University of Kent

Actuarial Science - MSc

University of KentCanterbury, United Kingdom

Course overview

Studying actuarial science on this conversion programme 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. Our MSc in Actuarial Science, MSc in Applied Actuarial Science and Integrated Master’s are all fully accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries; they also provide a fast-track route to qualifying as an actuary, because students who achieve a high enough overall mark in these 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. Depending on the modules chosen, MSc in Actuarial Science students may be eligible to gain exemptions from subjects CB1, CB2, CM1, CM2, CS1 and CS2 of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries We also offer the Applied Actuarial Science (Integrated Master's) MSc course (2 years). The Integrated Master's offers an identical programme in Stage 1 to the Actuarial Science MSc course, with the additional flexibility of automatically being accepted for Stage 2 (subject to satisfactory assessment performance) which is equivalent to the Applied Actuarial Science MSc, without the need to re-apply for another one year visa.

Students can opt-out of the two year course at the end of Stage 1 and receive the full MSc qualification under the Actuarial Science MSc course (subject to satisfactory assessment performance). In 2010, the Centre for Actuarial Science, Risk and Investment (CASRI) was set up to reflect the widening scope of the teaching and research of our 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.

Key highlights

  • Fully accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
  • Possible exemptions from IFoA subjects CB1, CB2, CM1, CM2, CS1 and CS2
  • Fast-track route to qualifying as an actuary
  • Taught by practising actuaries alongside specialist researchers
  • Conversion programme blending theoretical and practical actuarial expertise
  • Option to progress to a two-year Integrated Master's

Entry requirements

  • Degree: 2:1 — to include acceptable subject; or above
  • Degree: 2:2 — to include any subject; considered case by case

Scholarships

  • Chevening Scholarships

  • Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship

    Scholarship value up to £10,000.

  • Kent Business School Beaconhouse PG Progression Scholarship

    Tuition fee discount scholarship of £6,000.

    Up to £6,000
  • Kent Business School Dean's Excellence Scholarship Award

    Awards of up to £3,000

  • Kent Business School MBA Scholarship

    50% off Tuition Fee.

    Up to 50% of fees
  • Kent Graduate Scholarship

    20% fee reduction for post-graduate taught programmes at the University of Kent.

    Up to 20% of fees
  • Kent International Scholarship Postgraduate Taught

    Scholarship value - £5000

    Up to £5,000
  • Kent International Scholarship Postgraduate Taught (KBS)

    Scholarship value £3000

    Up to £3,000
  • Kent LLM Solicitors’ Practice Scholarship (Canterbury)

    £2,000 tuition fee discount (Home Students); £2,000 tuition fee discount (Overseas Students).

    Up to £2,000
  • Sasha Roberts Scholarship

    £3,000 stipend per annum split into two payments of £1,500 in October and January.

    Up to £3,000
  • The “Ambition” Scholarship for University of Kent Graduates

    £1,500 for Full Time UK students; £750 per year for Part Time UK students; £3,000 for Full Time Overseas students.

  • The CAMEMS Scholarship

    £3,000 stipend per annum split into two payments of £1,500 in October and January.

    Up to £3,000
  • The Widening Participation Ambition Scholarship for University of Kent Graduates

    £5,000 for UK students (£2,500 per year for part time students).

Careers this course leads to

  • Actuary
  • Trainee actuary
  • Pensions actuary
  • Insurance risk analyst
  • Investment analyst
  • Health care actuary

Cost of study

UK/Home: £15,000 per year | International: £24,700 per year

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to University of Kent, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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