MSc Forensic Psychology

Study Mode Full-time
Year of Entry 2025/26
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MSc

Forensic Psychology

Full-time Psychology

Study the application of psychological theory and research to forensic psychology practice. Currently applications for this course are only open to home students. Please note that closing date is the Friday 26th April 2024, and all applications will be considered on Thursday 9th May 2024.*

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £10,620 for the course
    International/EU: £17,725 for the course

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    1 Year

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025


Where will I study?

This course is moving into one of our new buildings at City campus. Teaching will be delivered at our Collegiate campus during the 2024/25 academic year while we get our new facilities ready. After that you will study in brand new facilities at City campus.  

Course summary

  • Study a British Psychology Society accredited course.
  • Work towards completing Stage One of the two-stage BPS chartership process.
  • Learn new research methods and conduct your own empirical project.
  • Gain consultancy skills, communicating with professional audiences.
  • Develop the knowledge, skills, values and academic approach to work in areas relating to forensic psychology.

On this course, you'll study both psychological theory and practice. You'll focus on the role of psychology within criminal justice processes – including investigative and legal and criminal processes, and how offenders are assessed, rehabilitated and reintegrated. When you graduate you'll be prepared for a range of worthwhile career paths.

Accredited by
  • British Psychological Society (BPS)

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society.



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Graduate View
MSc Forensic Psychology graduate Emma Finch

‘The teaching staff were both knowledgeable and passionate about their subject field. Their passion was infectious, and one of the reasons I became interested in furthering my studies. This course was the stepping stone I needed to progress to PHD level.’

Emma Finch, MSc Forensic Psychology, 2018 graduate

How you learn

Your lecturer's view
Watch course leader Jane Adlard talk about this course.

The course has a blended learning approach. You'll attend four 'block weeks' of 5 days in October, November, February and March. 

During the block weeks you'll participate in workshop-based activities on topics in forensic psychology. The rest of your learning will be undertaken online, with screencasts, online activities and discussion threads.

You learn through

  • workshop-based activities on campus
  • independent study
  • online activities
  • guest lecturers
  • screencasts

Course leaders and tutors

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Jane Adlard
Programme Director MSc Forensic Psychology

Applied learning

Networking opportunities

There are guest speakers from the field of criminal justice, including practising psychologists and other professionals in the field. You’ll gain experience in research skills, and also learn about ongoing personal and professional development – as well as ethical practice in forensic psychology.
 


Future careers

This course prepares you to go on to Stage 2 of the chartership process, or further postgraduate study such as a PhD.

The course also prepares you for a career in

  • crime analysis
  • the police officer
  • research
  • interventions
  • psychology
  • appropriate adult services
  • youth justice and probation

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Psychology Facilities Tour

Take a look around Sheffield Hallam University's psychology facilities with student Angelica.

Equipment and facilities

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.

Entry requirements

All students

You should have successfully completed an undergraduate honours degree in psychology (2:1 or above). Undergraduate honours degrees in criminology or other relevant disciplines may also be considered. It would be helpful if your previous studies included research methods.

If you have successfully completed an undergraduate honours degree in psychology (or other relevant discipline) with a 2:2, you may be considered if you can satisfy the course team that you have the ability to complete the course (e.g., through evidence significant work experience in criminal justice, or successful completion of other relevant postgraduate study). For example, your work experience could be in the voluntary sector in youth justice, support work, drug rehabilitation, or programme facilitation.

If your undergraduate degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), you will be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) of the BPS. This means that by completing the MSc Forensic Psychology, you will fulfil Stage 1 of the requirements towards chartered membership of the BPS and full membership of the Division of Forensic Psychology.

If your undergraduate degree is not accredited by the BPS, you can gain eligibility for the GBC of the BPS through alternative routes. Such routes include BPS acceptance of an overseas psychology degree, or undertaking a conversion course such as a BPS accredited MSc in Psychology.

If English is not your first language or your undergraduate degree was not conducted in English, then you will be required to have an English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS (or equivalent) band 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in writing.

When completing your application form, please keep in mind that the selection panel will be considering the following:

• your grades

• your relevant work experience (paid or voluntary), or planned

• your personal statement, which should reflect your understanding of forensic psychology, and careers in this field, explain why you wish to undertake the course, and how the course fits in with your career aspirations. Try to include reference to the course-specific modules, and give some evidence as to how these fit with your particular interests. You should also discuss any relevant research you have undertaken during other studies, and what research interests you would like to pursue during the course.

As there are very limited places available on the MSc Forensic Psychology, it is important that your application form is completed fully and you cover the points indicated above in clear and concise detail. We reserve the right not to consider incomplete applications.

The selection panel may also invite applicants to attend a brief interview as part of the application process, which can be either face-to-face or via Skype.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Applied Forensic Consultancy
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Case Formulation: Assessment Of Offenders
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Case Formulation: Interventions With Offenders
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Dissertation And Continuing Professional Development
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(90%) , Practical(10%)
Investigative Psychology
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Legal And Criminal Justice
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Qualitative Research Methods For Forensic Psychology
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Quantitative Research Methods For Forensic Psychology
Credits 15
Assessment Exam(100%)
Theories Of Criminal Behaviour
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.

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Postgraduate student loans

Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.

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Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences (PDF, 154.4KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

You apply for this course via our online application form.

Apply for September 2025

You can also use the application form above to apply for future years of entry.

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Teaching

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Tailor your degree to the career you want by choosing one of our three specialist routes

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Facilities

Study in award-winning facilities and state-of-the-art psychology labs and contribute to groundbreaking psychological research

Where next?

Find out more about Sheffield Hallam's postgraduate opportunities and community.

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Information for international students

Information for international students including entry requirements by country and funding.

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