Jess tells us how the practical elements, in and out of the classroom, on the MSc Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement, opened up a deep interest in the human behind each story.

My psychology journey at Bath

I studied BSc (Hons) Psychology at Bath, before I decided to continue down that path and complete the MSc Applied Forensic Psychology with Placement course.

I’m now taking it a step further and doing a PhD specialising in cybersecurity.

I was drawn to psychology at A-level. I was fascinated by the intersection of law and morality, and knew I wanted to apply psychology to crime. During my psychology undergraduate degree at Bath, I took on a research assistant role, which was a turning point in shaping my academic path. That hands-on experience confirmed that I wanted to carry on in this field.

I was particularly drawn to forensic psychology in an applied setting, so the MSc at Bath stood out. It has a strong practical element through the placement so you can put theory into practice in a meaningful way.

Forensic psychology focuses on marginalised populations within the judicial system. Bath’s applied forensic psychology course blends academic rigour with practical skills and then gives you invaluable hands-on experience through the placement. For me, this felt important as it keeps career pathways open in both research and practice; I think I would like to go on to have that mix because I love both parts.

Learning from industry experts

One of the most impactful aspects of the course is its teaching approach. Experts from various sectors come in and deliver lectures, offering incredibly diverse perspectives and direct insights from a wide range of careers in the industry. These strong professional networks created opportunities for us to engage with leaders in the field. I’ve stayed in touch with some of the guest lecturers and that has led to collaborations in my current research.

The course assessments push you in this field because of the variety in the way in which you are assessed. Distinctive tasks, such as writing court reports - which are very different to regular essay writing in style and format - are a challenge at first.

We were also introduced to counselling and interviewing skills, which we practised and developed in role-play scenarios - a crucial confidence-builder for real-world application, even though no one wants to do them! We looked closely at using language carefully as part of this, staying informed about respectful terminology, like using phrases such as ‘a person has autism’ rather than ‘a person is autistic’. This is a simple but important way to acknowledge individual identity and foster person–centred therapeutic relationships.

Learning new methods regularly proved to be one of the most rewarding aspects, and I have gained skills that are useful in this role and in life.

My placement

My placement was with the NSPCC.

A lot of work in the field of forensic psychology will be offender-focused but this work was looking more from the victim and survivor perspectives - not terms I’m comfortable with but I remain conscious that the language is evolving – this was the area I wanted to be more focused on. It was an intense, research-heavy role with regular meetings and team-building days creating a strong sense of connection. This was important in a role that, due to covid-19 lockdowns, had to be largely remote.

The university - the other city on top of the hill

I lived in the city and loved being able to walk up the hill every day to the campus; it was quite a steep walk but with beautiful views across the city and countryside which energised me for the entire day.

Being high up on campus, above the city and surrounded by green keeps you calm - and you always have a good view wherever you are!

There are lots of different spaces to work in at Bath, but I particularly gravitated towards the psychology department building, 10 West. It’s one of the best buildings on campus with views out towards the lake. That's one of my favourite places to work.

It was fun to get involved with some of the societies and socials with my cohort too; we joined a ‘curry society’ which meant going to a different curry house each week and was hugely sociable! My cohort is still in touch, sharing contacts and papers and career information, and meeting up if we can.

The human side of forensic psychology

For anyone considering forensic psychology, an interest in the detail and the human story behind cases is crucial.

Crime is often glamourised in media, but the real work involves research, understanding offender populations, and recognising societal inequalities. Beyond an interest in offending, forensic psychology demands deep compassion and analytical curiosity.

My PhD is a four-year programme, beginning with a computer science conversion year to build my technical foundation in cybersecurity. My expertise now lies in bridging forensic psychology with computer science to explore online harms and safety. Alongside my research I’m investigating whether privacy-motivated users can be distinguished from those with criminal intent based on behavioural patterns. I fit in applied work whenever the opportunity arises, to maintain real-world engagement alongside academia.

Bath has given me the perfect balance of academic challenge and practical application, shaping my path towards a future in both research and real-world forensic practice.