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Forensic Psychology

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,C

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

AQA Level 3 Technical Level (1080 glh)

DDM

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Access to HE Diploma

M:45

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

M2,M3,M3

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

25

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

DDM

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DDM

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM

Accepted towards tariff requirements

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

Scottish Advanced Higher

B,B,C

Individual Advanced Highers can be accepted with Scottish Highers towards tariff requirements

Scottish Higher

B,B,B,B

T Level

M

UCAS Tariff

120

Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Forensic psychology

This course will provide you with a unique opportunity to understand how psychological knowledge informs forensic practice. We will provide you with hands-on experience of conducting scientific research on forensic topics alongside the development of core developmental, cognitive, social, and biological skills. Throughout the duration of this undergraduate course, you will have the flexibility to choose from a range of modules. The combination of module choices will allow you to examine all aspects of criminal behaviour from pathways into crime, to crime scene behaviours, and criminal profiling techniques.

You will be introduced to the key themes, theories, and research of psychology and forensic psychology at level 4. At level 5 you will take a closer look at social and developmental issues and theories, and be introduced to contemporary topics in Forensic Psychology, including ethical, legal, and moral dilemmas. Level 6 is focused upon a more advanced critical understanding of the specialist topics within forensic psychology, including both research and practice. A core research methods and skills module will run through each year, allowing you to progressively develop your ability to plan and conduct scientific research independently.

You will be supported to conduct your own research, work on real-life case studies, and have the opportunity to engage in presentations at relevant professional conferences.

The Positive Psychology modules which run in Stage 1 and 3 will help you to develop transferable psychological skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems, whilst supporting emotional wellbeing when studying sensitive topics.

You will be invited to talks with external forensic psychology experts in both research and practice, across a range of different careers. This will provide you with invaluable ‘insider’ information and enable you to make informed decisions about your future aspirations within forensic psychology.

**By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:**

- You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.

- Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop* to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).

- Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.

- Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.

**The Northampton Employment Promise**
- In fact, we’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.

✱ eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information

Modules

**Stage 1**
• Introduction to Psychology (Compulsory)
• Psychology in Practice (Compulsory)
• Investigating Psychology (Compulsory)
• Foundations of Forensic Psychology (Compulsory)
• Becoming a Psychologist (Compulsory)
• Positive Psychology (Compulsory)

**Stage 2**
• Development and Society (Compulsory)
• Research Methods and Statistics (Compulsory)
• Personality and the Fundamentals of Psychology (Compulsory)
• Forensic Risk Assessment (Compulsory)
• Biological and Cognitive Psychology: Mechanisms of the mind (Compulsory)
• Mapping the Landscape of Forensic Practice (Compulsory)

**Stage 3**
• Forensic Psychology Dissertation (Compulsory)
• Forensic Intervention and Rehabilitation (Compulsory)
• Criminal Profiling and Behaviour Analysis (Designated)
• Pathways into Crime and Addiction (Designated)
• Forensic Psychology in Practice Placement (Designated)
• Cognitive Biases and 'Brain Bugs' within Legal Processes (Designated)
• Applying Positive Psychology (Designated)

Module information is quoted for 2023 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Northampton

Department:

Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Read full university profile

What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Applied psychology

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
15%
Male students
85%
Female students
72%
2:1 or above
16%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Applied psychology

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£17,000
med
Average annual salary
94%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

23%
Childcare and related personal services
14%
Caring personal services
7%
Public services and other associate professionals

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.

£18k

£18k

£22k

£22k

£22k

£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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Higher entry requirements
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UCAS Points: 104-160

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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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:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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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