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Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours)

Gain advanced knowledge in actuarial studies and develop research and analytical skills with this one-year honours degree.

  • Overview
  • Structure
  • Entry requirements
  • How to apply
  • Student experience
  • FAQs
​​

Why choose this honours program?

  • Optional fourth year of study to gain advanced knowledge and research skills in actuarial studies
  • Act as a springboard into further study and research
  • Professional recognition: Gain exemptions from the Actuaries Institute’s Part II professional examinations

Who is this degree for?

  • You want to complete Part II requirements of the Actuary Institute’s professional examinations
  • You’re a high-achieving student seeking an honours qualification
  • You’d like to expand and deepen your knowledge in actuarial studies
  • You want to acquire research and analytical skills

Job and career prospects

Actuaries with strong research skills are in demand for their analytical and problem solving skills in a growing number of industries including:

  • Financial services
  • General insurance
  • Investment
  • Life insurance
  • Risk management
  • Superannuation

The Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours) is a 1 year degree program (48 UOC) consisting of a coursework and a thesis component:

  • Four courses of advanced coursework (24 UOC)
  • Honours thesis (24 UOC)

The coursework component introduces you to higher level theoretical and research skills, and courses cover areas such as advanced level theory, key issues in the field, research developments in specific areas, plus research techniques and analysis.

The thesis component offers you the chance to apply these skills to an independent piece of research, under the direction of an academic supervisor.

Program details
View full program details in the UNSW handbookThe official University guide to degree programs and courses offered at UNSW
Class timetable
View more information on the class timetable websiteThe official University class timetable website

Coursework (24 UOC)

ACTL4303 Asset-Liability Management

This course covers the knowledge, skills and judgement necessary to understand investment and asset liability modelling with an emphasis on practical issues. It covers the design and monitoring of investment strategies for a range of liability profiles including life insurance, general insurance and superannuation funds. There is an emphasis on investment and asset issues of relevance for the management of liabilities. The course has been designed to cover the International Actuarial Association syllabus covering Investments and Asset Analysis, and the Investments and Asset-liability Management component of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia part II professional syllabus.

Note: School consent is required for enrolment.

UNSW Online Handbook Summary
UNSW Class Timetable

PLUS three elective courses (18 UOC) from

ACTL4001 Actuarial Theory and Practice A

​The Actuarial Theory & Practice courses develop the theory and practice underlying the actuarial management of financial institutions. The courses particularly cover applications in life, health and general insurance, superannuation and banking where actuaries are involved in product design, pricing, reserving, risk, investment and surplus management. The courses emphasise students’ ability to bring together what they have learnt in the undergraduate courses in order to make professional judgements.

UNSW Online Handbook Summary
UNSW Class Timetable

ACTL4002 Actuarial Theory and Practice B

This course, along with ACTL4001 Actuarial Theory and Practice A, develops the theory and practice underlying the actuarial management of risk-based and other products offered by financial institutions. The course draws examples from actuarial practice and discusses implications for life insurance, general insurance, superannuation, asset-liability management and other areas where actuaries are involved in product design, pricing, reserving, investment and surplus management. The course emphasises recent developments in actuarial theory. This course, along with ACTL4001, corresponds to the Part II courses of the professional examinations of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Note: School consent is required for enrolment.

UNSW Online Handbook Summary
UNSW Class Timetable

ACTL4303 Asset-Liability Management

This course covers the knowledge, skills and judgement necessary to understand investment and asset liability modelling with an emphasis on practical issues. It covers the design and monitoring of investment strategies for a range of liability profiles including life insurance, general insurance and superannuation funds. There is an emphasis on investment and asset issues of relevance for the management of liabilities. The course has been designed to cover the International Actuarial Association syllabus covering Investments and Asset Analysis, and the Investments and Asset-liability Management component of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia part II professional syllabus.

Note: School consent is required for enrolment.

UNSW Online Handbook Summary
UNSW Class Timetable

ACTL5301 Models for Risk Management

This course explores quantitative methods of risk measurement and modelling in financial institutions, including insurers, reinsurers, superannuation funds, and banks, and the major types of risks encountered therein. Topics covered include: risk measures; multivariate models for risks; copulas and dependence models; extreme value theory and tails of losses; time series techniques. The links between the different modelling tools are explored, and are further illustrated with models used in different risk types.

