Program Overview

Queen's University Belfast

Overview

Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

Study

Undergraduate

• Undergraduate Overview: Queen's University Belfast offers a variety of undergraduate programs across different disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and more.
• Find a Course: Students can search for undergraduate courses by subject area, keyword, or course title.
• International Students: The university provides information and support for international students, including English language requirements, tuition fees, and scholarships.
• Fees & Funding: Details on tuition fees, scholarships, and funding opportunities for undergraduate students.
• Open Learning: Information on open learning courses and programs available at the university.
• Short Courses: Details on short courses offered by the university, including professional development and continuing education opportunities.
• Accommodation: Information on student accommodation options, including university-managed residences and private rentals.
• Life in Belfast: An overview of life in Belfast, including cultural attractions, nightlife, and outdoor activities.
• Open Days & Campus Tours: Information on open days and campus tours for prospective students.
• The Graduate School: Details on graduate programs and research opportunities at the university.
• Sport: Information on sports facilities and programs available at the university.
• Your Student Guide: A comprehensive guide for students, including information on student life, support services, and academic policies.

Postgraduate

• Postgraduate Overview: Queen's University Belfast offers a range of postgraduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees.
• Find a PhD: Information on PhD programs and research opportunities at the university.
• International Students: Support and information for international postgraduate students, including English language requirements and tuition fees.
• Fees & Funding: Details on tuition fees, scholarships, and funding opportunities for postgraduate students.

Research

• Research Overview: An overview of research at Queen's University Belfast, including research themes, areas, and excellence framework.
• Research Themes: Details on research themes and areas of expertise at the university.
• Global Research: Information on global research partnerships and collaborations.
• Research Areas: An overview of research areas and disciplines at the university.
• Research Excellence Framework: Details on the university's research excellence framework and impact.
• Research Strategy: An overview of the university's research strategy and goals.
• Research Impact: Information on the impact of research at Queen's University Belfast.
• Our People: Profiles of research staff and academics at the university.
• Research Opportunities: Details on research opportunities, including PhD programs and postdoctoral positions.
• Postdoctoral Development Centre: Information on the postdoctoral development centre and support for early-career researchers.
• Governance, Ethics and Integrity: Details on research governance, ethics, and integrity at the university.
• Sustainability Research: Information on sustainability research and initiatives at the university.
• Research Contacts: Contact information for research staff and academics at the university.

International

• International Overview: An overview of international programs and partnerships at Queen's University Belfast.
• International Students: Support and information for international students, including English language requirements and tuition fees.
• Applying to Queen's: Information on the application process for international students.
• English Language Requirements: Details on English language requirements for international students.
• Tuition Fees: Information on tuition fees for international students.
• International Scholarships: Details on scholarships and funding opportunities for international students.
• University Preparation Courses: Information on university preparation courses for international students.
• Exchange and Study Abroad: Details on exchange and study abroad programs for international students.
• Find Your Country / Region: Information on country-specific requirements and support for international students.
• China: Information on programs and partnerships with China.
• India: Information on programs and partnerships with India.
• USA: Information on programs and partnerships with the USA.
• Middle East and North Africa: Information on programs and partnerships with the Middle East and North Africa.
• South East Asia: Information on programs and partnerships with South East Asia.
• Sub Saharan Africa: Information on programs and partnerships with Sub Saharan Africa.
• Why Study at Queen's: Reasons to study at Queen's University Belfast.
• Contact us: Contact information for international student support.

Business

• Business Overview: An overview of business programs and partnerships at Queen's University Belfast.
• Commercialisation: Information on commercialisation opportunities and partnerships.
• Case Studies: Case studies of successful business partnerships and collaborations.
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Details on knowledge transfer partnerships and collaborations.
• IP & Innovation: Information on intellectual property and innovation at the university.
• Business Support: Details on business support services and resources.
• Business Engagement: Information on business engagement and partnerships.
• Chief Executives' Club: Details on the chief executives' club and business networking opportunities.
• Queen's Business School: Information on the Queen's Business School and its programs.
• William J Clinton Leadership Institute: Details on the William J Clinton Leadership Institute and its programs.
• MBA programme: Information on the MBA program at Queen's University Belfast.
• Business Support: Details on business support services and resources.
• Recruit Our Students: Information on recruiting students and graduates from Queen's University Belfast.

