Terrorism and forensic psychology degrees are fastest growing in rapidly expanding post-graduate market, university reveals.

Demand for global security and forensic psychology courses has helped the number of post-graduate students at Coventry University rise at double the national average rate.

Annual acceptances to the Forensic Psychology masters degree course grew from 15 students in 2015 to 74 last year; an increase of 390 per cent. Occupational and Applied Psychology also increased student numbers by over 100 per cent at the university.

The university’s Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security course last year grew by 150 per cent – placing 38 students compared to just 19 in 2015.

The increases come as a Higher Education Funding Council (Hefce) report revealed postgraduate study is now at record levels in England following the introduction of the postgraduate masters loan.

Some 90,600 students started full-time taught PG courses across the UK in 2016, a rise of 22 per cent on the previous year. Coventry’s total taught PG intake grew by 46 per cent in that time – to a total of 966 students.

Steve Galliford, Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Coventry University, said with the clear current focus on terrorism, global security, mental health and crime, along with the high status of forensic psychology in television dramas, the high demand was no surprise.

He said:

“This continued rise in postgraduate students is something we are seeing across the sector but particularly strongly here in Coventry and that is really encouraging.

Demand for courses exploring global issues such as terrorism, international security and the psychology of crime reflect a growing and vital need for professionals who understand the motivations and human behaviour behind these phenomena.

The new postgraduate loans have really helped people make the decision to take degrees like these which have a real-world impact.”

Popularity of post-graduate courses is set continue with the introduction of two year courses and more work based teaching at a postgraduate level, along with continued access to loans.