Program Overview

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Our MSci Actuarial Science and Data Science is an Integrated Masters course that will teach you the art of turning risk into opportunity with the understanding of visualising data in actuarial applications and beyond. Such a skillset is crucial for the growing market for experts in data science with the collection and analysis of data being crucial to understanding how to improve, create and guide products and services across the globe. Our MSci Actuarial Science and Data Science course covers the syllabus of many core subjects of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Depending on your choice of optional modules, and upon sufficient attainment, this can lead to exemptions from the professional exams CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1 and CB2. Our attractive blend of actuarial science and data science will equip you with an understanding of real-world financial issues, efficient use of experimental design to provide fast and less expensive solutions, and computing skills essential for entering the actuarial and data science profession. You’ll be taught theory and methods used by professional actuaries; on how to apply mathematical and statistical skills to minimise financial risk when the stakes are high, in areas such as commerce, government, insurance and finance. You’ll be provided with the crucial basis of core skills in data base programming and management, in developing data processing pipelines and in organising and analysing large and massive data sets. And you’ll be introduced to and use programming language Python and R for statistical analysis and data visualisation. In your third and fourth year, analysing data and methods in group projects will be essential capstone modules for the learning outcomes of the course. Topics include:

• Contingencies, risk management and survival analysis
• Computer science and programming
• Statistics and operations research
• Artificial intelligence, databases and information retrieval
• Ethical issues around the use and processing of data
• Specialist skills in the areas of big data, data analytics and data science

Our Integrated Masters will give you the opportunity to fast-track your degree and complete your final year in nine months compared with a regular MSc which usually takes twelve months. Combining your undergraduate and postgraduate study in one degree will give you a strong theoretical background as well as specialist expertise through independent research. This combination makes graduates from our course attractive candidates for many employers.

Professional accreditation

This programme is accredited to meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. Why we're great.

• You have access to our ultramodern facilities in our STEM Centre.
• You join a community of scholars leading the way in technological research and development.
• We have active links with industry to broaden your employment potential and placement opportunities.

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Our expert staff

Many of our academics have won national or regional awards for lecturing, and many of them are qualified and accredited teachers – something which is very rare at a university. Our course teachers are expert academics conducting internationally excellent multidisciplinary research, with significant multi-year experience in consulting and practicing actuarial science. Our key actuarial science staff are Professor Spyridon Vrontos (specialising in actuarial and financial data science, predictive modelling and predictability), Dr Tolulope Fadina (mathematical finance), Dr Junlei Hu (reinsurance and optimal risk transfer), Dr Peng Liu (applied probability and queueing systems), Dr Jackie Wong (Bayesian methods and survival analysis), and Dr John O’Hara (financial mathematics and machine learning in finance).

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Specialist facilities

• In addition to teaching, we have a Maths Support Centre, which offers help to students on a range of mathematical problems. Throughout term-time, we can chat through mathematical problems either on a one-to-one or small group basis
• We have a dedicated social and study space for maths students in the department, which is situated in the STEM Centre
• We host regular events and seminars throughout the year
• Our students run a lively Mathematics Society, an active and social group where you can explore your interest in your subject with other students

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Your future

Demand for skilled graduates in the areas of mathematics, big data, data science and actuarial science is growing rapidly in both the public and private sector, and there is a predicted shortage of data scientists with the skills to understand and make commercial decisions based on the analysis of big data. It is predicted by the US Department of Labor that the employment of actuaries is expected to grow faster than any other occupation, making it a great prospect for a graduate job. Aside from a rewarding career as an actuary, clear thinkers are required in every profession, so the successful mathematician has an extensive choice of potential careers. We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.