Written by Olivia Baker
If you had told me many years ago that I would be studying a Master of Fraud and Financial Crime degree while working full-time within the investigation area, I would not have believed you. Fast forward many years later, here I am, and I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made, as I knew this degree was the right pathway for me from the get-go.
Working within the investigation area, I was already exposed to the world of fraud, including the complexities, behavioural patterns, and trend analysis. But I wanted to understand Fraud and Financial Crime on a deeper level, as I didn’t just want to do investigations; I wanted to know why fraud happens, how to identify fraud, and what drives fraudulent behaviour from both a criminal and psychological perspective.
When I came across the Master of Fraud and Financial Crime degree at Charles Sturt University, the curriculum immediately stood out to me as the modules were specific, practical, and directly aligned with the work I was already undertaking.
Another key standout was the way the degree challenged my thinking by pushing me beyond surface-level analysis and making me question assumptions, test evidence, and look at situations from multiple perspectives, which is absolutely critical in the investigation arena.
The degree also gave language and structure to tasks that I was already completing intuitively, and this is what made me realise that I was exactly where I needed to be, as I could see how the learnings would translate straight into my day-to-day role. Instantaneously, I made my decision to pursue the degree, as it didn’t feel like studying for the sake of it. Instead, the degree felt purposeful.
A few months into studying, I truly knew the Master of Fraud and Financial Crime degree was right for me, as I was genuinely interested in the modules, learnings, and readings. Even after a long workday, I was seeing a direct link between my studies and my career, even when the learnings became challenging to apply.
In summation of the above, when your degree starts to feel less like an obligation and more like an extension of who you are, that is when you know the universe has brought about an awakening that aligns with your destined path.
Nevertheless, sometimes, finding the right degree is about following what interests you, what challenges you, and what aligns with your career goals. For me, the degree didn’t just align with my career goals; instead, the degree strengthened, shaped, and confirmed that I am exactly where I am meant to be in my career, and drawing from my own personal journey, this is how you know if your degree is right for YOU.
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