Why do people commit crime? Can we treat and rehabilitate people who have offended? How are victims affected by crime? On our Psychology with Forensic Psychology degree, you will apply psychological theories, methods and processes to the study of human behaviour including criminal behaviour and the justice system.
Our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree enables you to confront the issues that humans face with psychology's scientific principles. We give you the tools to develop your own ideas on criminal behaviour, explore how to reduce offending and understand victim responses to offending behaviour.
You study the core areas required for accreditation: statistics, biological and general psychology, social and developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, child development and personality. Forensic psychology will feature throughout your degree in modules and work on a reflective log book.
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.
AAB-ABB
Mathematics grade C or 4
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.
Distinction, Distinction, Merit
32 points overall or 16 points at HL with Mathematics 4 at HL or SL
Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 65% overall average (plus 50% in LZ013 Maths and Statistics if you do not hold GCSE Maths at 4/C or equivalent).
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
Duration: 3 years full-time
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Psychology with Forensic Psychology is a three-year programme.
You take all compulsory modules and then choose elective module from across the University which can be related or unrelated to forensic psychology ie criminology, forensic science, languages, politics or business psychology.
SP300 is concerned with methodology in psychology, with statistics in psychology, and how they interact. In the lectures, relevant topics in methodology and statistics are introduced over the course of the year (examples are design considerations, counterbalancing, sample versus population, descriptive statistics, histograms, summary statistics, hypothesis testing). There are a number of dedicated lectures looking at how the psychological literature reflects the methodological and statistical issues that have been addressed in the lectures, and how researchers have balanced the requirements of methods, statistics and theory-driven investigation
This module provides students with an introduction to the methods, techniques and issues of cognitive and biological psychology. The module covers the historical development of cognitive psychology as a science, the brain processes which underlie human behaviour and behavioural genetics. The module focuses on the cognitive processes of learning, thought, perception, memory, attention, intelligence, psychopathology and disorders of cognition. Each topic includes a brief overview of its historical development before introducing students to the current theories, methods and issues. The module is taught through lectures and the accompanying psychology specific skills seminars.
This module, along with other Stage 1 psychology modules, provides a foundation for Stages 2 and 3. It will provide students with an introduction to the methods, techniques and issues involved in the study of social psychology and developmental psychology. The emphasis of the module is on theory as the foundation of an empirical discipline and the importance of scientific methodology. It highlights the interplay between theory, research, and application in both social psychology and developmental psychology. In one part of the module, focus is placed on core theories and research in, as well as applications of, social psychology. In the other part of the module, focus is placed on core theories and research in, as well as applications of, developmental psychology. Each part begins with an overview of the historical development of the subject before introducing students to current theories and methods.
This module will introduce students to key topics in Forensic Psychology including the development of offending, the rehabilitation of offenders, the criminal justice system, criminal statistics, policing, and the public response to crime. In particular, this module will focus on (1) fundamental applications of psychology, as a science, for understanding important forensic issues, and (2) key research methods common in forensic psychological research. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to apply contemporary psychological concepts and methods to understand the important forensic psychological issues outlined.
The Research Participation Scheme (RPS) enables students commencing their training in Psychology to gain experience with academic research through participation in studies conducted by staff and other students who are more advanced in their studies (i.e., Final Year, MSc, PhD). Students enrolled in the RPS accumulate credits that correspond to the time spent participating in studies. All studies offered via the RPS have received independent ethical approval and comply with the BPS Code of Human Research Ethics.
This module will provide you with the fundamental skills needed to succeed in degree-level psychology. As well as explicit training in the mechanics of academic writing, referencing, and critical thinking, it will give you a thorough grounding in the psychology of effective learning, considering key topics from cognitive psychology (e.g. memory, attention) in terms of how they relate to successful study strategies.
This module will introduce students to key topics about Psychology in the workplace such as leadership, corporate crime, and workplace motivation – there will be a focus on the application of psychology to real business issues and questions, and lectures will focus on expertise within the School of Psychology at Kent. In particular, this module will focus on (1) fundamental applications of psychology, as a science, for understanding important business, work, and organisational issues, and (2) key research methods common in work and organization psychological research. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to apply contemporary psychological concepts and methods to understand the application of psychology to core work and organisational issues.
This module will introduce students to key topics in Clinical Psychology. In particular, this module will focus on (1) fundamental applications of psychology, as a science, for understanding important clinical issues, and (2) key research methods common in clinical psychological research. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to apply contemporary psychological concepts and methods to understand the important clinical psychological issues outlined.
You have the opportunity to select elective modules in this stage.
You take all compulsory modules in Psychology and keep a Forensic Psychology Reflective Log (Stage 2).
