Actuarial Science
Source: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/coursefinder/courses/2026/actuarial-science/ Parent: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/study/foundation-courses/
Thank you for considering an application
To apply you’ll need to:
- Make note of the Queen Mary institution code: Q50
- Make note of your chosen course UCAS code:
#### Actuarial Science
- N323 — BSc (Hons)
- GGX2 — BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Foundation
- N32P — BSc (Hons) with Professional Placement
- N32Y — BSc (Hons) with Year Abroad
- Click on the link below:
Have further questions? How to apply | Entry requirements
Actuarial Science
Entry Year: 2026
4 study options
Actuarial Science BSc (Hons)
Key information
Degree : BSc (Hons)
Duration : 3 years
Start : September 2026
UCAS code : N323
Institution code : Q50
Typical A-Level offer : Grades AAA at A-Level. This must include grade A or above in A-Level Mathematics.\ Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Home fees : £9,535
Overseas fees
: £29,450\
[Funding information](#funding)\
[Paying your fees](https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesandfunding/payment/)
Mathematics with Foundation BSc (Hons)
Key information
Degree : BSc (Hons)
Duration : 4 years
Start : September 2026
UCAS code : GGX2
Institution code : Q50
Typical A-Level offer : Grades BBC at A-Level. This must include A-Level Mathematics.\ Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Home fees : £9,535
Overseas fees
: £25,500\
[Funding information](#funding)\
[Paying your fees](https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesandfunding/payment/)
Actuarial Science with Professional Placement BSc (Hons)
Key information
Degree : BSc (Hons)
Duration : 4 years
Start : September 2026
UCAS code : N32P
Institution code : Q50
Typical A-Level offer : Grades AAA at A-Level. This must include grade A or above in A-Level Mathematics.\ Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Home fees : £9,535
Overseas fees
: £29,450\
[Funding information](#funding)\
[Paying your fees](https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesandfunding/payment/)
Actuarial Science with Year Abroad BSc (Hons)
Key information
Degree : BSc (Hons)
Duration : 4 years
Start : September 2026
UCAS code : N32Y
Institution code : Q50
Typical A-Level offer : This must include grade A or above in A-Level Mathematics. Grades AAA at A-Level.\ Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Home fees : £9,535
Overseas fees
: £29,450\
[Funding information](#funding)\
[Paying your fees](https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesandfunding/payment/)
Year abroad cost
Finances for studying abroad on exchange
Actuarial Science
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Overview
The future is uncertain, but statistics can reveal ways to measure risk. Study this accredited course to learn how.
Imagine being able to predict the future. Not by using a crystal ball, but with numbers. To become an actuary, you’ll need a combination of mathematical expertise, specialist knowledge and drive to make a difference.
Taught by experts with many years of industry experience, our programme is accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA). Our research covers everything from geometry and analysis to algebra and number theory.
As well as mathematics, you’ll unravel areas like probability, actuarial and financial mathematics, and business economics. All of this will mean you’ll be exempt from up to six of the seven Core Principles exams, so you’ll be on your way to becoming a qualified actuary with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
Professional recognition
This degree is currently accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA). Successful students gain exemptions from up to six of the seven Core Principles examinations under the new IFoA Curriculum 2019.
Find out more about the professional qualifications required for an actuarial career.
Structure
You can complete your Actuarial Science degree in three or four years. If you choose to do a professional placement or year abroad, this will take place in Year 3, and Year 3 modules will instead be studied in Year 4.
