Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology applies the theories and methods of psychology to questions within legal and criminal justice contexts. It asks how criminal behaviour develops, how offenders can be assessed and rehabilitated, how eyewitness testimony should be evaluated, and how psychological evidence can be applied in legal proceedings. It is a discipline that sits at the intersection of science, ethics, and public policy, requiring both rigorous analytical thinking and sensitivity to the human realities of crime, victimisation, and justice.

At the University of Derby you will study across three years on a full-time programme, with a foundation year available for additional preparation, and a year abroad for international study. The questions the degree addresses are genuinely challenging: how does criminal behaviour develop across the lifespan, what does research tell us about the accuracy or inaccuracy of eyewitness memory, how should offenders be assessed for risk of reoffending, and how can psychological principles inform better approaches to rehabilitation? You will engage with the psychological science underlying these questions, including developmental psychology, social and cognitive psychology, and clinical and health psychology, alongside the specific forensic applications that distinguish this degree.

Research methods and the ability to critically evaluate evidence are central to the programme, reflecting the importance of empirical rigour in a field where psychological claims can have serious consequences for real people.

Forensic psychology graduates follow a range of career paths. Some go on to postgraduate training and, ultimately, Chartered status with the British Psychological Society in forensic, clinical, or counselling psychology. Others work in probation services, prisons, youth offending teams, victim support organisations, and mental health services within the criminal justice system.

Research roles in criminology, public health, and psychology are further directions. The analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills the degree develops are also valued in policy, legal services, and human services roles more broadly. Postgraduate study in forensic or clinical psychology is essential for those who wish to practise as forensic psychologists.