Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology applies the theories, methods, and findings of psychological science to questions arising within legal, criminal justice, and law enforcement contexts. It examines the psychological factors that contribute to criminal behaviour, how the justice system affects individuals including offenders, victims, and witnesses, how psychological evidence is used in courts, and what approaches are effective in assessing and reducing the risk of reoffending. It is a discipline that sits at the intersection of psychological science and the realities of crime, punishment, and justice, demanding both empirical rigour and ethical sensitivity.

The Open University offers this programme in part-time distance learning mode, making it accessible to those who need flexibility in when and where they study. The Open University's established approach to distance learning means you are supported through structured materials, tutor contact, and a community of learners, and the part-time mode makes it possible to study alongside employment or other commitments. You will develop a grounding in core psychological science, including cognitive, social, and developmental psychology, alongside focused study of forensic applications such as offender profiling, eyewitness testimony and memory, the psychology of false confessions, risk assessment of violent and sexual offending, crime and mental disorder, and the psychological effects of imprisonment.

Research methods and critical evaluation of evidence are central throughout.

Graduates of forensic psychology programmes are well placed to pursue careers or further training in criminal justice, offender management, probation, victim support, youth justice, mental health services, and academic research. In the UK, becoming a chartered forensic psychologist requires accredited postgraduate training and supervised practice after undergraduate study, and this degree provides relevant preparation for those routes. The broader psychological and research skills developed also open careers in related helping professions, social research, and policy work concerned with crime and justice.