Psychology of Forensic and Criminal Behaviour

MSc

Duration:

1 year (full-time)
2 years (part-time)

Please add an additional year if undertaking the Professional Experience Year: integrated 2-year masters

Number of credits: 

MSc: 180

Start date(s):

September 2026

January 2027

On this exciting programme you will be introduced to forensic psychology and criminal behaviour and gain a detailed understanding of the application of clinical skills, such as forensic psychological assessment, consultancy provision, practical interventions and evaluation in forensic settings. 

Did you know?

You'll gain an in-depth understanding of psychological research and theory and their practical application in various settings within the legal and criminal justice system. 

Modules

This module explores the complex relationship between mental health and the criminal justice system. You’ll critically examine how psychological theories, research, and applied practice shape fair, ethical, and effective responses to offending behaviour. You’ll learn about key legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act, and explore how these apply in real-world contexts such as court proceedings, parole decisions, and multi-agency working.

This module provides a critical foundation as you enter the field of forensic psychology, focusing on the academic, professional, and reflective skills essential for success in both postgraduate study and applied forensic contexts. You’ll be introduced to the expectations of academic integrity, the skills needed to critically engage with and evaluate research evidence, and how to structure your writing and communication in ways that are relevant to professional settings—such as psychological reporting and other forensic applications. Core skills, including sourcing and appraising empirical literature, applying ethical principles in both research and practice, and developing coherent academic arguments, will be developed through the lens of forensic psychological practice.

In this module, you will build a comprehensive foundation in both quantitative and qualitative research methods tailored to criminal and forensic psychology. You will develop advanced skills in research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, working with a variety of methodologies, including hypothesis testing, experimental design, survey research, interviews, and focus groups. Through weekly lectures and seminars, you will strengthen your critical analytical abilities, learning to use statistical software (e.g., SPSS) for quantitative analysis and applying qualitative approaches, like thematic analysis. Throughout the module, you will reflect on ethical considerations, reproducibility, and the evaluation of validity and reliability across both quantitative and qualitative methods. By engaging in hands-on exercises and applied projects, you will gain the practical experience needed to design, conduct, and analyse research, preparing you to critically apply a wide range of methods to criminal and forensic psychology topics and real-world contexts.

This module will provide with an advanced, integrated understanding of theories of criminal behaviour, forensic risk assessment, case formulation and psychological interventions within forensic settings. Lectures will provide you with the required teaching to understand general and specific offending behaviours, typologies within different offending populations and the aetiology of offending behaviours.  

Assessment for this module consists of two equally weighted components. The first is a risk assessment report, where you will apply a risk assessment tool to a chosen case study, based on your workshop practice. The second is a case formulation, completed on one of several case studies, of which you can choose.

This module will provide you with an advanced, integrated understanding of theories of criminal behaviour, forensic risk assessment, and psychological interventions within forensic settings. Lectures will provide you with the required teaching to understand general and specific offending behaviours, typologies within different offending populations and the aetiology of offending behaviours. 

Assessment for this module is divided equally between a reflective report and a recorded presentation. For the report, you will choose three areas of offending behaviour that have had the greatest impact on your learning. The presentation will be based on a topic related to understanding criminal behaviour, selected from a list provided.

This module provides you with the opportunity to complete a capstone project in a forensic or criminal psychology context. You’ll have the flexibility to choose a project type that aligns with your interests and career goals—whether that’s an empirical research paper, a meta-analysis, a systematic literature review, an impact case study, or a service evaluation. Whichever path you choose, the module places strong emphasis on scientific rigour, ethical integrity, and methodological competence in forensic psychological research.

Skills

Scrutinise theoretical models of criminal behaviour on our MSc Psychology of Forensic and Criminal Behaviour. 

You will:  

  • develop an understanding of why people offend 
  • study the onset, development and maintenance of offending behaviours 
  • consider the links between theoretical approaches and practical applications to forensic work. 

