can be applied to explain certain aspects of crime and criminal behaviour. You'll explore the treatment of individuals with an offending history in a range of areas, including sexual offending, violence and aggression, interpersonal and social skills, and how to implement interventions to help build rehabilitative prospects and reduce the possibility of reoffending.
When you successfully complete the course, you'll be able to demonstrate graduate skills such as analysing complex information and data, investigating problems and formulating plans to solve them. You'll also possess skills in deductive reasoning, conducting research independently, reflection, producing and presenting information accurately, and understanding social and legal issues.
What can I do with this qualification?
You'll likely wish to pursue a career as a Registered Forensic Psychologist. This course has been developed in line with the British Psychological Society (BPS) programme standards and in line with sector benchmarks. Completing a master's degree is the first step towards pursuing a career as a Registered Psychologist.
Alternative career options
Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible areas of employment include:
- Advice work
- Assistant Psychologist posts
- Careers advice and guidance
- Child protection
- Communications
- Counselling
- Crime reduction
- Family support and mediation
- Human resources
- Market research
- Mental health
- Police
- Prison service counsellor
- Probation services
- Retail management
- Social work
- Teaching and education
- Training
- Youth justice
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Greater Manchester MSc Forensic Psychology - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.
This course is not currently accepting international online applications.
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
Our teaching and learning strategies are student-centred. We will be following a block delivery format, so you will only be studying one module at a time, allowing you to focus all your attention on one or two assessments. We use a blended approach to our teaching, so you'll have face-to-face sessions, sometimes one-to-one, and participate in online learning. You can expect lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, open learning materials, and practical exercises. We'll also expect you to undertake significant independent reading and investigation, complete seminar-related work, and prepare for workshops, presentations, and group discussions.
Assessment methods are also varied, allowing you to demonstrate your learning in a range of ways. For example, you can expect to complete consultancy reporting, practical research reports, oral presentations, written coursework, and a dissertation.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Exploring Offending Behaviour:Theoretical Perspectives
- Psychological Insights into Criminality and the Criminal Justice Process
- Assessing and Managing Risk in Forensic Populations
- Legal and Ethical Challenges in Professional Practice
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Forensic Psychology Research Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 82% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 18% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
