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Psychology (Forensic Science) BSc

  • UCAS Code CF84
  • Duration Up to 4 years
  • Delivery type Full Time
  • Study location
  • Edinburgh
  • Number of places
  • 15

Overview

The Course

The programme will be relevant to students wishing to gain a solid background in mainstream psychology, but with particular emphasis on issues related to policing, security, and the legal system. The programme covers the discipline’s main areas: social psychology; developmental psychology; cognitive psychology; biological psychology; individual differences; and research methods, and emphasises their application to various employment-related contexts.

Teaching is mainly via lectures, but large numbers of tutorials mean that staff and students know one another well. Assessment features a mixture of coursework and examination. The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society.

Career Prospects

Psychology graduates generally progress to a wide variety of careers, including business, teaching, counselling, nursing, and market research. Psychology (Forensic Science) graduates will be particularly well-placed for careers or postgraduate training in forensic-related fields such as policing, probation work, or several others within the legal and criminal justice systems.

Programme content

Level 1

Courses introduce psychology from a range of different perspectives, with emphasis on application to the ‘real world’, psychological disorders, and how to carry out psychological research. Additional courses support the development of study skills and computing abilities.

Level 2

Courses cover social psychology; cognitive psychology; developmental psychology; intelligence and research methods.

Level 3

Courses cover social psychology; developmental psychology; cognitive psychology; biological psychology; individual differences and research methods. The remaining quarter of the curriculum covers topics in forensic psychology, such as violent and sexual offenders, offender profiling, eyewitness testimony and vulnerable witnesses, jury decision-making, and lie detection.

Level 4

Students work closely with a staff member in devising and conducting a research project of their choice in forensic science. They also take two forensic science courses that deal with the application of principles to actual forensic practice, including a mock trial, and four psychology courses from several, employment-related alternatives.

Ruth Anderson

School Westhill Academy, Aberdeenshire
Degree BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology
Ruth Anderson

"I decided to do Psychology even before leaving school as I did voluntary work with children with learning difficulties and found I was very interested in how these difficulties were diagnosed and the different teaching strategies such children require. Understanding how and why Psychology can be applied in instances like this was the main attraction of studying at Heriot-Watt where the programme material always encourages application of theory.

"The Psychology department is small compared to other universities I considered, which is another big attraction. Being a small department, there is a really friendly atmosphere and it is easy to approach anyone with any queries and interests. I also like the campus at Riccarton which has a really good atmosphere for new students and is great for getting to know people.

"I feel I have picked up good critical analysis skills from evaluating Psychological theories and concepts, as well as improving my learning techniques, especially how to communicate and motivate others more efficiently. These seem really important abilities to develop and those with a Psychology degree stand a good chance of having most of the core skills that employers are looking for.

"I hope my degree will take me onto further education in Psychology, either an MSc in Clinical Psychology or an Assistant Clinical Psychologist post. Both are quite competitive but I am keen to carry on with a Psychology based career".

Entry Requirements

The University offers as its normal entry routes:
- entry at Level 1, mainly for students with Scottish Highers (or similar),
- entry at Level 2, mainly for students with A-levels (or similar).

There is nevertheless considerable flexibility, depending on the level of qualifications, for entrants with A-levels to opt to enter at Level 1 and for Scottish students to enter at Level 2. Direct entry into Level 3 is also possible for students who already have certain HE qualifications.

Level 1 entry

  • Scottish Highers BBBBC
  • GCE A Level BBB
  • Irish Leaving Cert (Higher) B2, B2, B2, B2, C1
  • SQA Higher National Cert A in a relevant HNC. Please contact the Admissions Administrator to discuss further.
  • SQA Higher National Dip BBB in a relevant HND. Please contact the Admissions Administrator to discuss further.
  • Scottish Baccalaureate Pass including a science subject
  • Additional information Mathematics is required at least at GCSE grade C/Standard Grade 3 or equivalent.

Level 2 entry

  • GCE A Level ABB to include Biology or Human Biology
  • SQA Advanced Highers BB to include Biology or Human Biology plus BBBBC at Higher
  • Scottish Baccalaureate Distinction with Adv. Higher Biology B
  • Additional information Mathematics is required at least at GCSE grade B/Standard Grade 2 or equivalent.

Tuition fees

Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,000 £10,730

* Your residency "status" is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the 3 years before the start of your programme. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries, not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Scholarships & bursaries

See also

Contact

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