Pierre Ostercamp (Regulation and Compliance MA, 2020)
"My best experience was being a student representative, as I enjoyed meeting and engaging with students, staff and professionals during the social, academic and careers events I organised".
Year of graduation: 2020
Name of programme: Regulation and Compliance MA
Country:
What influenced your decision to study at Queen Mary?
I was attracted by the wide range of interesting modules available on my course and the flexibility of choice; I was able to choose three of my modules including some across different specialisations. Also, the opportunity to study both regulation and compliance in the core modules appealed to me as I knew that understanding both areas could be valuable in my career, whether in a regulatory capacity or in private compliance or consulting.
How did you find the teaching and learning?
All of my professors delivered excellent and engaging teaching, including in the online lectures. Class materials, especially the comprehensive reading lists and lecture slides, were very useful in supporting my learning. Most of all, I enjoyed how interactive the classes were, with interesting questions and discussions always welcomed.
What was key about your programme/ were there any highlights?
My programme gave me a comprehensive understanding of financial law, regulation and compliance, and the level of detail and quality of teaching was key. The highlight, however, was writing my dissertation at the end of the year, as I had the freedom to explore my interests during independent research under the supervision of a professor with relevant expertise.
Did you combine modules across specialisations and if so, what were the advantages of this?
Yes, I chose modules from the Banking and Finance Law and the Law and Economics specialisations. This helped me expand my learning in other domains directly related to financial regulation and compliance, which helped my overall understanding and supported my dissertation writing. Also, it was a real pleasure to meet students from other specialisations that were not on my compulsory modules.
What piece of insight or advice would you offer for future students?
Carefully consider the many different module choices and how they might be relevant to your career and perhaps your dissertation. Branching out across different yet relevant specialisations may be valuable. Read into the module guides and even sample some core reading if you are unsure – and be sure to do the reading once you start!
Has gaining a deeper understanding of your specialisation helped your career?
Absolutely, my studies helped me secure an internship in regulatory consulting and then a job at a regulatory authority. Queen Mary’s careers and mentoring services were very helpful for me, especially the Compliance Mentoring and QTaster programmes which I strongly recommend.
What was your best experience of studying at Queen Mary?
My best experience was being a student representative, as I enjoyed meeting and engaging with students, staff and professionals during the social, academic and careers events I organised. This experience has left me with lasting relationships with people from different countries and backgrounds.
Would you be willing to share your Testimonial? If so, you could help a prospective student to make an informed choice to study at Queen Mary. (Class of 2020, 2021 and 2022 only).