Develop mathematical models to manage the financial impact of risk and uncertainty
Year of entry: 2025/26
NG32
Y50
4 years full-time
Successful actuaries use mathematical skill and business acumen to solve financial problems related to risk and uncertainty.
This degree combines the expertise of the School for Business and Society and the Department of Mathematics, giving you access to world-class academics at the cutting edge of research in their fields.
You'll sharpen your mathematical skills and statistical reasoning, using advanced calculus, algebra, probability and statistics. In parallel you'll study economics, finance and accounting, developing your understanding of the wider context of actuarial work. Spending a year in industry offers an opportunity to put theory into practice while gaining valuable experience.
On successfully completing this course, you will be a multi-faceted and highly employable graduate with the financial and business skills required to qualify as a professional actuary.
This course is available as a three-year degree, without a year in industry: Actuarial Science (BSc).
This course is professionally accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. This is a mark of our course's quality and guarantees its relevance to the actuarial profession. Successfully completing this course will take you part of the way to qualification as a professional actuary.
Gain management-related experience, apply your academic knowledge and improve your employability.
Our dedicated support team will help you present yourself at your best for the next step of your career.
This course will equip you with knowledge and understanding of the concepts, theories and models of actuarial science.
You'll study mathematical concepts such as probability theory and statistics, as well as business economics, accounting and corporate finance.
You'll learn to use data to model uncertain future events and improve your analytical skills through rigorous mathematical reasoning.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
Year 1 covers skills and knowledge which you'll use and build on throughout your degree. You'll learn about some key financial and economic concepts and develop your core mathematical skills.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In your second year you'll continue to develop your mathematical skills in probability and statistics. We'll introduce you to some key actuarial concepts and a variety of actuarial modelling techniques.
Before starting a placement that forms part of your course, you are likely to be asked by the placement provider to sign a confidentiality agreement. This is to ensure that you do not disclose any information that is confidential to the placement provider.
In your final year you'll learn advanced methods of statistical analysis and explore more sophisticated mathematical approaches to modeling financial and actuarial processes.
You will also study one option module:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You may find it useful to buy textbooks, and for some modules this may be required. Textbooks usually cost around £30 - £60 each.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
The main thing I love about my placement is how interesting the work is. My team have made me feel like a valued member of the company. They have taken so much time to help me understand the technical concepts and to teach me the operational aspects so that I am able to carry out the role to the best of my ability.Rhiannon, BSc Actuarial Science
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Our modules are taught by leading academics from the Department of Mathematics and the School for Business and Society. We use a wide range of teaching methods to suit different learning styles, including:
This course has a strong practical focus, allowing you to apply and develop your skills. Our courses are designed to encourage you to take responsibility for your own learning and development, but with all the support you need available from our academics.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 11-12 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 3-4 hours per week |
| Practicals | 0-1 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the School for Business and Society on Campus West. Your teaching will take place in various locations around Campus East and Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
You will be assessed largely by closed examination, alongside a mixture of weekly problem sets, essays and projects.
In your second and final years you will have some scope to choose forms of assessment that you prefer through selection of optional modules. However, this course puts greater emphasis on examinations due to the requirements of accreditation by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
I have really enjoyed my first year on the Actuarial Science course. The School is a great place to learn and have time to enjoy yourself which was made possible with the support, whether academic or personal, offered throughout the year.Charles, BSc Actuarial Science
This course provides a combination of high-level mathematical skills and cutting edge financial and business theory which is sought after by employers all over the world.
You'll be equipped to engage in high-level mathematical reasoning and open-ended problem solving, with analytical skills applicable to a wide range of management problems.
Actuarial science graduates work in a wide range of roles related to finance, investment, risk, pensions and insurance. Many progress to actuarial trainee positions at firms such as Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, EY, RSA, MS Amlin, Deloitte and PwC.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA including Mathematics |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD plus A in A Level Mathematics |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including Mathematics |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% average, including 85% in Mathematics |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points including Higher Level 6 in Maths |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in Mathematics has been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Advanced Highers - A in Mathematics plus Scottish Highers - BBBB We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve B or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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