Written by Olivia Baker
I started studying fraud and financial crime as a mature-aged student, which felt intimidating at first as I pondered whether I had missed my introductory opportunity by starting too late. Yet over time, I have recognised that I can balance full-time study with full-time work and life in complete harmony.
As I reflect and look back on the last few years, I can confidently say studying fraud and financial crime has been one of the most rewarding, challenging, and empowering experiences of my life.
Studying fraud and financial crime is not your typical university experience, as the curriculum is not just theory; rather, all modules are deeply connected to real-world issues that are happening every single day.
From my degree, I have delightfully explored topics like:
- Financial crime control and risk management
- Investigating financial crime
- Forensic accounting and asset tracing (I loved this field – it was absolutely brilliant to immerse myself in #FollowTheMoneyTrail)
- Emerging and contemporary financial crime trends
- Money laundering
- Intelligence analytics
- Research and analysis through dissertation work
In my opinion, what makes studying fraud and financial crime so powerful is that each module doesn’t just teach you what financial crime is. Instead, it teaches you how it works, how to detect it, and how to respond to it through a completely different lens.
As someone already working within the investigation arena, I found myself constantly connecting theory to real cases, and I appreciated all the learnings, as studying fraud and financial crime has genuinely changed the way I deliberately approach and apply myself to my overall work and study load.
In all honesty, studying fraud and financial crime has not been easy. There have been exceptionally late nights spent studying after long workdays, weekends and holidays spent researching instead of relaxing, and moments where I questioned whether I could keep going.
While studying fraud and financial crime, the degree has pushed me intellectually to limits I did not know existed within myself. There were times I doubted my writing, struggled with complex concepts, or felt overwhelmed by assignment expectations. But each challenge throughout my studies has forced me to grow, and I have learnt to:
- Think critically
- Analyse trends, patterns and behaviours
- Question information until I validate the ‘root cause’
- Build evidence-based arguments
Overall, every assignment completed, every subject passed, and every challenge overcome throughout studying fraud and financial crime has contributed to building great confidence, a vast knowledge base, and a sense of limitless capability within myself.
If you’re passionate about understanding fraud, financial crime, and making a real-world impact, the degree is worth every late night and every challenge. And if you are a mature-aged student wondering whether to start, let me tell you this:
- It is never too late to invest in yourself.
- Your experience is your strength.
- And you are more capable than you think.
Charlie blog is a SSAF initiative.
