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Attendance

Campus

Start

This course is taught through block learning. Find out more.

Duration

3 years

Start

September 2026

UCAS Code

C8B1

Delivery

In-person

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Our BSc (Hons) Psychology (Forensic and Criminal) course will give you a broad understanding of law and the criminal justice system. You'll focus on topics such as detection, prevention and rehabilitation.

On our Psychology (Forensic and Criminal) degree you'll learn all about psychology relating to law and the criminal justice system. You'll explore the core areas of the field, as well as a wide range of topics in forensic and criminal psychology. You'll also learn about eyewitness accounts of crime, rehabilitation, domestic violence, lie detection, and crime prevention.

You’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in understanding, treating and preventing criminal behaviour. The course will be taught in short, focused blocks to give you a structured and engaging learning experience.

Why study with us

You'll learn from a team who conduct and apply world-class research in real-life forensic psychology settings. This includes the NHS, prison service, victim services or police.
You'll learn the skills and abilities you need to pursue a career as a chartered forensic psychologist.
This course is taught in block learning allowing you to focus on one subject at a time. You'll be on campus for three fixed days a week meaning you can maintain work/life balance.

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What you'll do

Learn from academics that lead their fields and a range of guest lecturers who share their experiences. Previously these have included a criminal classed as ‘Britain’s Most Wanted,’ and a Detective Superintendent who was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.
The core psychology topics are taught alongside forensic psychology. You'll learn about core concepts and gain an in-depth understanding of forensic psychology.
You’ll learn through different approaches, including interactive workshops, and from forensic psychologists. You'll also learn from probation officers who have worked with offenders in prisons and hospitals.

Modules

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. We may also make changes to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

The library (Preston Campus)

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN) Laboratory

Eye-tracking Laboratory

Cognitive Psychophysiology Laboratory

Human Factors Laboratory

Meet the team

Professor Charlie Frowd

Professor of Forensic Psychology

Dr Simon Chu

Senior Lecturer

Dr Cristina Fodarella

Lecturer in Psychology

Rebecca Ozanne

Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Nadiia Denhovska

Lecturer in Developmental Cognition

Dr Charlotte Field

Senior Lecturer

Dr Mark Roy

Course Director Clinical Psychology BSc

Dr Lea Pilgrim

Senior Lecturer

Dr Paul Taylor

Senior Lecturer

Dr Hollie Massey (Jones)

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Future careers in forensic and criminal psychology

As a Forensic Psychologist you could work in a range of professional settings. You could provide research evidence to support practice, offer evidence in court, or advise parole boards and mental health tribunals.

This course gives you a well-rounded understanding of both forensic and criminal psychology and the wider field. As such, it can be the foundation for a variety of different careers.

The largest single employer of forensic psychologists in the UK is the HM Prison Service. Your skills could also lead you to roles in secure hospitals, rehabilitation units and social services. You could also work in research organisations and consultancies. With your expertise, you can progress to postgraduate level in any area of psychology, pursue a career in research or study towards a PhD level.

Whatever path you aim for, we can provide the support to help you get there. We offer the flexibility to pursue work placements during your studies, whether as part of a module, or as a sandwich year. You'll get the help you need to build valuable skills and workplace experience that will give you a competitive advantage in the job market.

Entry requirements

We will consider your educational achievements, predicted grades, work experience and personal statement. If you don't meet the grades for your chosen course, we will consider you for other programmes.

We know that many factors can influence the grades you achieve in school or college. If your life experience has affected your academic studies, we can take this into account. Use the UCAS Points Calculator below to check whether you are eligible.

Unsure if you meet our entry requirements?
Contact our friendly Course Enquiries team to talk through your options.

Minimum qualifications:

104-120 points at A2
BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM-DDM
BTEC Diploma: D*D-D*D*
Pass Access Course: 104 -120 UCAS points
International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 104 -120 points from Higher Level Subjects
T level: M
IELTS: 6.0 with no component lower than 5.5
GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent

Not got the grades?

Our courses with a foundation year could be exactly what you're looking for. They provide an alternative route to study for this degree.

Find out more about our courses with a foundation year.

Fees and funding

2026/27

Fees for 2026/27 have not yet been set.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies. Select your country or region to see if you are eligible and how to apply.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Financial support package
If you are from a low income household our Financial Bursary may be able to help.
Find out more about Financial support package

To become a great Forensic Psychologist, you first need to become a good psychologist. Therefore in your first year, you'll gain an understanding of the core areas of Psychology. You'll build your understanding of forensic and criminal psychology through the ‘Topics in Forensic and Criminal Psychology’ module. You'll also cover a range of exciting and new research developments through the ‘Current Topics in Psychology’ module.

In your second year, you'll cover the core topics that will enable you to progress to postgraduate study, should you wish to. Your modules will be delivered alongside forensic psychology. You'll also have the option to choose another module to complement your interests and career goals.

In your final year, you'll be able to spend two-thirds of your time studying forensic psychology. This will be done through your project and the specialist final year forensic psychology modules. You'll also pick two more modules from related areas. This will allow you to focus your areas of interest and build the expertise needed for employment or postgraduate study.

Your modules will involve a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials, and practical workshops. This will help to reflect the professional practice of a forensic psychologist. Independent study will also be key on this course.

It is important to note that your assessments will not just come in the form of essays, presentations and research reports. Instead, where practical, they mirror the work that you might undertake as a Forensic Psychologist. This will provide you with a range of experiences to take with you to a potential employer.

Much like the facilities, our staff are world-class. You’ll be taught by specialists in their fields who will equip you with the knowledge needed to become a great psychologist and inspire you to become involved in collaborative research.

Applications for advanced entry to this course will be considered on an individual basis. We can recognise prior learning from other institutions. However, we must ensure that all our graduates have covered the curriculum required by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the award of Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). No exemptions can be made against the empirical project.

This course aims to equip psychology graduates with the BPS GBC for Stage 1 professional training in Forensic Psychology. It also aims to equip them with some of the knowledge needed for future practice as Chartered Forensic Psychologists. This is following completion of Stage 2 training - a minimum of two years supervised practice.

Interested?

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This course is delivered by the School of Psychology and Humanities

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Lancashire on our student contract page

Your saved courses

Psychology (Forensic & Criminal)

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Optional modules

Year 3

Compulsory modules

View our facilities

Meet the team

Future careers in forensic and criminal psychology

Entry requirements

Minimum qualifications:

Not got the grades?

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Financial support package

Psychology (Forensic & Criminal)

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Visit us on campus

View our facilities

Meet the team

Future careers in forensic and criminal psychology

Entry requirements

Minimum qualifications:

Not got the grades?

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Financial support package

Learning and assessment

Further information