Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology is the application of psychological science to the legal system and the criminal justice process. It asks how psychological knowledge can help us understand criminal behaviour, assess risk, support victims and witnesses, advise courts, and rehabilitate offenders. The field draws on several branches of psychology, including social, developmental, clinical, and cognitive psychology, applying them to questions that have serious consequences for individuals and for public safety.

Far from its popular portrayal in crime dramas, forensic psychology is a scientifically rigorous discipline that requires careful attention to evidence and an understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks within which psychologists work.

At the University of Chester, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year that provides a structured introduction to psychology and its methods before you progress into the full degree. This makes the programme accessible to students who want more time to build their scientific and analytical foundations. The main degree covers core areas of psychology alongside specialist forensic content including offender profiling, risk assessment, eyewitness testimony, the psychology of victimisation, mental disorder and the law, and rehabilitation and desistance from crime.

A year abroad is available, broadening your perspective on how different legal and criminal justice systems operate and how forensic psychology is practised in different national contexts.

You will develop skills in research, data analysis, critical reading of psychological evidence, and the communication of findings to professional audiences.

Graduates pursue careers in the probation service, prison and secure settings, victim support, social work, the police service, and mental health support roles. Some go on to postgraduate training in clinical or forensic psychology, which is required for chartered forensic psychologist status. Others move into research, policy, or broader human services roles where psychological knowledge is applied.