Forensic Mental Health

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Flexible postgraduate programme for students with a professional &/or academic interest in the complex relationship between mental disorders and criminal behaviour, taught by a multi-disciplinary team of clinical academics. Ideal first step towards clinical psychology training or a PhD. Students choose one of three pathways: clinical forensic psychology; forensic mental health research; or clinical forensic psychiatry.

KEY BENEFITS
* A unique emphasis on the neuroscientific understanding of the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan.
* Excellent links with clinical services and researchers with teaching from a distinguished multi-disciplinary team.
* Strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and developing the critical skills to evaluate new research.

PURPOSE
This programme is designed to develop academic and clinical skills specific to the assessment and treatment of persons with mental disorders who engage in antisocial and/or criminal behaviour. You will study alongside students from a wide range of professional and academic disciplines from all over the world.

DESCRIPTION
The programme aims to provide students with the knowledge and advanced skills necessary for a career that will involve clinical work and/or research with mentally disordered offenders. All teaching is at the Institute of Psychiatry, and includes training on assessment and treatment of mentally disordered offenders and on actuarial risk assessment tools. Throughout the programme there is an emphasis on the clinical relevance of research findings. Students will develop the critical skills necessary to assess and manage risk of antisocial and criminal behaviour and to establish, manage and evaluate programmes for reducing such behaviour as well as co-ordinating treatment and service programmes in a variety of settings. Much teaching is provided by practising clinicians.

All students apply to and enrol on the MSc/PGDip Forensic Mental Health, available full-time or part-time. Students then follow one of three pathways through the programme. This simply means that the combination of modules chosen will lead to a qualification which reflects the students chosen focus of study. There are specific entry criteria for each pathway. The three pathways are:

* Clinical Forensic Psychiatry
* Forensic Mental Health Research
* Clinical Forensic Psychology (full-time only)

All students will take the compulsory modules on Pro-social and anti-social behaviour across the lifespan and Risk Management, Treatment and Services for Mentally Disordered Persons. Students will then choose from a range of optional modules, including mental health law, structured professional risk assessment and management, criminal justice mental health and forensic psychology practice.

Students on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will be allocated to a 75-day clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist.

EXTRA PROGRAMME INFORMATION
Students on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will be allocated to a 75-day clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist. This is an integral and assessed part of the programme.
Clinical attachments can be arranged for overseas students who are qualified clinicians to complement the academic programme. These are not an assessed part of the programme.

STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Core programme content

* Pro-social and anti-social behaviour across the lifespan
* Risk management, treatment and services for mentally disordered persons
* Dissertation (for MSc only).

Indicative non-core content

Optional modules (subject to availability):

* Research Methodology & Statistics A & B
* Psychology of the Legal & Investigative Process
* Forensic Psychology Practice (Clinical Forensic Psychology Pathway only)
* Introduction to Forensic Psychology Practice
* Structured Professional Risk Assessment and Management
* Criminal Justice Mental Health
* Mental Health Law
* Forensic Aspects of Intellectual Disability

FORMAT AND ASSESSMENT
Teaching methods include lectures, group work, discussions, case analyses. Assessment varies by module; methods include essays and other written assignments, written and oral examinations, research project.

MODULES
More information on typical programme modules.
NB it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year.

* Risk Management, Treatment & Services For Mentally Disordered Persons (30 Credits) - Required

General entry adviceThe following criteria apply to all applicants:Applicants should have, or be predicted to achieve, a good 2:1 honours degree (minimum) or the equivalent, including an introduction to empirical research, in a relevant subject, eg medicine, biology, mental health nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, neuroscience, criminology.Non-graduates (eg nurses with a Diploma) will be asked to provide evidence of their capacity to study at postgraduate level and will be expected to have considerable relevant work experience since qualifying.Degrees from outside the UK are assessed individually. US graduates should have an overall GPA of at least 3.3.All teaching is conducted in English and it is therefore essential that students have a sufficient command of the language. Candidates who have not been educated to degree level in English will be required to provide proof that they possess an adequate level of English competence. The minimum levels are set out here.Pathway specific entry criteria:Clinical Forensic PsychiatryApplicants should be qualified and experienced clinicians, e.g. psychiatrists (staff grade, ST4, consultant), psychologists (chartered with the BPS), senior mental health nurses, occupational therapists in a forensic service or working with forensic patients.Forensic Mental Health ResearchWe are looking for evidence of a genuine interest in, and aptitude for, research as well as forensic mental health. Please supply your degree transcript as we will look particularly at marks for research methods, statistics and your undergraduate dissertation.Clinical Forensic PsychologyCandidates must have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS. For more information on GBC and careers in forensic psychology in the UK, please consult the BPS website: By the time of starting the programme, students must have a year or more of full-time clinical or forensic experience working with people with mental disorders or offenders, ideally in a multi-disciplinary team. Suitable posts include Assistant Psychologist, Health Care Assistant, Community Support Worker, police/probation/prison officer.Please contact us for advice if necessary to establish whether your work experience would meet our criteria. Voluntary experience alone will rarely be sufficient. Working with adults/older adolescents is a better preparation for the placement than working with children. English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A)

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Most applicants are self-funded. Some overseas applicants have been successful in obtaining government funding or international scholarships. Part-time applicants are sometimes able to secure full or partial funding from employers using CPD budgets.