Psychology Law

Entry requirements

For direct entry to the MSc, PGDip or PGCert, you will need a bachelor’s degree which is considered at least comparable to a UK second class honours degree or a postgraduate qualification from an institution acceptable to the University.

Months of entry

April

Course content

In an age of global insecurity there is increasing demand for professionals, practitioners and researchers who can work across disciplinary boundaries and engage with complex problems in crime causation and management.

This postgraduate programme is designed for comitted professionals who are involved or aspire to participate in important debates around criminal behaviour, penal policy, public safety and human rights.

By studying this degree, you will:

• gain advanced critical thinking skills and the ability to identify and solve complex problems in a range of psychology law and public policy environments.
• develop an extensive, policy-oriented and vocationally relevant knowledge of psychology law and criminal justice.
• demonstrate a systematic understanding of the causes of crime and offending in the criminal justice context.
• demonstrate a sound knowledge of the texts, theories and methods used to enhance understanding of the issues, processes and phenomena within the criminal justice system.

Teaching & Assessment

The programme is offered online and allows you to flexibly fit your studies around your schedule.

You can choose to study individual modules on a pay-as-you-go basis and build up your qualification at your own pace.

The programme explores a range of qualitative and quantitative strategies used to evaluate and solve complex problems, and make informed evidence-based decisions on criminological and criminal justice issues.

Each module will be taught over one 20-week session followed by an assessment submission window.

Over a 20-week session, plus the assessment submission window, we estimate that you will need to study for approximately 15 hours effort per week for a 30 credit module during the academic session.

The flexible approach to learning allows students to complete the MSc in a minimum of two years (subject to module availability) to a maximum of five years. You can study at your own pace, adjusting the intensity of learning to suit your needs.

Module leaders will provide guidance on assessments and the project module (MSc). Examinations are undertaken online.

Your future career

You will develop skills that are applicable across a range of roles in public sector organisations including, but not limited to, central government, the police, the courts, prison and probation services, charities that work with offenders or victims of crime and social welfare services.

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register, even if you plan to receive support from a local teaching institution.

Dr Amanda Matravers: 'Our approach is global because criminal justice and psychology law deal with transnational debates. Recent events across the world have shown the vital importance of equality in the distribution of justice.'

Fees and funding

Please click on the website programme link for more information.