Student studying in Andrew Kean Learning Centre with laptops..

Key details

Start date(s)
September 2026
Study Mode
Part-time (2 years)
Location
Online
School
Social Sciences

Our PGDip Forensic Psychology Practitioner is a specialist programme aimed at graduates who hold a BPS-accredited undergraduate psychology degree and a BPS-accredited MSc (Stage 1) in Forensic Psychology and who want to practice as a Forensic Psychologist.  

This course has been designed to cover the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC) core curriculum for practitioner psychologists and, upon completion, provides you with eligibility to apply to the register with the HCPC; a requirement to practice as a Forensic Psychologist in the UK.

The Student Contract

About this course

This course combines online teaching with practice-based learning and independent study.   

Your training will enable you to be both the ‘scientist’ and the ‘practitioner’, and during your studies, you’ll build a range of transferable skills, from critical analysis to practicing forensic psychology according to the professional standards and requirements for registration outlined by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

You’ll develop an advanced understanding and independent judgment of psychological perspectives, theories, policies, and practices relevant to criminal behaviour, as well as the psychology of victims/survivors of crime. You’ll also become critically aware of issues at the forefront of forensic psychology, which will encourage your enquiring, analytical, and creative skills. A focus on enhancing and embedding interprofessional learning within related professions, as well as an understanding of the multi-agency relationships between the various professions in offender management, will also be explored.

Study

You’ll spend one day a week studying across three 10-week terms. You’ll spend around half a day each week taking part in online lectures, workshops, and tutorials, with a similar amount of time dedicated to guided independent study.

Practice Placement  

A supervised practice placement is a mandatory requirement (a minimum of 360 days across the two years of the programme).   

The supervisory team will be comprised of a work placement supervisor (clinical supervisor) and a supervisor from the University (academic supervisor). Both of these supervisors will be an HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist with a minimum of two years’ experience. A Personal Tutor will also be allocated whose role will be to provide pastoral support and will encourage your academic development. 

Your placement (which may take place in a maximum of four forensic settings) and your Clinical Supervisor (who will be based within the forensic setting where you will be working) must be identified by you prior to enrolment. 

Career progression 

Once you’ve successfully completed this programme, you‘ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and, if this is granted, you’ll be able to practice as a forensic psychologist in the UK.  

Alternatively, you could go into several other roles within the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and beyond. Examples include Offender manager (prison or probation), Offending behaviour programme facilitator, Behavioural support mentor in a school, Mental health specialist in HNS, Psychotherapy coordinator, Lecturer, Researcher, Police roles (officer or analysist) or as a Trainee lawyer. 

Why study with us?

  • Study on an HCPC-approved programme, which means on successful completion of this course, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC and practice in the UK as a Forensic Psychology Practitioner. 
  • Gain hands-on experience throughout your placement and receive support from your supervisors.
  • Research-informed learning is utilised throughout this programme.
  • High levels of practical content and authentic assessments are embedded throughout. 
  • Three entry points throughout the year - September, January, and May. Applications open three months before each intake. 
Student using laptop in classroom.

Course modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Course content

The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Forensic Case Formulation and Risk Assessment – Core
Rehabilitative Interventions – Core
Professional Standards, Critical Thinking and Self-Reflection – Core
Research: Methods, Ethics, Production and Dissemination I – Core
Practice Placement, Supervision, Log and Portfolio I – Core
Consultancy – Core
Teaching and Training Others – Core
Forensic Settings and Interprofessional Working – Core
Research: Methods, Ethics, Production and Dissemination II – Core
Practice Placement, Supervision, Log and Portfolio II – Core

Course structure

September - Part-time
Year Term Module Credits Contact hours
1 Term 1
September		 Forensic Case Formulation and Risk Assessment 15 4 x hours a week
Term 2
January		 Rehabilitative Interventions 15 4 x hours a week
Term 3
May		 Professional Standards, Critical Thinking and Self-Reflection 15 4 x hours a week
Term 1, 2 and 3 Research: Methods, Ethics, Production and Dissemination 1 15 4 x hours a week
Term 1, 2 and 3 Practice Placement, Supervision Log and Portfolio 1 Pass/Fail  
2 Term 1
September		 Consultancy 15 4 x hours a week
Term 2
January		 Teaching and Training Others 15 4 x hours a week
Term 3 May Forensic Settings and Interprofessional Working 15 4 x hours a week
Term 1, 2 and 3 Research: Methods, Ethics, Production and Dissemination 2 15 4 x hours a week
Term 1, 2 and 3 Practice Placement, Supervision Log and Portfolio 2 Pass/Fail  

Learning and teaching

You will be assessed by a variety of methods, which could include:  

  • Essays or reports
  • Posters and presentations
  • Case studies
  • Role plays
  • Research reports
  • Reflective portfolios 

Programme delivery

Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.

Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:

  1. Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
  2. Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
  3. Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.

Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

  • high quality teaching
  • an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Academic requirements
  • A BPS-accredited undergraduate degree in Psychology and;
  • A BPS-accredited Master's degree in Forensic Psychology, or equivalent (Stage 1). 

Applicants who meet the academic entry requirements will be invited to interview. You will need to attend an interview before we can offer you a place on the course. Interviews take place remotely via MS Teams.

Non-academic requirements

Before enrolment, there are seven documents that you or your clinical supervisor must complete. The two forms in bold below must be returned to admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk before your interview takes place. If we haven't received your forms before your scheduled date/time, your interview will be rescheduled. Details on how to complete the remaining forms will be sent to you in your offer letter.

You:

  • The Trainee Health Declaration
  • The Trainee Supplementary Information Form
  • The Placement Trainee Agreement 

Clinical Supervisor

  • The Placement Provider Agreement  
  • The Placement Audit Document
  • The Placement Risk Assessment Document
  • The Placement Health and Safety Induction Checklist

You will also be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

Forms can be found here.

If you are unable to complete the forms at the same time as submitting your application form, please email them to admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk after. The forms must be returned before your interview can take place.

Fees and finance

Funding

UK Home Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

You can contact the Finance Office to discuss tuition fees and payment plans on 0113 283 7311 or at finance@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

 

How to apply

If you would like to apply for this programme, please register your interest and we will contact you with more information when the applications open.