Overview

Managing financial risk and uncertainty takes a rare combination of mathematical precision and business insight, skills that sit at the heart of the actuarial profession. The BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science at the University of York draws on the combined expertise of the Department of Mathematics and the School for Business and Society, building strong technical skills in calculus, probability, statistics, finance and accounting. Students learn to model uncertain future events, developing rigorous analytical reasoning within a course accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. The course suits students who want a professionally recognised route into actuarial work, with an optional year in industry giving genuine workplace experience alongside academic study.

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What You'll Learn

• Core mathematical foundations, including calculus, probability and statistics

• Accounting, business economics and corporate finance principles

• Actuarial mathematics and modelling techniques, developed through practical application

• Probability theory and Markov chains applied to real financial problems

• Statistical inference and financial modelling using industry-relevant tools such as R

• Advanced statistical analysis and decision theory in the final year

• Mathematical approaches to financial and actuarial processes, both in discrete and continuous time

• The ethical and legal issues shaping actuarial practice and its impact on stakeholders and society

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to formulate mathematical models to describe actuarial and financial risks, apply them to real-world problems, and critically assess their assumptions and limitations. They will be equipped to apply economic, financial and accounting knowledge within an actuarial context, using statistical techniques to draw inferences from data and quantify uncertainty. Through data-analytical, computational and programming coursework, students will develop the practical skills needed to implement actuarial and financial models and communicate their findings clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Graduates will leave with a deepening awareness of the ethical and legal issues shaping the profession, along with an IFoA-accredited qualification that puts them well on the way to becoming a professional actuary.