Sophia
Cruz

Why did you choose your course at NTU?

"When looking for postgraduate courses for Forensic Psychology, NTU was the obvious best choice. I was immediately drawn to the diverse and engaging modules offered, and the extensive practical and academic expertise of all the module leaders and staff was inspiring, I wanted to learn from the best! This university and its faculty further appealed to me as I have a particular interest in sexual offending. As this is a population and offence type I am committed to work with in the future, the evolving SOCAMRU and sexual behaviour research specialists at NTU aligned perfectly and enticed me to apply."

What’s your experience been like of your course so far? Can you pick out any highlights?

"I have genuinely enjoyed this course in its entirety. The sheer quantity and quality of information I have learnt this past year about forensic theory, judicial and custodial proceedings, risk assessments, formulation and so much more is immense. This is no coincidence however as I’ve found the teaching at NTU to be excellent, the wealth of knowledge and passion that comes from the lecturers is unmatched and has been integral to my learning experience. I have several highlights, one of which being the visit from Geese Theatre. Some of the exercises and discussions held this day were truly eye-opening for me and changed the way I think about and approach group facilitation with offenders.

Naturally the course is academically and emotionally challenging and I have undoubtedly worked harder this past year than I ever thought possible, but the satisfaction and sense of reward upon completion makes it all worth it. If I could offer advice to any prospective students, I would say cherish every minute and every lecture as it goes so quickly!"

Have you been involved in any projects or extra-curricular activities that have supplemented your studies run through NTU?

"I was one of the MSc Course Representatives which means I was responsible for collecting feedback from my peers, providing support, and communicating concerns in a productive and solution focused manner in faculty meetings. It has been such a rewarding experience, I’ve really enjoyed being a liaison between students and staff and it has been fantastic to see how they put our comments to action. It's also nice to just be someone that people can turn to and share concerns, or even just be a listening ear.

I also was a member of numerous competitive dance teams representing the university here at NTU; performing, competing and winning at multiple inter-university competitions! I’ve cherished being able to continue my passions in dance alongside my degree, and it has allowed me to reinforce skills in multitasking and task prioritisation when competition and deadline seasons coincided."

What do you think of the support available from tutors and staff at NTU?

"I think the support at NTU has been fantastic on both academic and personal levels. We were given ample assessment support throughout to ease any concerns which was invaluable as many assignment formats were completely novel to the majority of the cohort such as the PFP Case Formulation. Similarly, the staff are great at seeking and responding to feedback on our experiences of the module as they go rather than solely at the end, which is great as they can respond in real time. On a personal level whenever I’ve expressed worries or situations I needed extra support with I have always been met with care, kindness and solutions."

Did you find it easy to make friends and settle in at NTU?

"Coming from an undergraduate degree at a Loughborough University, I was initially worried I would be at a disadvantage socially, thinking bonds would already be made between peers and lecturers. Luckily that could not be further from the truth and everyone has been so welcoming, I’ve now met some of my closest friends on the course! I think the fact we are all so likeminded and share the same interests makes it easy to connect academically and personality wise. Additionally, being a member of various competition dance teams has been the perfect way to make lots of lovely friendships outside of the course."

What’s next for you after NTU?

"My long-term goal is to continue to Stage 2 and become a BPS Chartered Forensic Psychologist working within the HMPPS. Having completed Stage 1 with this MSc, I aim to gain valuable experience via group facilitator and practitioner roles setting foundations for working with those in custody, and eventually secure an Assistant Psychologist or Forensic Psychologist In Training position. I am currently volunteering with Circles of Support and Accountability, one of the leading community support interventions for individuals convicted of sexual offences following my aforementioned interests. The work is intense but rewarding and I align very strongly with the ethos of this charity, I would love to see where this takes me in the future."

How is NTU helping you to achieve your career goals?

"This course has been incredible at showing us the wide variety of roles we can seek once graduating. What was particularly instrumental for me was when we were taken on a comprehensive tour of HMP Fosse Way which was fascinating and absolutely affirmed my desire to work within a prison environment. To supplement this, we’ve additionally had numerous talks from an array of forensic professionals explaining all the available routes to chartership. I also believe the applied project process here at NTU gives me a huge advantage. I have been able to conduct research on populations and topics that I would never otherwise have been able to access, and the opportunity to work closely with two of the leading researchers in sexual behaviour has been a privilege.

Similarly, the reflective practice module has equipped me with invaluable skills for group facilitation as I enter the workforce. Charing, observing and participating in group sessions week after week has allowed me to develop critical tools such as whole room engagement and leading mindfulness tasks which I undoubtedly will carry forward in facilitator roles. I have already been commended on such skills in interviews and in various networking conversations."