Subject selection error

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by ft.mahaaa

so I'm starting a levels and i initially planned on studying bio, psychology, sociology and computer science. I want to do forensic sciences and become clinical forensic psychologist. I want to know if these subjects are right. I'm particularly interested in these subjects.

According to both the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Heath & Care Professions Council (HCPC) - which all practicing Psychologists in the UK are required to register with - there is no such thing as a "clinical forensic psychologist". There is Clinical Psychologist. There is Forensic Psychologist. And others, of course.

See here for the BPS list of "Career options in psychology". See here (specifically the "Practitioner psychologist" section) for the list of HCPC legally protected job titles.

Regardless, those A level options are fine (although there is no need for four). :smile:

Reply 2

ft.mahaaa

OP

5

Original post by DataVenia

According to both the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Heath & Care Professions Council (HCPC) - which all practicing Psychologists in the UK are required to register with - there is no such thing as a "clinical forensic psychologist". There is Clinical Psychologist. There is Forensic Psychologist. And others, of course.

See here for the BPS list of "Career options in psychology". See here (specifically the "Practitioner psychologist" section) for the list of HCPC legally protected job titles.

Regardless, those A level options are fine (although there is no need for four). :smile:

1. I meant forensic psychologist
2. Why is there no need of four subjects and what subjects do you recommend for it?

Reply 3

Admit-One

99% of courses only consider your top 3 grades. No point potentially harming the other subjects by completing a fourth for no benefit.

Eg. A*AA is a better result than AAAA from an admissions standpoint.

Reply 4

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by ft.mahaaa

1. I meant forensic psychologist
2. Why is there no need of four subjects and what subjects do you recommend for it?

Pick a university, any university, and check their entry requirements for Psychology. You won't find any which require four A levels - even those most competitive universities in the country will only ask for three.

In terms of subjects, Psychology obviously makes sense to take - but no university will require it as not all schools/colleges provide it.

A Psychology degree will contain a certain amount of Maths (especially statistics) and Biology, so you'll often see universities expressing a preference for one or the other of those. More normally, they'll say they want at least one science subject (and they include Maths and Psychology as science subjects).

Some will also say they'd like to see you having taken an essay-based subject (as Psychology can be essay-heavy). That would be covered by your Psychology and Sociology choices.

There will be a certain amount of data manipulation within the statistics part of a Psychology degree, and that includes some coding, so your Computer Science may help with that - although don't ever recall having see it on a list of preferred subjects.

Reply 5

Admit-One

I would’ve taken Maths to keep more options open as well, but I think OP is looking at forensic science at undergrad rather than pure psychology.

Reply 6

ft.mahaaa

OP

5

Thank you so much!! so my subject choices are alright? Bio as a science subject, socio as essay-based, and psychology. I wanted to study computer science on the basis of my interests though.

Reply 7

Original post by ft.mahaaa

Thank you so much!! so my subject choices are alright? Bio as a science subject, socio as essay-based, and psychology. I wanted to study computer science on the basis of my interests though.

They are. That's why I said "those A level options are fine" earlier. :smile:

Understood re the Computer Science.

Reply 8