Actuarial Science MSc/Postgraduate Diploma

This is for you if... you want to study actuarial science at an advanced level from home.

Our Actuarial Science programme is the only distance learning course accredited by the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries.

Actuaries are problem-solvers; business analysts; consultants and risk assessors, all rolled into one. Upon completion of the course your skills could be applied to the worlds of insurance; pensions; healthcare; banking; business management and risk assessment. You will be equipped with mathematical and statistical knowledge and problem-solving skills to help businesses and institutions evaluate the long-term financial implications of the decisions they make. By concentrating on both technical expertise and transferable skills (such as communication and problem solving) the programme prepares graduates for direct entry into the profession and a successful career.

Our courses offer a fast track route to qualifying as an actuary by providing exemptionsfrom the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries CT1-8 examinations. Obtaining a good overall mark across your taught modules on these programmes can lead to exemptions from these examinations.

Teaching and assessment methods

The distance learning option will be taught electronically via the University’s virtual online learning environment Blackboard, in a supported manner. The use of Blackboard will enable you to benefit from a structured breakdown of the modular syllabus through a series of topics. This is supported by electronic discussion forums, tutor moderation and fortnightly problem sheets submitted for feedback. Formative problem sheets are compulsory for students to engage with the course and online surgeries will be run by the module tutors to enable further discussion of problems. Final assessment for the CT1-8 subjects will be via a three hour unseen examination at the end of each module. However, progress throughout the course is reviewed via the completion of the regular problem sheets covering the core syllabus.

Do you enjoy solving problems? Do you enjoy analysing and interpreting large amounts of data and applying this analysis to real business situations? Could you communicate complex financial and risk models to people at a range of levels? A career as an actuary is a highly rewarding one – both financially and intellectually.

At least a 2:1 degree classification in a relevant science based degree. We expect a prerequisite knowledge of probability and calculus to an undergraduate level; this means students will typically be Mathematics, Statistics or Physics graduates. We will consider graduates from other disciplines on an individual basis and applicants may be subjected to mathematics assessment at the application stage.

Also, if your first language is not English you will need to satisfy the University'sEnglish language requirements.