Psychology with Forensic Scene Investigation
Entry requirements
A level
To include a literate subject Entry into Year 2 with AAB to include Psychology and one from Government & Politics, English, Sociology, History, Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Maths or Physics
HNC (BTEC)
Entry into Year 1 with HNC (BTEC) Health & Social Care
HND (BTEC)
Entry into Year 1 with HND (BTEC) Health & Social Care
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include literate subject at S5 or H4 Entry into Year 2 with 34 Points to include Psychology and one from Modern Studies, English, Sociology, History, Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Maths or Physics plus one other AH
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include a literate subject
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Health & Social Care
Scottish Advanced Higher
Entry into Year 2 to include Psychology and one from Modern Studies, English, Sociology, History, Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Maths or Physics
Scottish HNC
Entry into Year 2 with an HNC in one of the following:- Applied Science - Graded Unit B plus Higher Psychology at B Social Science - Graded Unit B Next Gen Social Science - Graded Unit M to include Psychology A and Psychology B Entry into Year 1 with an HNC in one of the following:- Additional Support Needs - Graded Unit B Childhood Practice - Graded Unit B Coaching & Developing Sport - Graded Unit B Counselling - Graded Unit B Legal Services - Graded Unit B Police Studies - Graded Unit B Social Care - Graded Unit B Social Services - Graded Unit B Working with Communities - Graded Unit B
Scottish HND
Entry into Year 2 with HND Social Science - Graded Units BB Entry into Year 1 with and HND with one of the following:- Additional Support Needs - Graded Unit B Counselling - Graded Unit B Legal Services - Graded Units BB
Scottish Higher
To include a literate subject
T Level
Health
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
We will teach you how to use forensic processes and apply analytical psychology to police investigations. You will learn how to investigate crime scenes and the motivation behind the crimes involved.
The first two years of this degree are designed to help you dig deeper into the science behind the way humans think, feel, and behave. In years three and four you take more advanced options related to your specialist pathway, covering forensic scene examination, evidence processing and interpretation.
Our experienced academics are experts in criminal investigation and forensic science. We will give you a thorough understanding of this world, and you can study topics such as:
Crime scene examination and management.
Interpretation and presentation of evidence.
Applying behaviour to major crime investigations.
Applying memory research from crime scene to court.
Understanding the language of the judicial system.
Psychology is both an experimental and observational science. This means you will observe and measure human behaviour, tackle literature research, and develop, test, and evaluate theories. This culminates in conducting your own supervised research project in your final year, which is one of the corner stones of your degree.
You can switch to another Psychology pathway if you develop an interest in a particular topic later on.
This Psychology with Forensic Scene Investigation degree is accredited is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and its core areas follow the curriculum set out by the BPS. This accreditation is essential for students who want to become a Chartered Psychologist, and means that successful graduates are eligible to apply for further professional psychology training.
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology course scored an impressive 95% for Overall Student Satisfaction in the 2020 National Student Survey (NSS) and Forensic Science was the top rated modern Scottish department in the 2021 Good University Guide.
Students on this course may have to undertake a PVG check if they choose a specific placement (optional) as part of the course.
Abertay is widely regarded as THE place to come for high quality teaching. But don't just take our word for it:
Sunday Times UK University of the Year 2021 for Teaching Quality.
Guardian University Guide 2020 Top 10 in the UK for Student Satisfaction with Teaching, Course and Feedback.
National Student Survey 2020 Top 10 UK Universities for Student Satisfaction.
Modules
Year 1 core modules (subject to change over time) - PSY101 Introductory Psychology; PSY104 Comparative Psychology; PSY105 Introduction to Psychological Research Methods; Abertay 101 Being Successful at Abertay. You will also be required to select two option modules, one in Term 1 and one in Term 2. In Term 2 you must study and pass three MySuccess modules of your choosing. For detailed module information please check our website.
Assessment methods
The programme is a mixture of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars/tutorials and independent study. The practical laboratory classes offer the chance to learn relevant scientific techniques first hand, and an opportunity to engage in research by designing experiments and collecting and analysing data. You are assessed using a variety of assessment types. These include examinations and class tests, laboratory reports, essays, presentations (both oral and posters), research projects and writing scientific articles and case studies. Assessment is through a range of methods including exams, tests, practical laboratory reports and student presentations.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Abertay Campus
School of Applied Sciences
What students say
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Applied psychology
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Applied psychology
What are graduates doing after six months?
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Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Applied psychology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£15k
£23k
£22k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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