Anaïs was always keen to keep her options open at university. With a keen interest in a range of subjects, she chose BSc (Hons) Criminology at Bath.

During her studies, she covered lots of aspects of the social sciences, gaining valuable skills and experiences that eventually led to starting her career in tackling financial crime and fraud.

We spoke to AnaÏs about her journey.

Finding your path when you’re not sure what comes next – choosing criminology

I didn’t arrive at university with a set career plan. I studied the International Baccalaureate because I wanted to keep my options open, and I knew I was curious about law, true crime and understanding why people do what they do. Criminology felt like a degree that would let me explore all of that without locking me into one specific path.

What first drew me to Bath was the breadth of what I could study. Even from abroad, when open days were not possible, I could see from the course structure that there were units across sociology, psychology, policy, and crime that genuinely excited me.

Criminology gives you room to explore, specialise and grow at your own pace.

Breadth, confidence, and community at Bath

One of the biggest strengths of the degree was how wide‑ranging it was. I learned about everything from social justice to policy structures, criminal justice processes, and critical thinkers in criminology. Even the unexpected units added value; they made me think differently about society and people.

A particularly valuable area I improved in was presentation and communication. I hated public speaking before university. Bath eased me into it: group work, seminar discussions, individual presentations. Little by little, it stopped feeling scary. Today, presenting to clients is part of my job almost every day and I would never have imagined doing that as a first-year student.

The community aspect mattered just as much. I was in a smallish cohort, so I could genuinely get to know people. The lecturers knew who we were, so their support felt personal.

And outside the course, joining societies helped me build friendships and confidence too. I have a Danish father and a French mother, but grew up in the UK. I joined the Scandinavian Society and was very active for two years, even continuing virtually while on placement. Some of my closest friends came from that group, and many of the best memories too.

“You don’t need to know the end point, you just need to take a step”

I always knew policing was not the route that I wanted to pursue; I was far more interested in financial crime and understanding how people exploit systems.

I applied for professional placements through both Bath’s portal and independently, eventually securing a role in Barclays’ Chief Security Office, working as an Investigations Analyst.

That time cemented my interest in fraud prevention, influenced my dissertation topic, and gave me experience I now draw on every single day.

I also learned that placements don’t have to be perfect to be valuable. Even roles you don’t love can teach you something. They help you refine your career direction while the stakes are low. That’s why I always say to pick something that genuinely interests you; you don’t need to know the end point, you just need to take a step.

Starting my career in consultancy and fraud – protecting people

I graduated in 2025 and secured a position at Plenitude Consulting as a Junior Consultant in the fraud team.

Our work focuses on helping clients build systems and procedures to prevent fraud from both external threats and internal risks. This is where the criminology mindset becomes incredibly useful. You learn to think like someone who wants to circumvent systems, to anticipate where the gaps are, to understand motivations and behaviours.

What keeps me motivated is the human side. Financial fraud is not just numbers. It affects real people, like pensioners who lose their life savings or vulnerable customers being targeted. When the work you do helps protect them, the impact feels tangible.

Consultancy has been the perfect environment for a graduate, as it offers varied projects, insights into different industries, and a wide network that opens up future opportunities.

Bath and the places that stay with you

I fell in love with both the campus and the city as soon as I arrived. The lake on a sunny day quickly became my favourite spot. In my final year, I spent most days working in the Virgil Building in town or in cafés like Society Café, which became my second home during dissertation season!

Bath gives you the best of both worlds: a close‑knit community but with easy access to Bristol and London. You bump into people you know everywhere, in the SU, by the lake, in town, which makes the experience feel warm and connected.

My advice

If you have an investigative mind, a curiosity for society and behaviour, or an interest in crime that goes beyond being a ‘true crime fan.’

This degree will give you something real to work with. You don’t need to know your exact direction — I didn’t. What matters is choosing something you enjoy and letting that open doors for you.

Criminology has given me a toolkit in analytical thinking, communication confidence and understanding people — all skills that apply to more careers than you would expect.