The broad aims of the module are: (a) to provide a continued training in methodological skills appropriate to psychological investigation; (b) to provide advanced training in statistical techniques of the analysis of psychological data; (c) to provide training in computing skills for conducting analysis of psychological data; and (d) to provide direct experience of some of the phenomena encountered in other Stage 2/3 psychology modules.
The practical component of the module consists of a structured course of laboratory classes and non-laboratory sessions during which students work in small supervised groups designing and carrying out four research projects related to themes encountered in the department's other Stage 2/3 modules. A course of statistics lectures and computing workshops is closely linked to the practical classes. Computer–based statistical analysis is illustrated using R/RStudio, an open source statistical package.
The focus of this module is on understanding how children develop. Understanding something of the processes of developmental change is a central part of any psychology degree, and by the end of this module you should be in a better position to understand the significance of child development for human psychology. As the course progresses we will move from issues germane to early infancy, through childhood and the associated social, cognitive and emotional changes the child experiences during that period, concluding with an overall look at the bigger picture.
The Research Participation Scheme (RPS) enables students commencing their training in Psychology to gain experience with academic research through participation in studies conducted by staff and other students who are more advanced in their studies (i.e., Final Year, MSc, PhD). Students enrolled in the RPS accumulate credits that correspond to the time spent participating in studies. All studies offered via the RPS have received independent ethical approval and comply with the BPS Code of Human Research Ethics.
This module gives you grounding in methods, techniques and issues in cognitive neuroscience. It will focus on the biological bases of human behaviour, and on cognitive processes such as attention, perception, memory, and higher levels of cognition concerned with language and cognitive control, with a particular focus on how these processes are instantiated in the brain. Your will also learn about the methods used to study these processes, such as the recording of physiological signals, brain-imaging techniques, and the study of individuals with brain injury.
The module provides a comprehensive overview of the major theories and scientific discoveries in personality and individual differences, attitudes and social cognition, and the social psychology of group processes, interpersonal relationships and intergroup relations. It emphasises findings from systematic empirical research in both field and laboratory settings and focuses on key topics in classic and current research. Possible topics include mental abilities, emotions, self-esteem, the self, political attitudes, attraction, stability and change in personality and attitudes, social influence, leadership, social identity, prejudice, and prejudice reduction.
We will consider what personality is, why it differs between people, and what impact personality and individual differences have on life outcomes. We will also focus on the impact of perceptions of the self, others, and groups on attitudes and behaviour within close relationships, within groups and between groups.
This module will provide students with theoretical instruction and opportunities for critical evaluation in abnormal psychology. It will examine the origins and identification of different forms of atypical cognitions and behaviours and investigate the psychological and social impact for patients. It will cover some of the major mental health disorders, focusing primarily on what research has to say about their social/cognitive/biological bases and the implications they have for treatment. In addition, the module will describe several methodological approaches, ask fundamental questions about the meaning of normality. The historical developments in this field will be examined and current interventions and treatments will feature highly in this module.
Students will attend up to 4 talks specifically relating to careers in Forensic Psychology (e.g. a forensic psychologist from the prison service, a forensic psychologist from a mental health setting, an academic, and someone from the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology). They will be required to keep a log book, starting in Stage 2 where they record non-assessed activities relating to the forensic component of the BSc (guest lectures, research experience, etc.). This allows the students to have a record of activities for their CV, contributes to employability, and gives practice for similar requirements at MSc level or in pursuing BPS Stage 2 of professional training in Forensic Psychology
You take three compulsory modules and then choose three optional psychology modules, allowing you to follow specialist interests and benefit from staff research expertise. You also also keep a Forensic Psychology Reflective Log (Stage 3).
All students are required to carry out an original piece of psychological research on a topic of their own choosing, and to then present it as a report that adheres to the conventions of academic psychology.
This module complements the focus of BSc degree on basic (fundamental) psychological research by providing training in applied psychology. The module equips students with an understanding of what is meant by applied psychology, of the domains in which psychology can be applied (e.g., in business, education, health, and the law), and decision rules governing applied psychology such as the balance between the cost and risks inherent in an intervention with its benefits. It would also introduce students to ethical, logistical, and methodological challenges in applied psychology. Students are also introduced to the history and philosophy of applied psychology, for example contrasting humanistic and behaviourist approaches to intervention, and a consideration of the role of socially constructed "value" in the application of science (for example, how prejudice versus homosexuality have waxed and waned as “problems” warranting psychological intervention according to prevailing social values).
