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Overview

The Master of Actuarial Studies is suitable if you have a strong background in actuarial studies, economics, mathematics or statistics. The program will prepare you for an actuarial career and entry into the broader financial services industry. If you have completed an undergraduate degree in Actuarial Studies, the Master of … For more content click the Read More button below.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Business knowledge: Students will make informed and effective selection and application of knowledge in a discipline or profession, in the contexts of local and global business.
  • Leaders
  • Scholars
  • Global Citizens
  • Professionals
2.
Problem solving: Students will define and address business problems, and propose effective evidence-based solutions, through the application of rigorous analysis and critical thinking.
  • Professionals
  • Leaders
  • Scholars
  • Global Citizens
3.
Business communication: Students will harness, manage and communicate business information effectively using multiple forms of communication across different channels.
  • Professionals
  • Leaders
  • Scholars
  • Global Citizens
4.
Teamwork: Students will interact and collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose or fulfil a common business project, and reflect critically on the process and the outcomes.
  • Global Citizens
  • Leaders
  • Scholars
5.
Responsible business practice: Students will develop and be committed to responsible business thinking and approaches, which are underpinned by ethical professional practice and sustainability considerations.
  • Global Citizens
  • Professionals
6.
Global and cultural competence: Students will be aware of business systems in the wider world and actively committed to recognise and respect the cultural norms, beliefs and values of others, and will apply this knowledge to interact, communicate and work effectively in diverse environments.
  • Global Citizens
  • Leaders
7.
Leadership development: Students will develop the capacity to take initiative, encourage forward thinking and bring about innovation, while effectively influencing others to achieve desired results.
  • Leaders
  • Scholars

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure
72 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 72 UOC as a standalone program.

Core Courses

Students must take 24 UOC of the following courses.

ACTL5101
6 UOC
Probability and Statistics for Actuaries
ACTL5102
6 UOC
Financial Mathematics
ACTL5108
6 UOC
Finance and Financial Reporting for Actuaries
ECON5103
6 UOC
Business Economics

Prescribed Electives

Students must take at least 48 UOC of the following courses.

ACTL5002
6 UOC
Superannuation and Retirement Benefits
ACTL5004
12 UOC
Project Report - Actuarial Studies
ACTL5100
6 UOC
Actuarial Theory and Practice A
ACTL5103
6 UOC
Stochastic Modelling for Actuaries
ACTL5104
6 UOC
Actuarial Statistics
ACTL5105
6 UOC
Life Insurance and Superannuation
ACTL5106
6 UOC
Insurance Risk Models
ACTL5109
6 UOC
Financial Economics for Insurance and Superannuation
ACTL5200
6 UOC
Actuarial Theory and Practice B
ACTL5301
6 UOC
Models for Risk Management
ACTL5302
6 UOC
Risk and Capital Management
ACTL5303
6 UOC
Asset-Liability Management
ACTL5305
6 UOC
Actuarial Data Analytic Applications
ACTL5306
6 UOC
Retirement Saving and Spending over the Lifecycle
ACTL5401
6 UOC
Retirement Planning
RISK5001
6 UOC
Fundamentals of Risk and Risk Management
RISK5002
6 UOC
Risk Tools
RISK5003
6 UOC
Risk Decisions
RISK5009
6 UOC
Risk Management Strategies

Prescribed Electives

Students may substitute 0-24 UOC (of an elective course only) from the following courses in order broaden their actuarial training in other disciplines such as data analytics, accounting, economics or finance.

COMM8102
6 UOC
Econometric Analysis
ECON5106
6 UOC
Economics of Finance
ECON5206
6 UOC
Financial Econometrics
ECON5248
6 UOC
Business Forecasting
FINS5513
6 UOC
Investments and Portfolio Selection
FINS5514
6 UOC
Capital Budgeting and Financial Decisions
FINS5517
6 UOC
Applied Portfolio Management and Modelling
FINS5530
6 UOC
Financial Institution Management
FINS5535
6 UOC
Derivatives and Risk Management Techniques
FINS5536
6 UOC
Fixed Income Securities and Interest Rate Derivatives
INFS5700
6 UOC
Introduction to Business Analytics
INFS5710
6 UOC
Information Technology Infrastructure for Business Analytics
INFS5720
6 UOC
Business Analytics Methods
INFS5730
6 UOC
Social Media and Enterprise 2.0
MARK5822
6 UOC
Marketing Analytics in a Big Data World
MARK5826
6 UOC
Product Analytics
MARK5827
6 UOC
Customer Analytics
MARK5828
6 UOC
Advertising Analytics
MATH5335
6 UOC
Computational Methods for Finance
MATH5806
6 UOC
Applied Regression Analysis
MATH5816
6 UOC
Continuous Time Financial Modelling
MATH5836
6 UOC
Data Mining and its Business Applications
MATH5845
6 UOC
Time Series
MATH5905
6 UOC
Statistical Inference
MATH5916
6 UOC
Survival Analysis
MATH5965
6 UOC
Discrete Time Financial Modelling
MATH5975
6 UOC
Introduction to Stochastic Analysis
MATH5985
6 UOC
Term Structure Modelling
RISK5007
6 UOC
Operational Risk Analysis and Management

Business School Course Substitution Information

Postgraduate courses offered by UNSW Business School, or by other Faculties within the University may be substituted for up to 4 courses (of an elective course only). Enrolment into the courses, are subject to approval from the School of Risk & Actuarial and the disciplinary school offering the course.

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):
Domestic Students
International Student

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Professional Recognition

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence
Current Students Award with Excellence
For more information, please visit:
The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Additional Information

Further Information

Please note that these requirements may be subject to change.

The rules and program structures relevant to you are directly related to those outlined in the year when you commenced your program. Please refer to the previous handbook editions for these structures and rules.

If you are a current student seeking support from the program coordinator please refer to the Program Coordinators list on the UNSW Business School Website:

Current Students

Contact the UNSW Business School Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 3189
Location: Level 1, room 1028, Quadrangle Building

Forms, policies and procedures
Frequently asked questions

Prospective Students

Contact UNSW Business School Student Recruitment Team for program advice:
Tel: +61 2 9385 3507
Email: studybusinessinfo@unsw.edu.au

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)
International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions