Actuarial Mathematics BSc (Hons)

Due to the impact of COVID-19 we're changing how the course is delivered.

This is a programme aimed at those students who want to work in the world of insurance, financial or governmental services, where actuarial mathematics plays a key role.

Please note that we regularly review our teaching, so the choice of modules may change.

We have accreditation from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, the professional body for actuaries in the UK. Currently, our students can receive exemptions for CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7 and CT8 of the professional actuarial exams.

Programme in detail

Actuarial mathematics prepares students to be professionals who use mathematical models to analyse and solve financial problems under uncertainty. Actuaries are experts in the design, financing and operation of insurance plans, annuities, and pension or other employee benefit plans.

In Year Three, you will cover some specialised work in advanced actuarial and financial mathematics. Subsequently, you start to study more advanced ideas in both life and non-life insurance mathematics as well as stochastic modelling, econometrics and finance. This programme is designed to prepare you for a career as an actuary, combining financial and actuarial mathematics with statistical techniques and business topics.

Year abroad

This degree programme now has a Year Abroad option (Actuarial Mathematics with a Year Abroad BSc, UCAS code: NG30). The Year Abroad is an incredible new opportunity to spend one academic year at one our partner universities expanding your academic and cultural horizons. You’ll spend this time abroad in between your second and third years of study and your degree will extend by one year.

During the Year Abroad you’ll take a variety of modules. Some modules will be related to the culture, history and society of the country you’re living and others will be discipline-related modules. This mixture means you have a fantastic opportunity to learn in-depth about your host country as well as learn new and exciting knowledge that will complement your degree studies back in Liverpool. Research from Universities UK tells us that students who spend time studying abroad during their degree programme are more likely to be in further education or employment 6 months after graduating, earn higher than average salaries and are more likely to graduate with a 2:1 or First Class degree.

Take a look at the Study Abroad webpages for more information.

Department Key Facts

Number of first year students

187 Year One undergraduates in 2018

Graduate prospects

96% are employed or in further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2016/17)

Why this subject?

Take the first steps towards a brilliant career

Employers tell us that, alongside key problem solving skills, they want strong communication skills and the ability to work in a team, so we have ensured that these are integral to our mathematics programmes. As a result, we have an excellent graduate employment record. About a third of graduates become business and finance professionals; but there is a whole host of other careers which our graduates have found success in such as management training, information technology, further education or training (including teacher training), scientific research and development, and many more.

Shape your own degree from our wide range of study options

Our modules range from financial mathematics to fluid mechanics, from chaos to combinatorics. Students have the opportunity to study a broad range of topics or specialise in areas of interest. You can also benefit from the flexibility of our programmes and the ability to transfer between degrees during Year One.

Fulfil your potential in a supported environment

Our students benefit from the peer-assisted study scheme, where Year Two and upwards students assist first years with maths problems, as well as small first-year tutorial groups, a Department common room and a lively maths society help to foster a friendly and supportive environment. We are also proud of our record on teaching quality, with five members of the Department having received the prestigious Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching, the University’s top accolade for teaching quality.

Put maths into practice through our innovative outreach programme

We encourage all our students to get involved in our extensive outreach programme with schools in the Merseyside area and beyond. This is a particularly valuable experience for those interested in a career in teaching, but for all students it is a brilliant opportunity to build transferable skills. Activities include visits to a local school to help out with an interactive learning session, or giving a presentation at the University’s Maths Club. Further details can be found at mathsoutreach.com.