Actuarial & Financial Studies
The Actuarial & Financial Studies course will prepare you for a professional career in the actuarial or financial professions, but it has also been designed to be broader and more diverse than most traditional courses in actuarial science.
Prospective students interested in applying for Entry 2025 can learn more about our range courses in our Undergraduate Courses Brochure (PDF).
Why Study at UCD?
Frequently Asked Questions
- If I complete the degree in Actuarial & Financial Studies, will I get exemptions from the professional exams?
The Actuarial & Financial Studies degree at UCD offers potential exemptions from the core subjects CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2 and CP1 of the professional examinations of the (opens in a new window)Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, UK. - Will Actuarial & Financial Studies include work experience?
Yes. Actuarial and Financial Studies offer a professional work placement in third year that is integrated as part of the course in a financial institution or insurance company and equates to half the year’s work.
Students have completed their work placement in a variety of companies and locations. The companies include Allianz, Aon, Deloitte, Irish Life, Mercer, Susquehanna (SIG) and Zurich. There is a wide choice of placements that last for 6-8 months, and these are secured through a competitive process. - What is the difference between Financial Mathematics in the common-entry Science course and the Actuarial & Financial Studies degree?
The Financial Mathematics degree is primarily a degree in mathematics and statistics, with some economics and finance included. This degree will give you an understanding of the mathematical and statistical theories that underpin financial models, as well as computational mathematical expertise in the algorithms that price financial products.
The Financial Mathematics degree leaves open many career options, including the financial sector (e.g. as a quant) and also all other careers open to mathematics and statistics graduates. The Actuarial & Financial Studies (BAFS) degree is a degree targeted towards qualification as an actuary, and includes the underlying mathematics and statistics needed for the study and calculation of actuarial risk in various contexts. This degree also has modules in finance and prepares students for jobs in financial services. The difference is that Financial Mathematics is mostly mathematics and statistics, and BAFS is mostly actuarial science. There is some overlap.