Actuaries evaluate and manage financial risk. They make financial sense of the future for their clients by applying advanced mathematical and statistical techniques to solve complex financial problems.
Qualifying as an actuary is a passport to a wide variety of careers in insurance companies, investments, pensions, health care and banking – not just in the UK, but throughout the world.
The MSc is available as a full-time (one-year) programme and is suitable for those who have completed a first degree, postgraduate diploma or our MSc in Actuarial Science, or those who have studied the majority of the earlier subjects in the Core Principles Stage. Students who achieve a high enough overall mark in our programmes can obtain exemptions from the professional examinations included within their studies.
As one of the few universities to offer actuarial science in the UK, Kent’s programme is recognised for its strong mix of theoretical and practical expertise. The teaching staff include many actuaries drawn from professional practice, along with specialised researchers.
Accreditation - Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
In 2019 the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) introduced a new actuarial qualification structure. We are delighted to say that we successfully achieved re-accreditation for all of our Actuarial Science programmes and have been offering exemptions under the IFoA's new qualification structure since September 2019.
About the Centre for Actuarial Science, Risk and Investment
In 2010, the Centre for Actuarial Science, Risk and Investment (CASRI) was set up within the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science to reflect the widening scope of the teaching and research of the staff. Within CASRI, research in actuarial science can be broadly classified into the following three themes: economic capital and financial risk management, longevity risk modelling, and public policy aspects of insurance risk classification. This achieves a balance between theoretical and applied investigations, as well as addressing social policy implications. The group has a deep and long-standing association with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, as well as with other educational institutions worldwide.
Studying Applied Actuarial Science at the University of Kent
Portia, Lucius and Bahariah share what it is like to study Applied Actuarial Science at the University of Kent, Canterbury.
Course structure
Duration: 1 year full-time
The MSc in Actuarial Science is a one-year, full-time intensive programme that is suited to students who have a degree in mathematics, statistics or economics.
Leading to the award of a Master’s degree, it offers the opportunity to gain exemption from professional exemptions.
Although you only need to take 180 credits for the MSc, you can take further subjects for exemption purposes. If you take fewer than 180 credits, you may be eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Science.
Teaching and assessment
Assessment is usually by a mixture of coursework and examination; exact weightings vary from module to module.
Accreditation
Students who are considered to have performed sufficiently well in the programme (both in examinations and coursework), as determined by examiners appointed by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, will receive exemptions.
If you fail to achieve a suitable overall standard, you might still be awarded individual subject exemptions.
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You will gain knowledge and understanding of:
Intellectual skills
You will develop intellectual skills in:
Subject-specific skills
You will gain subject-specific skills in:
Transferable skills
You will gain the following transferable skills:
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