Criminology with Forensic Psychology MSc
Subject and course type
- Criminology and Law
- Psychology
- Postgraduate
Help improve how crimes are investigated. Kingston University’s Criminology with Forensic Psychology MSc enables you to combine two complementary subject areas. You’ll build the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in this critical sector.
You are reading:
Help make society a safer place
Studying this MSc in Criminology with Forensic Psychology at Kingston University will give you the skills to progress to careers in a wide range of private and public sector organisations.
Previous graduates have gone on to work in policy making, offender management, crime reduction and more.
During the course, you’ll consider the formal responses to offending behaviour. You’ll unpack policing, punishment, rehabilitation and wider social control strategies, as well as studying the criminalisation process and engaging critically with crime reduction methods.
Through a blend of practical and theoretical learning, you’ll critically evaluate a range of historical and contemporary investigative methods. You’ll study investigative and legal processes, exploring how psychological methods can improve interviewing techniques and police inquiry decision-making.
Alongside the forensic component, you’ll also examine social, economic and political contexts that lead to crime and victimisation.
Please note: If you’re interested in becoming a practising psychologist, you should complete an MSc in Forensic Psychology, which is BPS-accredited. To find out more visit our Forensic Psychology MSc course page.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only is Kingston University Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework, our staff are senior academics and professional practitioners with extensive industry experience.
As part of the Kingston School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, you’ll tap into a vibrant research culture with plenty of opportunities to boost your employability and gain hands-on experience.
Kingston’s location offers plenty of opportunities to see the criminal justice system in action. You’ll visit and experience a close network of courts, prisons and community-based crime-reduction programmes first-hand.
You’ll also have opportunities to access first-hand experiences of imprisonments, alternative community rehabilitation provisions and legal perspectives.
This course teaches crucial elements of criminological theory, research and practice. You’ll explore an extensive array of social harms and perspectives – many of which have traditionally been neglected by criminologists and the legal system.
Prepare for global impact
Kingston School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences offers courses in economics, sociology, law, psychology and criminology. Our degrees are underpinned by a vibrant research culture and delivered by a blend of practitioners and academics who are dedicated to equipping you with the employability skills to thrive in your career.
Course content
Criminology is a dynamic and multi-disciplinary subject that draws upon a range of theoretical frameworks and social research techniques to explore criminological phenomena. You will engage with the theoretical ideas that govern the discipline and apply them to better understand the substantive issues in the study of crime, harm and justice. In the forensic psychology component, you will study the psychological processes underpinning investigative techniques and judicial processes. The programme will involve a critical appreciation of how psychology can be used to improve: police decision making when interviewing witnesses and courtroom procedures.
Full time: You will study five core modules plus a Criminology Dissertation worth 60 credits.
Part time: Typically, as a part-time student you will study four core modules in Year 1. In Year 2 you will take one core module and a dissertation.
Modules
Core modules
30 credits
This module covers a range of theoretical and applied topics regarding investigative and judicial processes. For example, psychological principles may be applied to investigative approaches to interviewing, detecting deception, bearing false witness, offender profiling, case linkage, eyewitness memory, jury behaviour and decision-making, examining the state of mind and assessment, and expert psychological testimony (ethics, code of practice, report writing and practice). By taking this approach you develop a critical understanding of pertinent stages in the investigative process where psychology may be used to improve interviewing strategies, as in the employment of the cognitive interview to assist in the improvement of witnesses' memory recall. This course then develops upon the investigative knowledge base provided by encouraging you to identify areas within the courtroom process where psychological techniques could be used. Thus, you are taken on an analytical and evaluative journey of the key criminal justice processes of the investigation and presentation of evidence in cases.
30 credits
The module offers a comparative analysis of the main theoretical approaches to criminology: approaches centred on the individual (psychological and biological approaches) and approaches centred on the social context. This theoretical knowledge will be applied to the study of various types of ‘criminal trajectories' such as youth crime, professional crime, white-collar crime, and sexual offences. Students will study the role played by the police in modern and late modern societies and explore how key contemporary policing issues are situated in more general question of social control and governance. The module aims to develop an understanding of how the specific combination of individual and social factors and factors of social control lead individuals, or group of individuals, to a place where they are now labelled 'criminals'.