This module will provide students with an in-depth examination of the theoretical and applied aspects of Forensic Psychology. It will include the development of laws and the principles on which the judicial system is founded, offending by specific sections of the community including street gangs and career criminals, Criminal Justice responses to offending by the police and forensic profilers, the role and credibility of eyewitnesses and the interview processes employed with suspects, the role of juries, how sentences are compiled for convicted offenders, the aims of punishment and how prisoners respond to imprisonment, theoretical perspectives of rehabilitation and an examination of the implementation of the sex offender treatment programme. The module will focus on the in-depth application of forensic psychology to the justice system, its role in identifying and ameliorating offending behaviour. In particular it will evaluate the role of psychology in criminal justice: systems, policies and practices by presenting and critically evaluating research and research methods within forensic psychology. Students will be encouraged to develop skills to critique the literature and methodologies to further their understanding of the core forensic issues the course presents.
Students will attend talks relating to key topics in Forensic Psychology. These sessions will be facilitated, and will include group discussions on the topics. Students will be required to keep a log book, to keep a record of these discussions. This log book allows the students to have a record of activities for their CV, contributes to employability, and gives practice for similar requirements at MSc level or in pursuing BPS Stage 2 of professional training in Forensic Psychology.
The diversity and complexity of primate sociality is reflected in the diversity and complexity of their communication strategies. This module complements the module ANTB5800 (SE580) 'Primate Behaviour & Ecology' by examining the ways in which primates communicate with one another through olfactory, tactile, visual, and acoustic signals. We will address fundamental questions in animal communication including: Is it appropriate to characterize such communication in terms of information transfer? How does communication evolve? What maintains signal honesty, and under what conditions can deceptive communication can evolve? The module will cover the physical and biological bases of signal production and perception. We will explore the extent to which studies of primate communication can provide a window into their minds. Finally, we will delve into the question of the relevance of primate communication for understanding the evolution of human language.
Much of the material presented in this course forms part of the relatively new academic discipline of evolutionary psychology/anthropology. The goal of this course is to discover and understand the principles of evolutionary psychology and other complementary paradigms. The module explores human behaviour (primarily human sexual behaviours) from an evolutionary perspective. Topics covered are reproductive and mating strategies, parenting behaviour, kinship, cooperation, survival, status striving, jealously, and aggression. The course will provide an excellent understanding of the deeply biological nature of human behaviour, and develop skills in critical thinking. Students will be encouraged to bring relevant questions and observations to seminars and time will be allocated to deal with them.
The module examines the nature of political behaviour in Britain today. It focuses on two key issues. The first is the way that citizens participate in politics. The module explores the nature of political participation, and how this has changed in the last few decades. It also examines the characteristics of people who participate, and the factors that motivate individuals to engage in different forms of political participation. The second key issue examined is voting behaviour. The module considers how far electoral decisions are shaped by stable 'sociological' factors, and how far voters today are less closely aligned with parties and more open to the influence of particular policy messages, personalities and media coverage. Alongside this focus on the behaviour of citizens, the module also considers the activities of key intermediary organisations, such as legislators. Throughout, the module seeks to develop students’ understanding and analytical skills, by considering theories and models of political behaviour along with the way data and other evidence can be brought to bear in testing the validity of these models.
This module tackles a variety of hot and/or critical topics in cognitive psychology, building upon the theories and research assimilated at Stages 1 and 2. The goal of the lecturers, all experts on their topics, is to bring students to a more advanced level, where they can start to evaluate pieces of research in terms of their findings, conceptual underpinnings and/or methodological choices. The overarching theme focuses on free will and metacognition, looking in particular at the extent to which we control, or feel we control, our cognitive processes and behaviour in areas such as decision making, imitation and memory. We will discuss research that has used a variety of methods, including behavioural, animal and neuroimaging techniques. Practical applications and relevance to a general understanding of behaviour will be emphasised throughout.
Developmental psychology aims to understand the developmental trajectory of psychological processes involved in human thought, action, behaviour and emotion. The underlying premise of this field is that a fuller understanding of any psychological phenomena becomes available once we explain when and how it develops. The main purpose of this module is to critically review recent research into key topics within advanced developmental psychology (e.g. social development, the development of prejudice, children as witnesses, the development of mindreading and learning from others). Through such an examination we will be a good position to understand the questions, issues and controversies that are at the forefront of research in developmental psychology.
This module aims to help students develop an understanding of clinical psychology by exploring the theory behind the main theoretical orientations utilised by those in the field. Initially students will be introduced to the three main schools of thought: psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and systemic. Thereafter, more contemporary approaches and specific therapies will be presented. This module will help prepare students for the rich variety of psychological thinking in mental health and clinical psychology. This may be particularly relevant to aspiring clinical psychologists.
This module provides an introduction to important issues in learning disabilities. It examines definitions and attitudes to people with for example, Down's Syndrome. It explores a number of particular difficulties which people with learning disabilities experience, including communicating, establishing social and sexual relationships, and some of the resultant problems, such as sexual abuse and challenging behaviour. Finally, the most recent social policy initiatives are considered with a focus on how services might implement policy objectives (such as social inclusion and adult protection).
