Psychology with Forensic and Investigative Psychology

UCAS code: C811

Here's what University of Portsmouth says about its Psychology with Forensic and Investigative Psychology course.

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview Explore how psychological knowledge informs criminal investigations and forensic practice, and help to understand offending behaviour on this BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic and Investigative Psychology degree, accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

While a psychology degree covers the mind and behaviour in a wider sense, studying forensic psychology means focusing on the way people think, act and feel in relation to crime and legal issues.

• Put your investigative techniques to the test in our Forensic Interviewing Suite, which features thermal imaging cameras, eye tracking and virtual reality (VR) technology and advanced digital and video analysis

• Use our motion capture studios, which feature the latest Vicon optical system, to explore the mechanics and perception of human movement

• Have the chance to study abroad or take part in a year-long work placement, boosting your employability prospects after the course

• Learn from forensic psychology practitioners involved in the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology, the largest academic research centre for forensic psychology in the UK

• Become eligible to apply for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (with a 2:2 or higher) – an essential first step to becoming a professional forensic psychologist

Accredited by: This degree confers eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Graduate Basis for Registration.

Careers and opportunities When you complete the course with a 2:2 or higher, you'll be eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS), which is an essential first step to becoming a Chartered Forensic Psychologist. To become Chartered, you'll also need to do further academic training for up to 5 years, including an MSc Forensic Psychology.

What can you do with a Forensic Psychology degree? Many graduates go on to do an MSc in Forensic Psychology after the course. You could also start a career in areas such as:

• teaching

• health associated professions

• social welfare

• police work

• probation service

• research

Graduate roles and destinations Roles our previous graduates have gone on to include:

• clinical psychologist

• forensic psychologist

• educational psychologist

• counsellor

• health planning analyst

They've taken roles in the following organisations:

• National Probation Service

• Ministry of Defence

• North East London NHS Foundation Trust

Placement year After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the field. A placement year gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you stand out to employers after the course.

You can work for a company or organisation here in the UK or overseas, or you could go independent by setting up and running your own business with other students.

Potential prison placements Previous students have completed work placements in medium secure units, youth offending teams and prisons, including:

• HMP Bronzefield

• HMP Ford

• HMP Winchester

Potential placement destinations Other students have taken placement roles in organisations including:

• Broadmoor High Security Hospital

• Hampshire Constabulary Student Watch

• Catch 22 - a not-for-profit business involved in offender management, rehabilitation and victim services

• Motiv8 - a charity working for safer communities for young people and their families

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.

We design modules that have:

• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year • Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams • Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering

For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-psychology-with-forensic-and-investigative-psychology#modules

You’ll be assessed through:

• written examinations
• practical reports and essays
• poster presentations
• oral presentations
• self-led research project

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:

• Year 1 students: 25% by written exams, 22% by practical exams and 53% by coursework
• Year 2 students: 38% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 54% by coursework
• Year 3 students: 33% by written exams, 13% by practical exams and 54% by coursework