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Course information

Department

Psychology

Length

1 year full-time, or 2 years part-time

Course overview

Goldsmiths' operating principles for 2022-23 have not yet been finalised but should changes be required to teaching in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will publish these as early as possible for prospective students wishing to start their programme in September 2022.

This MSc provides the academic training required for a career as a forensic psychologist.

The degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the Society and also the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

  • Are you interested in training to become a forensic psychologist?

  • Or are you already working in the criminal justice or forensic mental health systems and keen to learn more about the theory and practice behind forensic psychology?

The programme will introduce you to a range of psychological theories, methods and processes within the context of the legal, criminal and civil justice systems.

Based at a research-led London university with strong links to forensic services, you’ll be taught by world-class researchers, and experienced practitioners from the NHS, and the prison and probation service.

Led by chartered forensic clinical psychologist Dr Caoimhe McAnena and chartered psychologist Dr Adrian Scott, the MSc includes contributions from world-class researchers and practitioners who will teach on the programme and supervise research projects.

We have been awarded full British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation, which will give you the opportunity to gain Graduate and/or Chartered Membership of the Society.

Work experience opportunities

One of the major strengths of this course is our strong links with local forensic/mental health services. All successful applicants will be provided with details of available work experience opportunities at the beginning of the academic term.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Adrian Scott.

What you'll study

Overview

The course will cover the assessment and treatment of offenders, risk assessment methods, and treatment of offenders with mental health and personality disorders.

There will be a focus on criminal investigations by examining psychological issues in eyewitness identification, investigative interviewing of witnesses and suspects, psychological profiling and detecting deception.

You'll also explore legal and criminological concepts relevant to contemporary social issues and organisations. Issues relating to ethics, human rights, professional practice and research will be emphasised to provide a firm grounding for further professional training and practice.

By completing this programme you will:

  • Develop your knowledge and understanding of the application of psychology to processes in the criminal and civil justice system (eg investigation, trial, the work of the expert witness)
  • Develop a thorough knowledge of psychological theories and interventions in relation to a range of specific client groups, such as sexual and violent offenders, people with personality disorder and mental health difficulties, juveniles and victims of crime
  • Be introduced to a range of psychometric instruments used widely within forensic psychology, and develop your skills in interpreting and communicating the outcome of these assessments
  • Develop the knowledge and skills required to undertake forensic psychological research, including the design, implementation and interpretation of service evaluations, clinical audit, and outcome research within forensic settings

Structure

The programme is comprised of 7 compulsory modules and 1 option modules.

The compulsory modules are:

  • Assessment and Intervention in Forensic Psychology
  • Psychology, Crime and Law
  • Professional Issues in Psychological Practice
  • Research Design and Analysis
  • Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Crime
  • Statistical Methods
  • Research Project

You then choose one option module, which may be selected from a range of courses offered in the Department of Psychology, for example:

  • Psychopathology
  • Addictive Behaviours
  • Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology
  • Social Psychology of Social Problems: Intergroup perspective
  • Social-Moral Development
  • Advanced Quantitative Methods
  • Statistical Data Analysis Project
  • Investigative Forensic Psychology

Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

For 2021-22 and 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the programme changes page.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in psychology or a similar relevant subject.

You could, for example, be a Psychology graduate with the BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) interested in working towards a BPS qualification in forensic psychology. Or you could be a practitioner working in the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems who doesn't plan to go on to qualify as a forensic psychologist but who wishes to gain further academic knowledge of the theories and practice of the discipline.

Subject to having GBC accreditation, completion of this Masters course will fulfil the requirements of Stage 1 training to become a Chartered Psychologist. For non GBC candidates the qualification will not be recognised as fulfilling Stage 1 DFP training, but will apply retrospectively if GBC is obtained at a later date.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2022/2023 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £9990
  • Home - part-time: £4995
  • International - full-time: £16600

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Student Visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

Apply now

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you'll need to have: 

  • Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
  • A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online (Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement)
  • An electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK)

You will be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply 

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

Application deadline: 31 March 2022
Interviews: late April/early May 2022
Decisions: late May/early June 2022

We have an application deadline because the availability of places is likely to be significantly reduced after this date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you submit your application by the deadline above. Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a telephone or video interview (e.g. Microsoft Team, Zoom) during late April/early May 2022, and notified of the outcome in late May/early June 2022. Further details regarding the interview procedure will be provided via email.

If you are applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the specified deadline.

Selection process 

Admission to this programme is by application, qualifications, and interview. Occasionally, we will make exceptional candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Find out more about applying.

Careers

Professional training

This new programme aims to satisfy the academic component of professional training in forensic psychology. Accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as meeting the requirement for Stage One of the BPS Diploma in Forensic Psychology has been applied for. When accredited, successful completion will allow you to enrol in the BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage Two) with the aim of achieving the Division of Forensic Psychology (DFP) Qualification in Forensic Psychology, and becoming a Chartered Psychologist with the DFP and Practitioner Forensic Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Careers

Graduates of the programme will be well-qualified a wide range careers in:

  • the criminal justice system
  • health services
  • civil society

Relevant career opportunities are available in the:

  • prison and probation service
  • NHS
  • police and voluntary sector organisations

Many of these posts will be training positions to allow the completion of the Stage Two qualification in Forensic Psychology described above.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.

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