30.00 credits
This module is designed to stimulate students' engagement with academic research and analysis. Students develop a critical understanding of the rationale, design and implementation of different methodologies used by social scientists for their research. They develop a framework for evaluating social research and conducting their own empirical work. In the first half of the module students gain first-hand experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis through instruction and class exercises. In the second half students will apply their knowledge and understanding of research methods to a specific field of enquiry.
60.00 credits
This module provides an excellent opportunity for students to extend their criminological knowledge through a detailed study on a topic of their choice and to demonstrate their capacity to utilise the key conceptual perspectives and practical skills of a working criminologist. Students can approach the module either as a theoretical study which is primarily library-based and adopts the traditional style of a dissertation as an extended essay or they can approach it as an empirical investigation and present their findings as a comprehensive research report. The module will be supervised on an individual basis by a member of the staff team.
15 credits
Through the readings of classical and contemporary texts and contributions from feminist and critical race theorists, we will debate the major theories and contributions on the following questions:
- How do we punish?
- Who do we punish?
- Why do we punish the way we do?
- Why is the meaning of punishment so debated?
- Why did we develop 'alternative' punishments in late modernity?
- Why are prisons in a state of constant reform?
The aim of this first part of the module is to build a critical framework to understand the decisions of judges and policymakers in the social history of punishment.
in the second part of the module, we will go through current empirical and theoretical research on sentencing, the prison experience and on the political discourse on punishment. We will compare punishment practices and discourses in the UK with the other countries of the West. The aim of this second part of the module is to develop a deep understanding of criminal justice systems and their relations to the rest of society.
15 credits
This module seeks to place the victims of crime at the centre of victimological/criminological debate and analysis. Students will explore the historical neglect of victims and the social processes that gave rise to the contemporary ‘victim movement'. You will study patterns in victimisation and its different forms, for example, inter-personal and digital. You will debate issues that relate to a variety of victim types: children/young people, elderly, women/men, LGBTQ, and specific race and religious groups. We will problematise the construction of ‘victim[s]' and examine the social relations that determine when the status of victim is awarded, and the circumstances that govern when such label is denied.
In addition to the theoretical and conceptual content, the module engages with a number of substantive areas: students will explore lived experiences of victimisation, including psychological impact, the legal rights of victims, and the role of victims in criminal justice procedures, the available protection afforded to them and existing services of support.
Career opportunities
You’ll complete this course well-prepared for careers in a range of public and private sector organisations. Previous graduates have progressed to roles in policy making, offender management, crime reduction, multi-agency partnerships, security and policing.
Others have gone on to work in criminological research, local and national government and related advocacy and policy-based organisations. You could also secure work in policing, victim and witness services, prisons, prison offender management, the military, security and counter terrorism.
Experience the pathway to employment and get personalised development feedback through our Assessment Centre Experience. You’ll learn more about the job market, exploring current trends and opportunities, recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles. The Assessment Centre Experience also gives you access to webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice.
Teaching and assessment
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will have a personal tutor and will also be able to use the University's support services.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 11% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment typically comprises practical assessments (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:
- 100% coursework
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Each student receives a personalised timetable. This is usually available after you have completed your online enrolment, which is typically accessible one month before the start of your course.
You will be part of an intimate cohort of students which supports dedicated academic guidance and advice and gives you the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes therefore you will be taught alongside students who are on these courses within the School.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £11,400 |
| Part Time | £6,270 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £18,700 |
| Part Time | £10,285 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying Criminology with Forensic Psychology MSc at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
The Inspire the Future Scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. 20 scholarships are available for progressing Kingston University graduates.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Inspire the Future Scholarship page.
International postgraduate students could receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in their first year of study.
For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, visit the International Scholarship page.
If you are a Kingston University 2024/25 undergraduate progressing to a 2025/26 postgraduate degree (taught or research), you could get a 15% reduction in tuition fees.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Postgraduate Progression Scholarship page.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni.
For more information on how to apply for this discount, visit our alumni discount page.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional local trips will be around £25 per year.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Please note: If you’re from a country outside the EU or EEA that’s classified as overseas fee-paying, you won’t be eligible to apply for a part-time course because of visa regulations in the UK. For information about exceptions, please visit the UKCISA website or email our CAS and Visa Compliance team.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
