MSc Investigative Psychology
Key Book
What is Investigative Psychology?
In this article i'm going to assume that you already know what Investigative Psychology is and you are considering applying to study an MSc in Investigative Psychology at University.
This article offers a discussion of the three institutions within the UK which offer this course.
If you are unsure what Investigative Psychology is, or would like a recap then please visit my hub which outlines what the subject involves before coming back to this article.
What is Investigative Psychology?
- What is Investigative Psychology? An account by an MSc Investigative Psychology Student.
An article which describes what Investigative Psychology involves. Essential reading if you are thinking of a career in this area.
Doing an MSc in the UK
Studying for an MSc in Psychology in the UK typically involves one year full-time study or two years part-time study. Such courses usually comprise a number of modules and require the completion of a large research project under the supervision of a tutor.
Studying for an MSc in Investigative Psychology
If you want to study for an MSc in Investigative Psychology in the UK then you are limited in the number of options you have. This course is still rather unique and rare and so there are only a few institutions which offer the course.
These are:
- The University of Liverpool
- The University of Huddersfield
- London South Bank University
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool's MSc in Investigative and Forensic Psychology
There are a huge number of benefits to studying for your MSc in Investigative Psychology at the University of Liverpool. The course is well established and very well respected throughout the world. It is accredited by the BPS and recognised as the first stage in gaining chartered forensic psychology status. It is the only course of its kind at a red brick University, and is regarded by many as the home of Investigative Psychology.
As of September 2013 Liverpool University will be accepting students for the MSc in Investigative Psychology at their new campus opening in the centre of London, making it one of only a handful of elite courses selected to be taught there.
The course is unique in that it attracts a large number of highy distinguished guest speakers who come to offer lectures which compliment the course content and demonstrate its applicability in the real-world. The course focuses strongly upon future employability skills and allows students plenty of oppertunities to network and make important contacts.
There are a number of highly esteemed academics who contribute to this course and they are available as supervisors for the dissertation.
The course is particularly intense with a lot of contact tuition time.
The entrance requirements are a minimum of an upper 2:1 in Psychology or related discipline.
University of Huddersfield
University of Huddersfield's Investigative Psychology MSc
The MSc in Investigative Psychology at the University of Huddersfield is unique in that it is presided over by Professor David Canter, who first developed investigative psychology into a discipline of its own. Canter and his long time colleague Dr Donna Youngs govern this course and are available as supervisors for the dissertation. Additionally students are able to access a crime archive of case materials collected by Professor Canter.
The course is also accredited by the BPS and recognised as providing the first stage towards chartered forensic psychology status.
The structure of this course is unique in that teaching occurs in three blocks of two weeks. The remainder of the time is reserved for independent work and distance learning. This may be suitable for students who have to work regularly to support themselves, or who have young children, as it offers a greater degree of flexibility. On the other hand it reduces the amount of contact tuition time and actual classroom based learning.
The entrance requirements ask for a minimum of a 2:1 in Psychology or a related discipline.
London South Bank University's Investigative Forensic Psychology MSc
This course is unique in that it is the only Investigative Psychology course based in the South of England. It was developed in consultation with the Metropolitan Police Crime Academy. To ensure that the course would prove useful for police officers the content was reviewed and feedback was provided prior to course validation.
The course comprises academic tuition with guest speakers from a range of different fields. The tuition typically involves 11 hours per week for full time students and 5.5 hours for part time students.
The entrance requirements ask for a minimum of a 2:2 degree in Psychology, Criminology, Forensic / Social Sciences.
