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BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science

Develop mathematical models to manage the financial impact of risk and uncertainty

Year of entry: 2024/25

UCAS code

NG31

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)

Typical offer

AAA (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£23,700 per year

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in the Russell Group for 'Assessment and feedback'

of institutions included in the National Student Survey 2023 for mathematics

in the Russell Group for 'Teaching on my course'

of institutions included in the National Student Survey 2023 for mathematics

Successful actuaries use mathematical skill and business acumen to solve financial problems related to risk and uncertainty.

This degree combines the expertise of the School for Business and Society 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)

Learn more about the study of finance at York.

Accreditation

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.

Bespoke employability training

Our dedicated support team will help you present yourself at your best for the next step of your career.

Course content

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.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

You can apply to spend a year in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

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.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

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.

Core modules

You can choose to add a placement in industry before your final year.

Year 3

In your final year you'll learn advanced methods of statistical analysis and explore more sophisticated mathematical approaches to modeling financial and actuarial processes. 

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study one option module:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

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.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Formulate mathematical models to describe actuarial and financial risks, apply these models to problems in the real world and reflect critically on model assumptions and limitations.
  • Deploy the methods of logical reasoning and the techniques of mathematical problem solving to analyse the properties and consequences of models.
  • Apply economic, financial and accounting knowledge in an actuarial context to develop modelling solutions that are informed by financial theory and reflect business realities.
  • Use the techniques of mathematical statistics to draw inferences from the application of actuarial models to data and quantify the uncertainty in these inferences.
  • Apply advanced data-analytical, computational and programming skills to the implementation of actuarial and financial models.
  • Communicate the results and insights of actuarial analyses to stakeholders with differing levels of quantitative expertise in a variety of ways.
  • Demonstrate a deepening and expanding awareness of key ethical and legal issues, recognising how actuarial practice impacts on stakeholders and society.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £23,700

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.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

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.

Additional costs

You may find it useful to buy textbooks, and for some modules this may be required. Textbooks usually cost around £30 - £60 each.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

Subject-specific funding

Our Actuarial Science scholarship provides £3,000 for each year of your studies. UK students, with their first year of study being 2024/25, and from lower income households ie less than £42,875 per annum, will be eligible to apply.

Living costs

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.

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

Read more about Rhiannon's placement with SCOR in Paris.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

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.

Teaching format

Our modules are taught by leading academics from the Department of Mathematics and the School for Business and Society. We use a wide range of teaching methods to suit different learning styles, including:

  • Lectures
  • Small-group seminars
  • Problem classes
  • Activity-based workshops
  • Directed independent study
  • Group projects
  • Individual projects

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.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures11-12 hours per week
Seminars3-4 hours per week
Practicals0-1 hours per week

These figures are representative of a typical 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 semesters. 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.

Teaching location

You will be based in the School for Business and Society on Campus West. Your teaching will take place in various locations around Campus East and Campus West.

About our campus

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 - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

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.

I have really enjoyed my first year on the Actuarial Science course. The 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

Careers and skills

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.

Career opportunities

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, Willis Towers Watson, EY, RSA, MS Amlin, Deloitte and PwC.

Transferable skills

  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Numeracy and data analysis
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Time management
  • Communication, presentation and reporting to specialist and non-specialist audiences

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAA including Mathematics

BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD plus A in A Level 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
T levels We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in Mathematics has been taken.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Advanced Highers - A in Mathematics plus Scottish Highers - BBBB

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Alternative offers

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: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. 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.

English language

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 (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
KITE 459 Main Flight score with 426 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our 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.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

If you have faced obstacles to higher education, or you are returning to education after a long absence, you may benefit from the York Access Scheme.

Next steps

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