Year 0
Semester 1
Compulsory
- Communication in Science and Technology
Semester 2
Compulsory
- Further Mathematics
Year-long modules
Compulsory
- Science and Engineering Success
- Foundations of Chemical Science
- Foundations of Physical Science
- Foundations of Engineering
- Mathematics B
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 1
Semester A\ Four compulsory modules:
- Programming in Python I
- Numbers, Sets and Functions
- Applied Calculus
- Applied Probability & Statistics
Semester B\ Four compulsory modules:
- Economics for Business Management
- Vectors and Matrices
- Applied Calculus (continued)
- Applied Probability & Statistics (continued)
Year-long
One compulsory module:
- Actuarial Professional Development I (0 credits)
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 2
Semester A\ Four compulsory modules:
- Corporate Financial Reporting
- Actuarial Mathematics I
- Probability and Statistics II
- Applied Linear Algebra
Semester B\ Four compulsory modules:
- Statistical Modelling I
- Actuarial Mathematics II
- Statistics for Insurance
- Actuarial Statistics
Year-long\ One compulsory module:
- Actuarial Professional Development II (0 credits)
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 3
Semester A\ Two compulsory modules:
- Corporate Financial Management
- Financial Mathematics
Choose two from:
- Bayesian Statistical Methods
- Random Processes*
- Partial Differential Equations
- Survival Models*
Semester B\ Choose four modules from:
- Introduction to Machine Learning*
- Actuarial Financial Engineering*
- Mathematical Tools for Asset Management*
- Third-Year Project
- Time Series*
- Complex Networks
- Numerical Computing with C and C++
Year-long\ One compulsory module:
- Actuarial Professional Development II (0 credits)
*Students seeking exemption from the maximum number of IFoA examinations must take all modules marked with *
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Study options
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Integrated foundation year
Students who do not have the required high school qualifications for admission to this degree and students who do not meet their UCAS conditional offer may be considered for the 4-year degree (foundation year plus the 3-year degree).
International students with Year 12 or a completed international high school certificate qualify for the one-year foundation programme commonly known as the ISEFP.
The foundation programme offers a range of transferable skills and an opportunity to improve on your knowledge content for relevant Maths and Science subjects.
You will enrol on a Mathematics BSc with Foundation which will offer progression to a range of degrees in the School of Mathematical Sciences including BSc Actuarial Science. At the end of the foundation programme, students will be required to meet the progression requirements for admission to BSc Actuarial Science
Professional Placement
Apply for our Actuarial Science BSc with Professional Placement to spend a year carrying out paid work in the financial sector as part of your degree. As well as helping you to stand out from the crowd and secure graduate employment, a placement is an excellent opportunity to develop your business skills and put your learning into context.
A Professional Placement/Industrial Experience year is not guaranteed, but you will receive support to identify and apply for opportunities, as well as interview preparation support to secure a placement/industrial experience year.
Year abroad
Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our Actuarial Science BSc with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities across the globe, including North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).
You can do either a year in a professional placement or a year abroad - you cannot combine these options.
Testimonial
“This course provides the foundation for my path towards becoming a fully qualified actuary and offers a deep level of general mathematical understanding. The specialist modules are taught by professional actuaries, who invite guests to give us a first-hand insight into the field.”
Teaching
Teaching and learning
You’ll learn through lectures and tutorials, and in exercise classes where students work together on problems, discuss ideas and ask questions. Many statistical modules have a practical element, presented in one of our computer labs.
Formal teaching time typically takes up 16 hours each week. You’ll also be expected to complete additional hours of independent study.
Assessment
Most of your modules will be assessed by a combination of examination and in-term coursework. For actuarial science modules, the coursework usually involves some computer programming element in a mathematical modelling exercise based on an insurance or investment scenario. In many modules, the end of Semester examination is 70% of the module mark and the coursework 30%, although that split does vary.
Resources and facilities
The School of Mathematical Sciences has invested £18m to create an inspiring, collaborative space for our community of students and staff. The building includes high-quality teaching rooms, private and group study areas and a new social hub.
