Master of Actuarial Science – MActSc
Victoria University of Wellington
Key Information
Campus location
Wellington, New Zealand
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
12 - 24 months
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
NZD 15,260 / per course
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Introduction
Make an impact
Actuaries make recommendations and decisions that have an impact on people’s lives. You could work on investment programmes in the private or public sectors, design life insurance products, manage pension schemes, or advise government on retirement, education, and health planning.
During your studies, you will hone your professional skills and develop practical competence in problem-solving, negotiating, and influencing.
Admissions
Curriculum
For this programme you’ll need to:
Complete 180 points
Include courses worth 120 points:
- Actuarial Control Cycle I (ACTS 501)
- Actuarial Control Cycle II (ACTS 502)
- Data Science for Actuaries (ACTS 503)
- Derivative Securities (FINA 403)
- Portfolio Theory (FINA 404)
- Fixed Income Securities (FINA 406)
- Stochastic Processes (STAT 433) or Time Series (STAT 435)
- Generalised Linear Models (STAT 438)
Include further courses worth 60 points from:
- STAT 400-499
- STAT 500-599
- MATH 400-499
- MATH 500-599
Or other postgraduate courses offered by the Wellington School of Business and Government (subject to approval by the programme director)
Program Outcome
A fast track to professional accreditation
Qualified and accredited actuaries belong to professional bodies to show employers and clients that they have the expertise and knowledge needed to be a successful actuary. It is a profession that is highly regarded for its skills, ethics, and professionalism.
The Master of Actuarial Science will provide you with a fast track to Actuaries Institute of Australia accreditation, which is recognised in both New Zealand and Australia. Graduates will be exempt from all but two of the exams required for accreditation, allowing you to become an accredited actuary faster.
Build on your mathematics, statistics, and finance expertise
Mathematics, statistics, or finance graduates are among those ideally suited to study this programme. You’ll hone your abilities to:
- analyse and interpret information
- solve complex problems
- make accurate and methodical decisions
- communicate complicated scenarios.
Diploma and certificate options
Depending on your goals, you can opt for a shorter postgraduate Actuarial Science qualification by doing the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Science. Both programmes are a great way to experience some of the courses included in the Master of Actuarial Science programme.
As well as being valuable qualifications in their own right, courses completed as part of the Certificate and Diploma can count towards the full Master’s programme, if you decide to continue your studies.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The Master of Actuarial Science is the only Master’s-level actuarial science qualification offered in New Zealand. Your skills will be in strong demand globally and in New Zealand.
Your studies will connect you with organisations in the public and private sectors that employ actuaries, giving you the opportunity to build a powerful network of contacts that will benefit you in your future career.