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Actuarial Science and Management (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma)

Heriot-Watt University the United Kingdom

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The award
MSc, Postgraduate Diploma

How long you will study
find out

Domestic course fees
GBP 15360

How you will study
full-time

Course starts
September

International course fees
GBP 15360

All study options

About Actuarial Science and Management at Heriot-Watt University

This exciting 2-year MSc programme is designed to kick-start your career as an actuary, preparing you to take a leading role in managing risk in financial institutions worldwide.

Entry to the actuarial profession is by a demanding series of examinations, but the rewards after qualifying are great. The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the UK have four levels of examinations to qualify: The first level, the Core Technical (CT) subjects are taught in Stage 1 and lead to exemptions from CT1 to CT8. Students will typically study CT1, CT5 and can choose from some or all of the remaining CT subjects.

Stage 2 covers the more advanced actuarial subjects and offers exemptions from the syllabuses of the Core Application subjects CA1 and CA3 and Specialist Technical subjects ST2, ST4, ST5, ST6 and ST9. Students will typically study CA1, CA3 and up to three ST subjects (two ST subjects are needed to satisfy the profession's requirements).

Students who successfully meet the progression requirements will then go on to undertake a summer project after Stage 2.

Taking our MSc in Actuarial Science and Management is a great way to speed your progress to this most prestigious of careers - it's designed to take you almost all of the way to qualification. A student who graduates with a full set of exemptions from Heriot-Watt (CT, CA and ST subjects) will only have to pass three more examinations, and gain the necessary work experience, to qualify as a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

 

Accreditation

Heriot-Watt University is recognised as a Center of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries (SOA), North America. We are the only Center of Actuarial Excellence in Europe and one of only 30 other schools worldwide with this designation. With roots dating back to 1889, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) is the world's largest actuarial professional organization with more than 28,000 actuaries as members.

Reputation for excellence

Established in 1972, we were the first UK university to introduce a dedicated programme in Actuarial Science, and have since evolved to become highly renowned as a world-leading centre in actuarial and financial teaching and research.

Society of Actuaries in North America

Graduates who go on to qualify as actuaries with the Society of Actuaries in North America can get credit from some of the SOA examinations on the basis of exemptions from the IfoA examinations. 

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Study options for this course

  • The award How you will study How long you will study Course starts Domestic course fees International course fees
  • The awardMSc, Postgraduate DiplomaHow you will studyFull-timeHow long you will study find out
    Course startsSeptemberDomestic course feesGBP 15360International course feesGBP 15360

Notes about fees for this course

Status*Full-timePer courseScotland / Non-UK EU£15,360£1,920England / Northern Ireland / Wales£15,360£1,920Overseas£15,360£1,920

* If you are unsure which category you fall in to, you should complete a fee status enquiry form, which allows us to assess your fees.

** Fee per course

Additional fees information

The fees listed above are per year.

Scholarships and bursaries

We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

View our full range of postgraduate taught scholarships.

Entry requirements

The programme is primarily intended for graduates with a strong mathematical background. Our normal minimum entry requirement is the equivalent of a UK 2.1 degree in mathematics, statistics or a related discipline with a high mathematics or statistics content.

We are also looking for students who are keen to join the actuarial profession, have a willingness to work hard and a drive to succeed.

 

English Language Requirements

Important: If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5, we also accept TOEFL (scores of 79 and higher).

We also offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your master's programme:

  • 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no more than one skill at 4.5);
  • 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with minimum of 5.0 in all skills);
  • 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with minimum of 5.5 in reading & writing and minimum of 5.0 in speaking & listening)

Postgraduate pathways and pre-masters at other institutions

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these postgraduate preparation courses from another institution:

Other courses at Heriot-Watt University

There are 332 other courses listed from Heriot-Watt University. A selection of these are displayed below:

Location of Heriot-Watt University

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