About

• About Overview: An overview of Queen's University Belfast, including its history, mission, and values.
• Campus & Facilities: Information on the university's campus and facilities.
• Sustainability: Details on sustainability initiatives and programs at the university.
• Social Charter: Information on the university's social charter and community engagement.
• Public Engagement: Details on public engagement and outreach programs at the university.
• Visit Us: Information on visiting the university, including campus tours and open days.
• News: News and updates from Queen's University Belfast.
• What's on: Information on events and activities at the university.
• Leadership and Structure: Details on the university's leadership and structure.
• Strategy 2030: An overview of the university's strategy and goals.
• Faculties & Schools: Information on the university's faculties and schools.
• Professional Services: Details on professional services and support at the university.
• University Department List: A list of university departments and contact information.
• Rankings and Reputation: Information on the university's rankings and reputation.
• Work at Queen's: Information on working at Queen's University Belfast, including job opportunities and staff benefits.

Actuarial Science and Risk Management

Overview

The BSc Actuarial Science and Risk Management programme has been designed by qualified actuaries to enable students to develop the theoretical and practical skills required to pursue a career as an actuary in the pensions and insurance sectors, or in the wider financial industry.

Course Structure

The programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of actuarial science and risk management, including:

• Foundations of Economics 2: A module that builds on the material covered in Foundations of Economics 1, focusing on the application of economic theory to real-world problems.
• Employability Preparation Module: A module that prepares students for placement opportunities and helps them develop employability skills.
• Foundations of Economics 1: A module that introduces students to the principles of economics and the global economy.
• Introduction to Statistical and Operational Research Methods: A module that introduces students to statistical and operational research methods, including linear programming, decision theory, and random sampling.
• Actuarial Mathematics 1: A module that introduces students to actuarial mathematics, including the time value of money, interest rates, and force of interest.
• Introduction to Probability & Statistics: A module that introduces students to probability theory and statistical methods, including discrete and continuous random variables, standard distributions, and hypothesis testing.

Modules

• Foundations of Economics 2: A module that builds on the material covered in Foundations of Economics 1, focusing on the application of economic theory to real-world problems.
• Employability Preparation Module: A module that prepares students for placement opportunities and helps them develop employability skills.
• Foundations of Economics 1: A module that introduces students to the principles of economics and the global economy.
• Introduction to Statistical and Operational Research Methods: A module that introduces students to statistical and operational research methods, including linear programming, decision theory, and random sampling.
• Actuarial Mathematics 1: A module that introduces students to actuarial mathematics, including the time value of money, interest rates, and force of interest.
• Introduction to Probability & Statistics: A module that introduces students to probability theory and statistical methods, including discrete and continuous random variables, standard distributions, and hypothesis testing.
• Employability Module: A module that prepares students for placement opportunities and helps them develop employability skills.
• Excel Analysis: A module that introduces students to advanced spreadsheet analysis using Excel.
• Financial Risk Modelling: A module that introduces students to financial risk modelling, including model analysis and reporting.
• Actuarial Mathematics 2: A module that builds on the material covered in Actuarial Mathematics 1, focusing on the application of actuarial mathematics to real-world problems.
• Principles of Actuarial Modelling: A module that introduces students to the principles of actuarial modelling, including stochastic processes and survival models.
• Actuarial methods in General Insurance: A module that introduces students to actuarial methods in general insurance, including loss distributions and time series.
• Investment Analysis: A module that introduces students to investment analysis, including firm valuation, valuation techniques, and portfolio management.
• Employability Module: A module that prepares students for placement opportunities and helps them develop employability skills.
• Actuarial Applications: A module that introduces students to actuarial applications, including pension schemes, pension fund investment, and investment strategy.
• Actuarial Econometrics and Data Science: A module that introduces students to actuarial econometrics and data science, including statistical techniques and data analysis.
• Stochastic Processes for Finance: A module that introduces students to stochastic processes for finance, including Wiener processes, Markov processes, and martingales.
• Actuarial Modelling: A module that builds on the material covered in Principles of Actuarial Modelling, focusing on the application of actuarial modelling to real-world problems.
• Financial Engineering: A module that introduces students to financial engineering, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps.
• Equity Research: A module that introduces students to equity research, including firm valuation, valuation techniques, and portfolio management.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:

