Best universities for Actuarial Science in UK?

After long time reseach on universities that offer Actuarial Science, i still undecided on which university to go. I have a few choices here : LSE, City, Heriot Watt, Kent, Swansea, Southampton, Manchester. So, please give me some advice of which uni to go!

I am confused :frown:

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

.ACS.

Are you sure you want to do Actuarial Science? The nice thing about the courses at Southampton and Manchester is that they're JH and so you're studying either Mathematics or Economics with Actuarial Science, so offers more breadth.

Reply 2

ninety_nine

SueFaye

It's a bit difficult without knowing your grades and your preferences. It'd be a bit silly advising you to apply to LSE if your AS grades were BCCD, just as Manchester wouldn't be a good bet if you hate the idea of living in a city.

Also, are you sure you want to apply for actuarial science as opposed to a more general Maths degree?

Reply 3

SueFaye

.ACS.

Oh, thanks ya. Maybe i should pick a JH. =D

Reply 4

SueFaye

ninety_nine

My grades contain As and Bs. And I am taking up Further Maths. Thus, I am looking for better universities to go to. I dont know which one is the best, so I am confused.
And, living in a city or countryside is not problem for me =)

Btw, I have thought of taking up Economatrics, but I still prefer Actuarial Science more.

Reply 5

.ACS.

SueFaye

What exactly are your subjects and your predicted grades?

Also, econometrics is definitely something to look into. Any decent university for economics will allow you to do advanced econometric modules and they're highly sought-after in the world of employment.

Are you 100% sure about wanting to do Actuarial Science? Are you 100% sure about wanting to become an actuary?

Reply 6

ninety_nine

SueFaye

In that case aim as high as you can - Oxbridge don't do AccSci as a single honours, but I think LSE, Warwick etc do. Hopefully someone better informed than I can tell you which exactly are the best departments in the country.

You sound pretty cert on doing AccSci, but I'd imagine you could probably change to a similar course if you didn't like it at once at uni (although this would be very dependant on the university you go to).

Reply 7

theseeker

Why is people talking off Actuarial Sciences? What's hard and bad about it?

Reply 8

Sahana

LSE is really good for actuarial science

Reply 9

lazjb

Hi, I've applied for both LSE and City to do actuarial science this year. I did hear that the lecturers at City are all qualified actuary's compared to LSE who are just lecturers possibly without the experience. I also found out that the textbooks that the LSE lecturers use, were written by lecturers from City. I know that London School of Economics is an amazing school and quite high up alongside oxbridge, but it's worth noting that no university is great at everything? Lots of universities specialise, and personally I don't believe that LSE are that good with actuarial science, despite the popularity of their economics and politics degrees. Dependent on what your grades are, you're looking at AAA for LSE or A*AA for City... Good luck!

Reply 10

Jay92

Original post by theseeker

Why is people talking off Actuarial Sciences? What's hard and bad about it?

Basically there are two reasons why most people dont like actuarial science. Firstly, its MATHs which is by default the subject most people suck at and find difficult. Secondly, if you want to become an actuary you have to dedicated 4-5 years of your life after university to studying and even that is if you pass all the exams and get all the exemptions. As you have to give 12 exams to become an associate and a further 3 or 4 exams to become a fellow and most of these exams are really tough.

Reply 11

Jay92

I think city is the best university for actuarial science, as last year it was voted number 2nd in the world for actuarial science. Also, it prepares you more for as a professional as we start using VBA and doing presentation from the first year. It is also the only university(to my knowledge) that requires its students to do a dissertation in the final year which is a pain but does help once you graduate.

Also, dont be put off the rankings as city rankings are really bad but the actuarial science department is part of cass business school which is one of the best there is for finance.

Reply 12

miali

Hi,
I am intrested in doing actuarial science from UK, I have heard that we can opt for 1 year course and then we only need to clear SA series to become an actuary.. Is there any option to do so.. ?

Reply 13

anshul95

Original post by miali

Hi,
I am intrested in doing actuarial science from UK, I have heard that we can opt for 1 year course and then we only need to clear SA series to become an actuary.. Is there any option to do so.. ?

I think you are better off posting in the graduate section.

Reply 14

username9303

Original post by miali

Hi,
I am intrested in doing actuarial science from UK, I have heard that we can opt for 1 year course and then we only need to clear SA series to become an actuary.. Is there any option to do so.. ?

Not in one year no.

You can clear the CT level exams (not CT9 though) in one year, take a look for example at the PgDip in Actuarial Science at the University of Kent. Then you can do a course like a MSc Actuarial Science at Imperial Business School which will give you everything else (except for CT9 and an SA) - I think you can do that in a year if you want but it would be hard work, a lot of people do it in 2 years while working.

So in essence no 1 year is a dreamed-up scenario. Plus you need 3 years of work experience before you qualify anyway, so if you ended up passing SA whatever in your first sitting when you start work, you'd have to sit around for another 2+ years waiting for enough work experience!

Reply 15

Finch911

Do you chaps have any ideas as to what the starting salary ranges from, and then say, after 5 years where you'd be at? :smile:

Cheers.

Reply 16

ayreb002

Has anyone tried Keele - One of the top rated universities for maths in the UK and does actuarial science :smile:

Reply 17

khind

Original post by Finch911

Do you chaps have any ideas as to what the starting salary ranges from, and then say, after 5 years where you'd be at? :smile:

Cheers.

it really depends on how many examinations you complete during or after university. :smile:

Reply 18

Sidhant Shivram

Original post by Jay92

Whats the source of your info? May I know where did you read that Cass was voted the 2nd best for AS in the world?

Reply 19

#Unknown

Hi, I am in year 13 and have achieved the following grades and predictions:

Year 12 (Achieved):
Maths - A
Further Maths - A
Chemistry - A
Computing - B

Year 13 (Predictions):
Maths - A*
Further Maths - A*
Chemistry - A

I am thinking of studying maths at uni and don't know whether to do 3 year or 4 year (Masters) course in maths because I want to be an actuary. Also, I was thinking of applying to LSE, UCL, Manchester, Lancaster. My parents want me to study in Manchester because I live a bit close but I want to study in London because of the reputation of the uni's there. Could someone kindly guide me through which university is the best for studying maths (Manchester/LSE/UCL) and should I do a 3 year or 4 year. Also, should I do internships in the first year of university and what job title should I do for it and could someone walk me through the steps needed to be taken to be an actuary. Thank you. (Please reply ASAP because I still need to apply to LSE/UCL and needed a bit of urgent advice. If you can, could you also contact me on my email [email protected])

Would REALLY appreciate it. :smile: