Investigative and Forensic Psychology MSc/PGDip/PGCert at University of Liverpool

The MSc Investigative & Forensic Psychology is a one year, full-time postgraduate programme. It is accredited by the British Psychological Society annually and recognised as the first step towards status as a Chartered Forensic Psychologist in the UK for students who have Graduate Basis for Chartership. The course is also recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a Research Methods MSc and students taking this course are eligible for the ESRC 1 + 3 studentships.

The MSc provides students with a high quality, balanced postgraduate programme of research and academic knowledge including, awareness of professional, legal and ethical issues, and practical, communication and dissemination skills in Investigative and Forensic Psychology. The programme takes a three-tiered approach.

Students begin with structured sessions on conceptual and theoretical issues (including aggression, sexual violence and deviance, decision-making, leadership and stress, memory, communication and persuasion, and the psychology of crowd dynamics).

They then appreciate how these and related issues can be applied to forensic practice and its legal context (in terms of crime reduction and intervention studies; investigative procedures, forensic interviewing, court processes and proceedings, assessment, custody and rehabilitation).

Finally, they gain skills in communicating knowledge and conducting relevant research on case assessments of individuals and organisations

Why Choose Investigative and Forensic Psychology?

• This course is unique in that it is the only MSc accredited course of its type in a Russell Group University. It is viewed worldwide by many to be the home of Investigative Psychology
• The number and calibre of external practitioners whom deliver key understanding of real life applications, makes the MSc Investigative and Forensic Psychology distinct from any other.
• The University of Liverpool has one of the largest representations of psychologists in Europe, who are research active on Law Enforcement projects.
• High quality teaching and a strong focus on employability skills mean that our students have gone on to be some of the most successful individuals in the field.
• The MSc Investigative and Forensic Psychology is renowned worldwide and attracts a large number of International students and visiting speakers each year. In an increasingly global world it is important to raise awareness of the role cultural factors play in psychological functioning and how these may differ from the findings of mainstream Western research.
• This MSc Investigative and Forensic Psychology programme received four commendations by the British Psychological Society in 2018. 

Career prospects

Our programmes aim to provide students with a high level of academic and analytical skill, making them suitable for careers or further postgraduate study in a number of areas. Graduates have had a choice of possibilities, including: Joining research teams as research associates in many areas, such as Applied Psychology and Criminology Working in the substance misuse field Clinical training Becoming members of police forces as “civilians” involved in intelligence work or as police officers Working in prisons or with clinical forensic populations working in commercial or industrial research and development units.

Examples of careers

The MSc Investigative and Forensic Psychology programme at the University of Liverpool has an excellent record of graduate employment. Our graduates go on to work in all areas of the criminal justice system and our course is looked upon favourably when assessing applications for doctorate study and clinical psychology courses. Listed below are examples of our past students current occupations and/or employers:

• Crime analysts and principal crime analysts working for police forces
• National and International Police forces
• Behavioural investigative advisors
• Medium/high security prisons, psychiatric units or hospitals.
• Home Office
• Probation services
• Youth offending teams
• National Policing Improvements Agency
• Office for National Statistics
• PhD’s
• Research associates
• Lectureships
• PsychD Clinical Psychology
• Fraud investigators
• Ministry of Defence
• Security Services (MI5, MI6)
• Defence and Science Technology Laboratory
• Expert witness
• Professional consultancy
• Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)
• Mobile phone cellsite analyst