Psychology with Forensic Perspectives

Psychology with forensic perspectives applies the scientific methods and theoretical frameworks of psychology to the understanding of crime, criminal behaviour, and the justice system. Forensic psychology is concerned with questions such as why people commit offences, how reliable human memory and eyewitness testimony are, how criminal minds are profiled, how people respond to incarceration and treatment, and how psychological knowledge can inform police investigations, court processes, and rehabilitation programmes. It is a discipline that engages seriously with some of the most challenging and consequential questions about human behaviour.

At Teesside University, this three-year full-time programme develops the skills to read and evaluate psychological information, theories, and research papers critically. You will examine cognitive biases and common errors in reasoning, learning how to identify flawed arguments and evaluate evidence more accurately, which are skills central to both academic psychology and professional forensic practice. The programme covers the core areas of psychological science, including cognitive, social, developmental, and biological psychology, alongside specialist content in forensic and criminal psychology.

You will engage with research methods and statistics, developing the empirical skills that underpin credible psychological practice.

A typical entry tariff of 88 points reflects the programme's commitment to widening access, and the university has a strong tradition of supporting students from diverse educational backgrounds to develop professional ambitions in psychology and related fields.

Graduates of psychology with forensic perspectives programmes work in probation, prison and rehabilitation services, victim support, social work, police research and analysis, mental health services, and the full range of criminal justice organisations. Many continue to postgraduate study in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or criminology, which is the standard route to becoming a chartered forensic psychologist. The degree also provides a strong foundation for a wide range of other people-focused careers.