• Understand the principles of actuarial science and risk management
• Apply actuarial techniques to real-world problems
• Analyze and interpret data using statistical and operational research methods
• Develop employability skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving
• Understand the principles of actuarial modelling, including stochastic processes and survival models
• Apply actuarial methods in general insurance, including loss distributions and time series
• Understand investment analysis, including firm valuation, valuation techniques, and portfolio management
• Develop skills in financial risk modelling, including model analysis and reporting
• Understand the principles of actuarial applications, including pension schemes, pension fund investment, and investment strategy
• Apply actuarial econometrics and data science, including statistical techniques and data analysis
• Understand stochastic processes for finance, including Wiener processes, Markov processes, and martingales
• Develop skills in actuarial modelling, including the application of actuarial techniques to real-world problems
• Understand financial engineering, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps
• Develop skills in equity research, including firm valuation, valuation techniques, and portfolio management

Skills

• Numerical and problem-solving skills: Students will develop numerical and problem-solving skills through the application of actuarial techniques to real-world problems.
• Communication and teamwork skills: Students will develop communication and teamwork skills through group work and presentations.
• Data analysis and interpretation skills: Students will develop data analysis and interpretation skills through the use of statistical and operational research methods.
• Employability skills: Students will develop employability skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• Actuarial modelling skills: Students will develop actuarial modelling skills, including the application of stochastic processes and survival models.
• Financial risk modelling skills: Students will develop financial risk modelling skills, including model analysis and reporting.
• Investment analysis skills: Students will develop investment analysis skills, including firm valuation, valuation techniques, and portfolio management.
• Actuarial applications skills: Students will develop skills in actuarial applications, including pension schemes, pension fund investment, and investment strategy.
• Actuarial econometrics and data science skills: Students will develop skills in actuarial econometrics and data science, including statistical techniques and data analysis.
• Stochastic processes for finance skills: Students will develop skills in stochastic processes for finance, including Wiener processes, Markov processes, and martingales.
• Financial engineering skills: Students will develop skills in financial engineering, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps.
• Equity research skills: Students will develop skills in equity research, including firm valuation, valuation techniques, and portfolio management.

Assessment

• Coursework: 30%
• Examination: 70%
• Practical: 0%

Facilities

• Bloomberg software: Students will have access to Bloomberg software, a market leader in financial news, data, and analytics.
• Trading Room: The Trading Room allows for an interactive and exciting learning environment, bringing textbook theory to life.

What our academics say

• "The Actuarial Science and Risk Management Degree exposes students to the key principles of Actuarial Science and facilitates the practical application of theory developed in lectures. With the opportunity to undertake a placement in industry, students are able to develop the softer skills, in addition to the academic skills, that employers look for in potential employees." - Neil McConville FIA, lecturer in Actuarial Science and Risk Management

Career Prospects

• Employment after the Course: Students can pursue careers in actuarial science, risk management, and finance, including roles in pensions, insurance, and investment.
• Employment Links: The university has links with employers in the actuarial and financial industries, including KPMG, Canada Life, Irish Life, and Aviva.
• Alumni Success: Alumni have gone on to work in a range of roles, including actuarial consultant, risk manager, and investment analyst.
• Professional Opportunities: Students can pursue professional qualifications, including the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) exams.

Prizes and Awards

• SCOR Global Life: A prize for the best student in Actuarial Science and Risk Management.
• Mercer: A prize for the best student in Actuarial Science and Risk Management.
• Spence and Partners: A prize for the best student in Actuarial Science and Risk Management.
• Acumen Resources: A prize for the best student in Actuarial Science and Risk Management.
• XPS: A prize for the best student in Actuarial Science and Risk Management.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award

• Degree Plus: A award that recognizes students' extra-curricular activities and skills.
• Future Ready Award: A award that recognizes students' employability skills and readiness for the workforce.

Scholarships

• International Scholarships: Scholarships available for international students.
• Scholarships: Scholarships available for students, including the Queen's University Belfast Scholarship.

How to Apply

• Application: Students can apply through UCAS or directly to the university.
• Admissions: The university's admissions process, including entry requirements and deadlines.
• Fees and Funding: Information on tuition fees and funding opportunities.

Terms and Conditions

• Terms and Conditions: The university's terms and conditions, including policies on admissions, fees, and student conduct.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

• Applying through UCAS: Information on applying through UCAS for international students.
• Applying direct: Information on applying directly to the university for international students.
• Applying through agents and partners: Information on applying through agents and partners for international students.
• English Language Requirements: Information on English language requirements for international students.
• International Scholarships: Scholarships available for international students.