Applied Criminology & Forensic Psychology MSc



Develop a deep insight into crime and what causes criminal behaviour by studying this uniquely practical and applied course

Overview

Studying applied criminology and forensic psychology at postgraduate level will allow you to develop a range of enquiring, analytical and practical skills benefitting you as a practitioner or researcher.

You’ll have the opportunity of a work placement alongside specialised modules covering areas including the psychology of evidence, international criminology, assessment of offenders, responses to crime, and advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods. These modules will give you a valuable set of skills for both employment and further research.

Your tutors are all experts in this field. We also invite external practitioners who bring their practical skills and experience to the course throughout the year.

Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.

Due to the competitive nature of this programme, we advise you submit your application as early as possible.



Students at work at Merchiston campus

Mode of Study:

Part-time

(available as Full-time)

Duration:

2 years

Placement:

Yes

Study Abroad:

Yes

Course details

You’ll develop a critical awareness of topics at the forefront of criminology and forensic psychology, as well as the contexts and theories that influence practice in these areas.

The applied focus of this course provides an excellent foundation in risk assessment of offenders, use of forensic interviewing strategies, mediation skills and facial composite construction.

Alongside these skills you’ll also learn directly from leading experts about current research and debates in criminology and forensic psychology which directly affect people at all points in the legal system.

Additionally, you'll acquire excellent transferable research skills in both quantitative and qualitative methods which will enable you to carry out high-quality research in a variety of contexts and with ethical integrity.

What you study

Compulsory modules include:

  • Practical Forensic Psychology
  • Current Topics in Crime
  • Criminal Justice in Practice
  • Advanced Research Skills
  • Dissertation

Optional modules include:

  • Evidence and Investigation
  • Understanding and Responding to Crime
  • Advanced Forensic Psychology
  • International and Comparative Criminology
  • Advice and Consultancy
  • Work Placement

Additional costs

Students enrolling in the optional Work Placement module are expected to pay for travel costs.

Lead academics and short bio 

Faye Skelton:

  • Completed PhD at Lancaster University
  • Worked for over ten years at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) before moving to Edinburgh Napier University in December 2014. 
  • Research interests focused on face recognition. Collaborates with Dr Charlie Frowd (UCLan) on improving Police facial composites using both feature-based (PROfit) and evolutionary (EvoFIT) software systems. Faye has also worked with Dr John Marsh (UCLan) on the effects of auditory distraction on face processing. 
  • Faye is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has extensive teaching experience in applied cognition: eyewitness memory and identification procedures, facial composites, false and recovered memories, false confessions and police interviewing.
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    How you’ll be taught

    This is a part-time course with flexibility in the number of taught modules taken in each trimester. The dissertation runs over one trimester.

    You’ll learn by a variety of teaching methods including face-to-face lectures, guest lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and independent study. You will be required to attend classes on our Sighthill Campus which will all take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. Some modules may also include some online teaching or support sessions.
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    Assessments

    You will be assessed by a range of applied coursework including policy briefings and reports, risk formulations, individual and group oral presentations, alongside more traditional assessments such as essays and the dissertation.
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    Work placement

    Through engaging in an optional work placement related to your course you will explore the concepts, debates, policies, initiatives, and funding related to the area in which you’re working.

    The Work Placement module is flexible. We have programme-sourced placements with a wide variety of organisations, however it is also possible to find your own placement or to use your existing work. 

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 (or equivalent) in a related subject (e.g. social sciences, criminology, psychology, sociology, law, humanities, forensic nursing, policing). Where possible, you should also seek to gain some relevant experience before applying.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient relevant work experience within the industry.

The University does not sponsor students to study on part-time programmes in the UK under the Student Visa route. International Applicants must therefore have other valid immigration leave to study on this programme.

English language requirements

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BN Nursing/MSc Nursing (Pre-registration) (Adult, Mental Health, Child, Learning Disabilities)
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland-Taught modules *£895 *£tba
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland-Dissertation module £460 tba
Overseas and EU-Taught Modules *£2,055 *£tba
Overseas and EU-Dissertation module £1,050 tba
This course comprises of 180 credits, (7 x 20cr) taught modules + (1 x 40cr) dissertation therefore: For students in the 2022/23 cohort the total cost is Home/EU £6,535 and Overseas £14,420;For students in the 2023/24 cohort the total cost is Home/EU £tba and Overseas £tba.
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

Our past graduates have gone on to work with Police Scotland, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies, third sector organisations such as Includem, to work in counter-terrorism, and others have gone on to study for PhDs. Several of our students have gained employment as a direct result of the work they have completed on their work placement.

Careers include: 

  • HM Prisons and secure units
  • Probation service
  • Police services
  • Social work (requires further study)
  • Court services
  • Legal services
  • Voluntary sector
  • Community development
  • Adult guidance
  • Local and central government
  • Academia and research
  • Health services
  • Forensic services
  • Private practice
Police Scotland student placements at Torphicen Street Station sitting at a table talking to an officer