School of Social Sciences

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The Department

The School of Social Sciences has a strong reputation for delivering top quality, academically-rigorous postgraduate courses in criminology, forensic psychology and psychotherapy.

Our criminology provision is delivered by a team of expert academics, all of whom are actively involved in advising organisations on criminal justice issues and/or have worked at senior levels in policing and prisons.

Those interested in our postgraduate psychology/psychotherapy provision will be supported throughout their studies by a team made up of people who are Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) recognised and who specialise in one of the following areas: counselling, health psychology, occupational psychology and business psychology.

Postgraduate study

Our MA Criminology is specifically designed to help you enter or progress in the field of criminal justice. The teaching team, combined with the expertise of the Centre for Applied Criminology, gives you excellent access to experienced practitioners and CJS organisations, with some teaching sessions being led by existing practitioners.

Our postgraduate psychology and psychotherapy courses offer a recognised route towards qualification as a professional psychologist or psychotherapist.

Our MSc Forensic Psychology will enable you to develop a career in forensic/forensic-related settings, working with offenders and victims of crime whilst our MSc in Integrative Counselling, aimed at those already working in psychotherapy/counselling, will help you develop your clinical experience with the guidance of expert staff through systemic reflection on practice.

We also offer a GradCert/GradDip Psychology course designed for non-accredited psychology graduates or graduates with a degree in an unrelated area looking to develop a career in professional psychology.

Research

The School of Social Sciences offers supervision if you wish to pursue research programmes for the award of MPhil and PhD degrees. Candidates may undertake research either full-time or part-time. Once accepted for an MPhil/PhD you will be assigned to a Director of Studies. At least one second supervisor will also be appointed.

You will be joining a thriving research community and be part of one of the University's research centres of excellence. The Centre for Applied Criminology is led by Professor David Wilson, one of the UK's leading criminologists. Its pioneering research into criminal justice and associated fields has been officially recognised for its world-leading and international excellence in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008.

Facilities

As a postgraduate criminology student you will be taught by expert lecturers with senior experience in policing and prisons and will benefit from the school's strong links with criminal justice agencies such as local police forces and prisons. You will also have access to world leading research headed by one of the country's leading criminologists.

As a postgraduate psychology student you will be taught by lecturers with long-established expertise in both chartered and non-chartered areas of psychology. You will have access to excellent facilities including four laboratories, an observation room, video editing suite, counselling rooms and be able to use E-Prime, SPSS, Pinnacle Studio and NVIVO computer software. Forensic psychology students will benefit from the School's strategic partnership with high security prison HMP Grendon - the only prison in Europe that operates as a therapeutic community and where psychological treatment is the central activity.