Develop mathematical models to manage the financial impact of risk and uncertainty
Year of entry: 2021/22
NG31
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAA (full entry requirements)
September 2021 (term dates)
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Successful actuaries use mathematical skill and business acumen to solve financial problems related to risk and uncertainty.
This degree combines the expertise of the York Management School and the Department of Mathematics, giving you access to world-class academics at the cutting edge of research in their fields.
You'll sharpen your mathematical skills and statistical reasoning, using advanced calculus, algebra, probability and statistics. In parallel you'll study economics, finance and accounting, developing your understanding of the wider context of actuarial work.
On successfully completing this course, you will be a multi-faceted and highly employable graduate with the financial and business skills required to qualify as a professional actuary.
This course is available as a four-year degree including a year in industry: Actuarial Science (with a year in industry) (BSc)
This course is professionally accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. This is a mark of our course's quality and guarantees its relevance to the actuarial profession. Successfully completing this course will take you part of the way to qualification as a professional actuary.
I'm so happy that I chose York to pursue my ambition of becoming an actuary. My first year has been amazing with fantastic quality teaching, interesting modules, inspiring lecturers and excellent careers advice.Rhiannon, BSc Actuarial Science
Our dedicated support team will help you present yourself at your best for the next step of your career.
This course will equip you with knowledge and understanding of the concepts, theories and models of actuarial science.
You'll study mathematical concepts such as probability theory and statistics, as well as business economics, accounting and corporate finance.
You'll learn to use data to model uncertain future events and improve your analytical skills through rigorous mathematical reasoning.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
We also offer this course with a year abroad.
Year 1 covers skills and knowledge which you'll use and build on throughout your degree. You'll learn about some key financial and economic concepts and develop your core mathematical skills.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In your second year you'll continue to develop your mathematical skills in probability and statistics. We'll introduce you to some key actuarial concepts and a variety of actuarial modelling techniques.
You can choose to add a placement in industry before your final year.
In your final year you'll learn advanced methods of statistical analysis and explore more sophisticated mathematical approaches to modeling financial and actuarial processes. You'll also choose an option module to ground your actuarial knowledge in a management context.
Choose one of the following options:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2021/22 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,350 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You may find it useful to buy textbooks, and for some modules this may be required. Textbooks usually cost around £30 - £60 each.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2021/22 throughout the year.
Our Actuarial Science scholarship provides £3,000 for each year of your studies. UK students from households with a residual income of £35,000 or less are eligible to apply. Applications for this studentship open in Autumn Term during your first year at York.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Our modules are taught by leading academics from the Department of Mathematics and the York Management School. We use a wide range of teaching methods to suit different learning styles, including:
This course has a strong practical focus, allowing you to apply and develop your skills. Our courses are designed to encourage you to take responsibility for your own learning and development, but with all the support you need available from our academics.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 11-12 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 3-4 hours per week |
| Practicals | 0-1 hours per week |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Management School on Campus West. Your teaching will take place in various locations around Campus East and Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be assessed largely by closed examination, alongside a mixture of weekly problem sets, essays and projects.
In your second and final years you will have some scope to choose forms of assessment that you prefer through selection of optional modules. However, this course puts greater emphasis on examinations due to the requirements of accreditation by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 88% | 97% | 97% |
| Coursework | 12% | 3% | 3% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
I have really enjoyed my first year on the Actuarial Science course. York Management School is a great place to learn and have time to enjoy yourself which was made possible with the support, whether academic or personal, offered throughout the year.Charles, BSc Actuarial Science
This course provides a combination of high-level mathematical skills and cutting edge financial and business theory which is sought after by employers all over the world.
You'll be equipped to engage in high-level mathematical reasoning and open-ended problem solving, with analytical skills applicable to a wide range of management problems.
Actuarial science graduates work in a wide range of roles related to finance, investment, risk, pensions and insurance. Many progress to actuarial trainee positions at firms such as Mercer, Tower and Watson, Deloitte and PwC.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA including Mathematics |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including Mathematics |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% average, including 85% in Mathematics |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points including Higher Level 6 in Maths |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve B or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | B2 Communicator High Pass with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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