Finance with Actuarial Science
Entry requirements
A level
We accept all foreign language A Level subjects, and such subjects are considered for entry even if it is the applicant’s native language. Must include A Level Maths grade A. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking. Please note GCSE English Language grade 4/grade C or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
Access to HE Diploma
Please note this qualification is only accepted for entry onto this course whereby an applicant also holds A Level Maths grade A. Additionally GCSE English Language grade 4/grade C or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Must include Pre-U Maths grade D3 or above. Additionally GCSE English Language grade 4/grade C or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Mathematics and either grade 4 in Higher Level or grade 5 in Standard Level English, or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Please note this qualification is only accepted for entry onto this course whereby an applicant also holds A Level Maths grade A. Additionally GCSE English Language grade 4/grade C or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Please note this qualification is only accepted for entry onto this course whereby an applicant also holds A Level Maths grade A. Additionally GCSE English Language grade 4/grade C or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
Scottish Higher
Must include Maths grade A at Advanced Higher Level. Please note this should include a minimum two subjects at Advanced Higher (grades AAA) and a minimum three other subjects at Higher (grades AAB). Additionally English at either level or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
T Level
Please note this qualification is only accepted for entry onto this course whereby an applicant also holds A Level Maths grade A. Additionally GCSE English Language grade 4/grade C or other English language proficiency qualification required (For more information on English qualifications please refer to http://www.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying-to-city/tier-4-english-language-requirements).
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
The BSc (Hons) Finance with Actuarial Science degree is delivered by Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), one of Europe’s leading business schools. Part of City, University of London, Bayes is ranked amongst the top 6 business schools in the UK*.
Actuarial science involves the application of quantitative skills to problems in finance that normally involve risk or uncertainty. If you are fascinated by the financial world and have a passion and talent for mathematics, particularly modelling and probability, the Finance with Actuarial Science degree might be the ideal course for you.
The BSc (Hons) Finance with Actuarial Science degree will equip you with financial risk management and analysis skills that will boost your career prospects in investment management, risk management or actuarial science. The focus on investment strategy and portfolio/equity investment management distinguishes this course from standard actuarial science degrees, including our own BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science.
Discover the different aspects of the financial world and in particular how assessing and managing risk is vital for success. To develop the skills you need to understand these ideas, you’ll take a mixture of financial, mathematical, statistical and actuarial modules. You will apply your new technical and analytical skills to solve a wide range of business problems.
In the first year your focus is on building a firm foundation in mathematics, statistics and economics as you begin to develop your understanding of financial risk.
In the second and third years you will broaden your understanding of the financial markets. This will include analysing the various types of financial instruments that are available, how they are valued and how they can be used to provide suitable solutions to financial problems involving risk and return. You will also produce a self-researched final-year project on an area that interests and reflects your ambitions.
Many of our lecturers are qualified actuaries and have worked in the finance sector and continue to consult for corporate organisations, so you will benefit from their first-hand knowledge and business experience. As we place a high value on teaching both theory and application, you will emerge from your degree with a good understanding of how to use your newly acquired knowledge in the workplace.
All Bayes undergraduate students will also choose from a range of professional experience modules so that when you graduate you are equipped with the knowledge and experience to make you an attractive candidate to employers. You will also take a career-focused module suitable for your chosen course to help you prepare for entering the job market.
A key part of this degree is the opportunity to gain professional work experience or a period of study abroad. Students are eligible to apply for a one-year paid work placement during the third year of a four-year sandwich degree course. Bayes students enjoy a wide range of opportunities in business areas such as insurance and risk management, actuarial investment pricing and capital management. Recent placements include: the Association of British Insurers, Aviva/Friends Life, Prudential and Legal & General.
Students can alternatively apply to spend one year studying abroad during the third year of a four-year sandwich degree course. Students can apply to study at a business school at one of our prestigious partner universities, including the University of Waterloo, Canada; and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
If you wish to study the BSc (Hons) Finance with Actuarial Science degree, but do not satisfy the entry requirements, the Foundation course can provide students with an entry route onto the programme.
* Financial Times European Business School Ranking 2022
Modules
Year one
In the first year, students study six core modules that provide the foundations for later study, including a mathematics module and introductory courses in financial mathematics, economics, probability and statistics and IT. These modules assume no prior knowledge of the respective subjects beyond those guaranteed by meeting the entry requirements.
Core modules:
- Introduction to actuarial methods and career planning
- Mathematics for actuarial science
- Probability and statistics 1
- Finance and investment mathematics
- Introduction to economics
- Introduction to Excel and statistical packages
- Introduction to VBA for Excel
Year two
In year two, the focus moves from mathematics to finance, statistics, probability and actuarial science. Alongside the core modules, students are able to take three elective modules that are based in the areas of finance and actuarial science.
Two of the elective modules enable students to gain exemptions from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ professional examination.
Core modules:
- Calculus and linear algebra (mathematics 2)
- Derivatives, trading and hedging
- Financial markets
- Fundamentals of finance
- Stochastic models
Year three
You will spend the third year on placement gaining valuable experience, developing your skills and creating a network in the industry.
Year four
You will return to Bayes for your final year and be taught four core modules allow students to develop an in-depth understanding of finance, while a wide range of electives cover actuarial science, statistics, business and economics. Students are able to undertake a final-year project in an area relevant to their interests and ambitions, alongside two elective modules. Alternatively students are able to take four electives instead. Those wishing to gain the maximum three exemptions from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ examinations that are offered by this degree must select the elective Advanced contingencies.
Core modules:
- Fixed income portfolio management
- Financial engineering
- Asset- Liability Management
Modules are subject to change.
Assessment methods
You will be assessed using a variety of methods, depending on module choices including:
- Coursework
- Unseen written examinations, taking place at the end of each term (or at the end of a year, if a module is taught over two terms)
- Class tests
- Online quizzes and tests, using the Virtual Learning Environment
- Presentation
- Group projects, individual projects.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework:
The approximate percentage of the course assessment, is as follows:
Year 1
71% written, 4% practical, 25% coursework
Year 2
74% written, 0% practical, 26% coursework
Year 3
56% written, 0% practical, 44% coursework.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
As a global institution, Bayes Business School aims to foster greater racial diversity in business. Therefore Bayes has launched a new scholarship for undergraduate black British students. We are offering ten scholarships for Black UK-domiciled undergraduate students from lower than average income households. Each scholarship covers the full tuition fee (at home-fee level) and a £6,000 annual stipend for three years. Scholarship holders will also be offered mentoring and support.
The Bayes International Scholarship is awarded to students who achieve exceptional grades. The scholarship will be awarded as a discount in the fee amount due in the first year of their study only.
City, University of London also offers scholarships for UK students who achieve exceptional grades. The scholarship will likely be awarded as a discount in the fee amount due in the first year of their study only.
Please visit www.bayes.city.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/application-and-funding/scholarships for further information about scholarships including eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria for students starting their studies in September 2024 will be updated in September 2023. Conditions are subject to annual change.
The Uni
City, University of London
Bayes Business School (formerly Cass)
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Finance
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Finance
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Over 2,000 students graduated with a degree in finance in 2015, and a sign of the strength of the finance industry, numbers are on the up. Over half of finance graduates go into the finance industry, with accountancy and financial advice roles particularly popular. It's also quite common for finance graduates to go into jobs which require you to take more training and gain professional qualifications — finance graduates who take further study are more likely to be studying accountancy than finance. About a third of graduates start their careers in London - but Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham are other popular locations for finance graduates to work.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Finance
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£28k
£37k
£51k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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