This module involves students in a project based on interviews with people with learning disabilities. There will be teaching sessions on research, interview construction, recording and analysis. Practical work will involve visiting a person with learning disabilities at their place of work and conducting a recorded interview with due regard to ethical and consent issues. A series of clinics designed to assist students in analysis, interpretation and presentation of the project work will follow. The module will conclude with students doing a group presentation of their findings to people with learning disabilities, staff in learning disability services and other invited guests.
This module offers an exciting opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge research into groups. You will understand and apply group research to social policy, business, politics, marketing, etc. and get the chance to consider current affairs and personal experiences with the opportunity for small group discussions and team work. Example topics: decision-making in groups, alcohol and group processes, leadership, organisational identity, improving cooperation in groups.
This module provides an opportunity to study the literature on motivation, inspired by a wide range of psychological perspectives (e.g., Evolutionary Psychology, Social Psychology, and Existential Experimental Psychology). In this, we will consider what motivates human cognition and behaviour. Specifically we will consider; (a) General Theories of Human Evolution & Motivation(b) Biological Perspectives (c) The self and Self-regulation (d) Human Mating Strategies, (e) Embodiment, (f) Threat Management, (g) Emotion, (h) Religion and Illusion, (i) The Modern Unconscious (j).. Moreover, the module will introduce students to experimental methods and measures applied in the field of research on human motivation. Finally, applications of theory and findings on human motivation to applied settings (e.g., daily life) are discussed
This module will build upon the cognitive theories and research methods explored at stages 1 and 2. It will focus on several forms of neurological deficit each of which affects a different domain of cognition. Students will learn about how different strands of neuroscientific research, relating to behaviour, cognition, anatomy, and physiology, have both advanced our understanding of human neuropsychology, and informed on the design of relevant intervention strategies.
The module will systematically explore common logical and psychological barriers to understanding and critically analysing empirical research. Major topics to be considered include common fallacies of deductive and inductive reasoning, judgmental heuristics relevant to evaluating empirical research claims, essentials of a scientific method, misleading statistical and graphical techniques, establishing genuine associations, the role of inferential statistics for identifying illusory associations, essentials of causal inference, threats to the validity of experimental and non experimental research.
This module focuses on imaginative cognition - the capacity for humans to mentally simulate other times, places, and possibilities outside the present. We will consider theoretical perspectives and debates on the imagination from a range of disciplines, and will examine how the imagination – whilst seemingly intangible – can be empirically quantified and studied. We will discuss the contributions of the imagination to people's decisions, actions, and beliefs. Teaching topics may include, but are not limited to, pretend play and imagination in childhood, counterfactual and future thinking, mental imagery, thought experiments, creativity, imagination in clinical populations, the neuroscience of the imagination, and imaginative cognition in other species.
This module focuses on practical aspects of applying psychology to work and organisations. The module combines teaching of conceptual frameworks with opportunities to engage in evidence-based practice through case studies, project work and/or participation in peer mentoring.
This module is concerned with contemporary concepts, theories and findings in the social psychology of justice and morality. We will consider how social psychology has been applied to understand the basis of our sense of morality and justice, with a particular focus on how these theories can help us understand contemporary real-world ethical debates and be applied with benefits for individuals, groups and society. In doing so, we will see how the empirical methods of psychology can be joined with philosophical and political concepts of justice and morality, and better understand how individuals develop and use moral concepts to navigate the social world and guide their behaviour.
The 2022/23 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarshipsKent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
Modules are taught by weekly lectures, workshops, small group seminars and project supervision. The Psychology Statistics and Practical modules include laboratory practical sessions, statistics classes, computing classes and lectures in statistics and methodology.
Most modules are assessed by examination and coursework in equal measure. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks and, where appropriate, the marks for your year abroad or placement count towards your final degree result. Our assessment methods are varied and will include, but are not limited to, examinations, written assignments and essays, group work and oral presentations
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
The programme aims to:
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
You develop intellectual skills in:
You gain subject-specific skills in:
You gain transferable skills in:
Psychology at Kent scored 86% overall in The Complete University Guide 2023.
Our graduates have gone on to work in:
Many continue their studies at postgraduate level to qualify as a:
The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
The School of Psychology has valuable links with educational establishments, hospitals and prisons in the area, offering you the possibility of both visits and work placements. We also offer a Research Experience Scheme that gives you a taste of working within a research environment.
Studying for a degree is not just about mastering your subject area. Employers also look for a range of key transferable skills, which you develop as part of your degree.
These include:
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (provided you graduate with at least second class honours and pass your final-year research project).
This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist, which is important if you want to work within the NHS or a local education authority.
This course page is for the 2022/23 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk
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