Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology applies psychological knowledge, theory, and research methods to questions arising in legal, criminal justice, and forensic contexts. It examines criminal behaviour, offender rehabilitation, the psychological dimensions of crime prevention, the reliability of eyewitness testimony, the assessment of risk and dangerousness, and the psychological needs of victims, witnesses, and those working within the justice system. It is a discipline that sits at the boundary of psychology and law, and it asks how scientific understanding of the mind can inform and improve the operation of legal and criminal justice systems.

At the University of Sunderland, this three-year full-time programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, and upon graduation you will gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step on the pathway to becoming a chartered psychologist. You will explore the brain and human behaviour through the lens of forensic applications, developing both the academic knowledge and the research and analytical skills that the discipline demands. The programme includes a foundation year for students who benefit from additional preparation, and a sandwich placement year with work placement opportunities, giving you professional experience in a psychology or criminal justice related setting before you graduate.

Forensic psychology graduates go on to work in a range of roles. Many pursue further training to become forensic psychologists, clinical psychologists, or counselling psychologists, completing postgraduate training programmes and supervised practice hours. Others work in criminal justice settings including prisons, probation services, youth offending teams, and victim support organisations, or move into research, education, or consultancy roles.

The BPS accreditation of the degree makes the postgraduate pathway to chartered status more straightforward, and many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or criminology to develop their expertise further.