BSc (Actuarial Science) [Handbook entry]

[Course Code 302408]

The TISC code for the above program is CUSW

This course is designed to provide graduates with the necessary skills in mathematics, statistics, finance, economics, accounting, computing and demographics to prepare them for employment in the finance industry, namely in commercial organisations involving insurance companies, superannuation funds, banks and funds managers, other financial institutions and State and Federal Governments.

Actuaries are professionals trained to analyse risk and uncertainty. Their work involves the assessment, evaluation and management of the financial risks faced by individuals, families, investors, companies and governments as they plan for the future. These risks may arise from a wide range of factors such as: illness, sickness or disability of an individual; the effects of natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, cyclones, fire); the effects of economic, social or political change. To undertake actuarial work, one needs sound skills in mathematics, statistics, finance, economics; accounting, computing and demographics. Our course covers all these aspects.

Actuaries are in very high demand worldwide. Graduates of the programme are likely to be employed in the finance industry, in commercial organisations involving life, general and health insurance companies, superannuation funds, banks and funds managers, other financial institutions and Governments. The general expectation is that these industries, particularly the superannuation and the stock broking (e-commerce) industries, will continue their very strong growth for the foreseeable future. Entry into the course will be very competitive and restricted to a maximum of 20 new Commonwealth funded students per year. This will ensure high calibre students and excellent employment prospects for graduates. In addition, we expect the course will attract high calibre international students, particularly from South East Asia and Africa.

The Curtin course in Actuarial Science was accredited by the Institute of Actuaries of Australia in April 2007, which means that students who complete the BSc (Actuarial Science) degree can be exempted for some or all of the equivalent subjects which make up Part I of the Institute Course, depending on their grades achieved at Curtin.

There are only five universities in Australia which have accreditation from the Institute and Curtin is the only accredited university in Western Australia.

Sponsors

Curtin University is grateful for the support of several organisations in Perth, in particular to PricewaterhouseCoopers for sponsoring a prize for the best graduate from the BSc (Actuarial Science) degree course each year.

More information?

If you would like more information with regard to the actuarial profession, please refer to the Institute of Actuaries of Australia website or the 'Be an Actuary' site.