Entry requirements
Actuarial Science - BSc (Hons)
| A-Level | Grades AAA at A-Level. This must include grade A or above in A-Level Mathematics. |
| IB | International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 36 points overall, including 6,6,6 from three Higher Level subjects. This must include Mathematics at Higher Level. We will consider either Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher Level. |
| BTEC | See our detailed subject and grade requirements |
| GCSE | Minimum five GCSE passes including English and Maths at grade C or 4. |
| Contextualised admissions | Our standard contextual offer: ABB, including A in Maths at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: BBB, including Maths at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page. Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered. |
Mathematics with Foundation - BSc (Hons)
| A-Level | Grades BBC at A-Level. This must include A-Level Mathematics. |
| IB | This must include Mathematics at Higher Level. We will consider either Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher Level. International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 28 points overall, including 5,5,4 from three Higher Level subjects. |
| BTEC | See our detailed subject and grade requirements |
| Access HE | Access qualifications are not considered for entry to this programme. |
| GCSE | Minimum five GCSE passes including English and Maths at grade C or 4. |
| Contextualised admissions | We consider every application on its individual merits and will take into consideration your individual educational experiences and context. More information on how academic schools and programmes use this information as part of the admissions process, can be found on our contextualised admissions pages. |
Actuarial Science with Professional Placement - BSc (Hons)
| A-Level | Grades AAA at A-Level. This must include grade A or above in A-Level Mathematics. |
| IB | International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 36 points overall, including 6,6,6 from three Higher Level subjects. This must include Mathematics at Higher Level. We will consider either Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher Level. |
| BTEC | See our detailed subject and grade requirements |
| GCSE | Minimum five GCSE passes including English and Maths at grade C or 4. |
| Contextualised admissions | Our standard contextual offer: ABB, including A in Maths at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: BBB, including Maths at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page. Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered. |
Actuarial Science with Year Abroad - BSc (Hons)
| A-Level | This must include grade A or above in A-Level Mathematics. Grades AAA at A-Level. |
| IB | This must include Mathematics at Higher Level. We will consider either Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher Level. |
| BTEC | See our detailed subject and grade requirements |
| GCSE | Minimum five GCSE passes including English and Maths at grade C or 4. |
| Contextualised admissions | Our standard contextual offer: ABB, including A in Maths at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: BBB, including Maths at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page. Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered. |
Non-UK students
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
English language
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
Further information
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
Funding
Loans and grants
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Scholarships and bursaries
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
Support from Queen Mary
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
- additional sources of funding
- planning your budget and cutting costs
- part-time and vacation work
- money for lone parents.
Careers
We’ve always got your future in mind. As part of our Actuarial Professional Development module, which you’ll take in your first and second year, professional actuaries come to campus to talk about their career path. Past speakers have worked at organisations including the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, EY, Aviva and the Financial Conduct Authority. Students studying within The School of Mathematical Sciences have secured placements at EY, Goldman Sachs and Renault.
After graduating, you might work as an actuarial analyst, auditor, actuarial consultant or data science consultant. This career path is the perfect way to turn numbers into new insights and shape understanding of risk.
Graduate employers include:
- AIG Life
- AstraZeneca
- Aviva
- AXA
- Bupa
- BT
- ERS Insurance
- Isio
- KPMG
- National Audit Office
- PwC
- Willis Towers Watson
Career support
The School of Mathematical Sciences provides networking opportunities and runs events to help you identify potential career options. You can also gain certification in applications such as Microsoft Excel and SAS (Statistical Analysis Software). We have a dedicated careers consultant and an internships coordinator.
The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:
- specialist advice on choosing a career path
- support with finding work experience, internships and graduate jobs
- feedback on CVs, cover letters and application forms
- interview coaching.
Data for these courses
Actuarial Science - BSc (Hons)
Mathematics with Foundation - BSc (Hons)
Actuarial Science with Professional Placement - BSc (Hons)
Actuarial Science with Year Abroad - BSc (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
About the School
With over 60 academic staff passionate about mathematics, the School of Mathematical Sciences is an exciting place to be for those who share our love of mathematical discovery. We foster a thriving research culture and a supportive learning environment that puts the needs of our students first.
Our aim is to make your studies enjoyable, challenging and rewarding, and to provide you with every opportunity to build the knowledge and experience you need for future success.
Our active Mathematics Society organises social events, residential trips, talks and career events. We are also engaged in the wider community and regularly run interactive activities to encourage more students to take mathematics at A-level and degree level.
The School holds a department-level Athena SWAN Bronze award, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice for women working in mathematics and science education and research.