BSc Actuarial Sciences (with a Year in Industry)

This course will begin by developing your knowledge in areas including mathematics, computing, economics and business. Each year includes an optional module which allows you to pursue your own specialist interests. Your third year will be spent in industry, gaining experience relating to the actuarial profession. Specialisation continues in your final year, alongside core modules designed to strengthen your mathematical knowledge and familiarise you with professional actuarial practice.

Compulsory modules in the first year provide you with a clear understanding of areas including mathematics, computing, business and problem solving skills. You will receive teaching from a variety of departments that will build upon and develop your pre-existing knowledge, with modules including ‘An Introduction to Financial Maths’ that will begin to develop your awareness and understanding of actuarial practice as well as developing some practical modelling skills. The optional module in year 1 offers you the choice between ‘Actuarial Skills 1’ which is taught in partnership with Aviva and ‘Database Systems’ which offers students the opportunity to further develop skills that would be useful for those students looking to work in the area of data science.

In the second year of your degree you will be introduced to specific actuarial themes and taught about business and economics in the actuarial profession. The optional module in year 2 offers you the choice between ‘Financial Accounting for Actuaries’ which is included in the accreditation agreement and ‘Programming for non-specialists’,once again allowing students the opportunity to tailor their programme to either the more traditional actuarial science degree or one with a broader set of computing skills.

In your third year you will take part in an industrial placement from 9-14 months of full time employment. The placements are sourced and secured by you (with help from UEA), and you will be paying a reduced tuition rate and potentially receiving a wage. Throughout the work placement you will keep in close contact with an assigned mentor at UEA, who will also visit you at least once during the year. You will also be supported by an industrial supervisor.

Academic development continues into your final year, where you will be able to focus on developing your advance knowledge of statistics, mathematics and professional actuarial practise. The final year allows students the option to complete a dissertation as well as a further module taught in partnership with Aviva or alternatively to develop further computer science skills by taking ‘Information retrieval’.