Together with ACTL5302 it is designed to cover the course topics for the professional actuarial Enterprise Risk Management / CERA qualification.

UNSW Online Handbook Summary
UNSW Class Timetable

ACTL5302 Risk and Capital Management

This course covers the motivations and techniques for risk and capital management in financial institutions, including insurers, reinsurers, superannuation funds, and banks and the major types of risks encountered. Topics covered include: economic and regulatory capital; regulatory frameworks for banks and insurers; quantitative and qualitative issues of measuring and management of market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, operational risk, liquidity risk and model risk, with particular emphasis on data issues met when quantifying those risks; scenario analysis and stress testing methods.

Together with ACTL5301 it is designed to cover the course topics for the professional actuarial Enterprise Risk Management / CERA qualification.

UNSW Online Handbook Summary
UNSW Class Timetable

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours), applicants must have completed a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (or equivalent) degree. In addition, applicants must:

  • Be eligible for exemption from all Part I subjects from the Actuarial Institute;
  • Have a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 in all core actuarial studies courses (that form the Part I courses from the Actuarial Institute); and
  • Have an overall weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 in their current degree

Please contact the Actuarial Studies Honours Coordinator to discuss your eligibility.

There is no Semester 2 intake for the Actuarial Honours program.

You must have a minimum of 80% (Australian scaled) average overall and you must have a minimum of 80% in all core actuarial courses (the core courses are the ones that are considered for the purpose of exemption from the Part I examinations of the Actuaries Institute).

All honours applicants, both domestic and international, apply for the disciplinary honours program via www.apply.unsw.edu.au.

Documentation required:

For UNSW Applicants

A 4-6 page pre-proposal outlining:

  1. title and topic of proposed research project
  2. a motivation for this research project
  3. a short review of the relevant literature
  4. an outline of the proposed research questions and expected contributions
  5. a discussion of the importance and significance of those expected outcomes
  6. a signed EOI form signed by your proposed supervisor(s)
  7. an up-to-date curriculum vitae

For non-UNSW Applicants

In addition to the above you are required to contact the Honours Co-Ordinator in advance (at least one month) of the application deadline with documents 1 and 2, so a supervisor may be identified.

  • a full transcript of all completed courses to date (including current semester enrolment)
  • proof of Part I completion or exemption eligibility
  • names and contact (phone number and email) of two academic referees, supporting your application
  • additional documentation as advised by the Honours Co-Ordinator

Outcomes of the application will be announced by 26th November, 2016, based on the following criteria:

  1. The scope and quality of the academic background of applicants
  2. The quality of your pre-proposal and its associated project, along with the availability of the appropriate supervision

Before submitting an application it is recommended that you make contact with the Honours Co-Ordinator.

Make the most of every day on campus, with UNSW Australia Business School’s dynamic learning spaces, diverse social events and extensive student support.

Have fun and build your network

As an undergraduate, you have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make friends. Join a student club, such as Arc (the UNSW student society), AIESEC, the Marketing Club, and many other interest groups. With over 180 social, cultural, sports and professional clubs there’s bound to be at least one that’s perfect for you! Find out more

All the support you need to achieve

We’ll help you settle in to university life with orientation and mentoring programs. There are study skills workshops, as well as career services and academic advice. Find out more

Stay active on campus

Exercise boosts your mental wellbeing and can help you deal with exam or assignment pressures. It’s easy to stay fit with state of the art sporting facilities on campus, including a 50m indoor pool, fitness centre, squash courts and a range of competitive sports teams.

Everything you need in one place

The UNSW Kensington campus is like a village hub, with cafes, bars, banks, a post office, medical and dental centres, and retail outlets. It’s a short bus trip to Sydney’s CBD, many beautiful beaches, the SCG and Centennial Park, and movie theatres at Fox Studios.

Make the most of every opportunity

Your undergraduate degree is a once in a lifetime experience, and the friends you make at the Business School could be friends for life. So get involved – as well as student clubs and social activities there are internships, volunteer projects, competitions and international exchanges on offer. It’s a great way to develop and practise your new business skills.

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Quick facts for students

Program code
4520
Award
Honours
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
48
Study Mode
Face to face
Duration
1 year full-time
Commencing terms
Term 1 – February
HECS fee band
Band 3
Program fee (total)
$11,155
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