Our exciting and versatile Forensic and Criminological Psychology degree will broaden your knowledge of the key psychological approaches, towards understanding and explaining criminal behaviour and the justice system. You'll learn about the individual and social context of crime, criminal behaviour and the Criminal Justice System from sociological, legal and psychological perspectives and how this relates to crime investigation, victimology, legal and court psychology, the role of punitive justice, treatment and rehabilitation alongside a wide spectrum of contemporary theories and other areas in psychology. If you want to investigate how psychology can help us to understand criminal behaviour and the Justice System, this course provides an excellent basis for a career in forensic psychology and criminology related areas.

The course is delivered by specialist staff teaching in our multi-million-pound purpose-built Science Centre where our facilities include an observation room, psychology labs and cutting-edge equipment including equipment measuring physiological responses. You’ll investigate the theories and principles of forensic and criminological psychology and how these are applied in legal and other offender settings. The applied nature of forensic and criminological psychology is highlighted throughout the course, and you’ll carry out a varied range of tasks and assessments. You’ll be given opportunities to examine methods for collecting and analysing information, to provide the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills and receive feedback. Employability skills will also be highlighted throughout the course to ensure that you are well prepared for a wide variety of careers including the prison service, health, police, probation service, victim support and services supporting families of offenders or victims, as well as (for example) HR, teaching and the charitable sector or on to further postgraduate study. You can also incorporate a module of volunteering/research experience or a placement year as part of your degree.

With only a few similar courses running across the country, it provides a firm and unique basis for postgraduate study. There is also a focus on course community and identity and the incorporation of interesting ways to learn both online and face-to-face. Across the Psychology department, our courses also consistently scoring highly in teaching and academic support across student surveys. We have a long history (25+ years) of running British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited courses. We have recently refreshed and improved our courses and as a result of this we are currently awaiting the accreditation of this new course being delivered from September 2022.

Students on all undergraduate Psychology courses at Staffordshire University can opt to undertake a placement (sandwich) year; a structured work experience opportunity (lasting for 9 months) in between levels 5 and 6 which enables you to develop and implement psychology specific and transferable skills whilst getting experience in a professional working environment which is assessed through a written refelction and activity log. In level 5 as part of the Steps to Success module, all students will be supported and encouraged to engage in a voluntary work placement which will apply their knowledge and enable application of their skills gained so far. Additionally students have the option to undertake and Research Assistantship modules, which involve work placements.

Previous placement locations have included Academies, YMCA, British Red Cross, Mind, fostering services, Asha, Midlands Psychology, Staffordshire University Technical Services, research assistantships, Change Grow Live, mental health and wellbeing clinics.