You'll also learn about a range of therapeutic interventions while acknowledging the challenges that are inherent to working with a forensic population.

The curriculum spans a variety of topics, focusing on the theoretical foundations of forensic psychology across different contexts within the criminal justice process. At Roehampton you will: 

  • learn about a range of therapeutic interventions while acknowledging the challenges that are inherent to working with a forensic population 
  • explore the complex relationship between mental disorders and criminal behaviour 
  • gain an understanding of the criminal justice system in England and Wales and its various agencies, including law enforcement, the courts, the penal system and crime prevention agencies. 
  • discuss the role of psychology within the criminal justice system 
  • be introduced to different aspects of investigative psychology, such as interviewing, eyewitness memory, jury decision-making and offender profiling. 

Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between mental health and offending behaviour, and on developing your identity as a forensic psychologist in training. 

Learning

You will be taught by leading experts.  

You’ll examine the latest research, study real-life case studies, learn to carry out assessment interviews and evaluate available evidence. 

You’ll also develop transferrable professional skills including specialist report writing and communicating your findings and expertise to a wider audience. To further your professional development, you’ll learn about ethical considerations in research projects, data collection and data analysis. 

Our interactive teaching approach encourages you to critically evaluate research and apply theoretical understandings to practical workshops, helping you develop assessment and consultancy skills.  

You'll engage in stimulating debates and discussions on topics such as the effectiveness of prisons in reducing reoffending, clinical skills like risk assessment, and managing various professional issues in forensic practice. 

You will also complete your own master’s research project, using the knowledge and skills you’ve learned on the programme in your own small-scale research project. 

By the end of the programme, you'll understand how mental health influences the thoughts, feelings, and actions of different forensic client groups and explore how the criminal justice system addresses crime and victimisation. 

1 / 1

Our teaching and learning strategy is designed to foster active participation and deepen your understanding of key subjects.  

You will engage in debates and discussions on contemporary issues such as the role of mental health in offending behaviour and the ethics of incarceration.  

In addition to the curriculum, this programme offers the chance to develop a range of globally relevant, practice-based transferable skills, including effective communication, critical thinking, reflection, synthesis, and ethical evaluation. 

Career

On completion of the MSc Psychology of Forensic and Criminal Behaviour, graduates will be able to offer a broad range of knowledge and skills, which will support them to work across a number of sectors, including:    

  • Prison service  
  • Charities  
  • Psychological assessment developers  
  • Youth offending services and institutions  
  • Recruitment  
  • Ministry of Justice  
  • Home Office  
  • Police service  
  • Border Agency  
  • Security services/agencies  
  • Data collection and analysis in the Government or police research sector  
  • NHS  
  • Academia  
  • The Probation Service  
  • Rehabilitation units  
  • Secure Hospitals  
  • Victim Support  

Open days

Get a real taste of our campus, community and what it’s like to study at Roehampton

UK postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.

Specific entry requirements

  • Applicants are required to hold a second class honours degree (or recognised equivalent qualification).
  • Applicants should have a degree in psychology, criminology or from a similar subject area.

September 2025 entry tuition fees (UK)

Level of study Full-time Part-time*
MSc £11,250

Professional Experience Year: £2,500
£5,625

*Year 1 fee

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries. See our financial support pages for UK students.

We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London. Find out more about how we can support you.

International postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.

Specific entry requirements

  • Applicants are required to hold a second class honours degree (or recognised equivalent qualification).
  • Applicants should have a degree in psychology, criminology or from a similar subject area.

September 2025 entry tuition fees (international)

Level of study Full-time Part-time*
MSc £18,250

Professional Experience Year: £2,500
£9,125

*Year 1 fee

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries. See our financial support pages for international students.

We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London. Find out more about how we can support you.

Need help or advice before applying?

Psychology

We advance knowledge in mental health and wellbeing and broaden our students’ opportunities towards successful careers, within an inclusive community that supports equity and fairness for all.

1 / 3