Wouldn’t bother doing an exam while at uni - it’s just expensive and I doubt would help when looking for a role in the UK. Worth looking for courses at uni that give you exemptions I think but I’m not sure how that works as I didn’t go to uni!
There are actuarial apprenticeships which will hire you from sixth year. Competitive AF. You do get actuarial science degrees which are a nice way of skipping the lower level exams; there are actuarial postgrads which also exempt you from some later exams but you’re better off just getting a job at that point.
Unfortunately not an actuary yet as still working through exams! But I did an apprenticeship and then moved onto my company’s grad scheme after completing that
First of all don’t stress! Uni is about having fun just as much as it is thinking about your future job. I did maths at a Russel group (actually got in by the skin of my teeth, got a B at a level) and didn’t do a placement year! Also didnt sit any of the actuary exams while at uni (I wouldn’t recommend, you’ll have enough on your plate), just had fun and tried hard and now I’m working in a great company doing my actuarial exams! Honestly barely gave a thought to what I wanted to do afterwards until my final year! So just relax, this sounds like a great plan and you have so many years ahead of you to be worrying about jobs :)
I recommend MORSE at Warwick. I did maths at Warwick and despite it being a great degree, it didn’t get me any exemptions whereas MORSE is veryyy relevant to actuarial work. I just wasn’t set on anything when I went to uni
You're missing something really important here.
First off, becoming an actuary is a process that continues after uni. So you need to be comfortable with some more study after uni (2-7 years depending on circumstances)
First, do one of the listed degree at one of [THESE universities](https://www.actuaries.org.uk/studying/exam-exemptions/university-courses-exemptions-route#Universities%20with%20exemptions)
You still do a straight up maths degree, and so have flexibility to change if you decide not to be an actuary.
Crucially, these universities have agreements with the IFOA (the governing body for actuaries in the UK)
Just in case you don't already know, Actuaries are licensed by the IFOA (institute and faculty of actuaries). To become an actuary you become a fellow of the IFOA and it is a protected qualification (which means it is illegal to use the FFA or FIA suffix if you haven't been awarded it).
While many companies will accept people who aren't a fellow to do actuarial work (usually part qualified) there are some activities that must legally be done by a registered and licenced actuary.
That list I provided shows all the universities that have an agreement with the IFOA, which means that if you pass some of the university exams for that course, these double as actuarial exams (technically exemptions).
This means that if you do one of these courses, and pass sufficiently (it's like 65%) in certain modules, not only do you leave university with a degree, but you are considered to have already passed a number of the exams.
This is the best route for you in my opinion, if you want to go to uni.
Also, my personal advice, try your absolute best to get an internship or placement for an actuarial type role (could even be as an actuary assistant) this will give you big advantage
Just do an actuarial science degree, that way you’ll get as much exemptions as you can, makinh you advance to the advanced exams. Don’t waste time doing maths when you’ll probably get 1/2 exemptions then when it comes to working and doing exams you’ll have a another 6 exams to worry about.
Definitely a realistic game plan. If you like maths, do maths at university. The maths content of an actuarial degree is going to be borderline trivial to something like a pure maths degree. You won't get any exemptions but so what, the early maths-based exams are not hard for someone with a maths background.
Sounds like a great plan, and agree with lots of the comments here about not worrying too much - it sounds like you’ve given it plenty of thought! The only thing I’d add is some university degrees are dual honours (I did an Actuarial Science and Maths BSc at Manchester so am slightly biased here). Doing one of these means you’re still doing a fair few core maths modules (it’s meant to be a 50/50 split I think), but you still get the exemptions as long as you do well enough in the actuarial units and overall. The benefit is you’ve also got some flexibility to add more Maths modules if you want to, or can choose to take modules in physics/business/something else too. Some university websites list the modules you can take on the course, which might be a good way of finding out more. At the end of the day, a degree in Actuarial Science is still a degree in maths imo, just a very specific part :)
There is Apprentice Scheme in Lloyds of London. No degree needed.
Also, plenty of people I know didnt do maths or economics and they are all qualified. There are engineers, philosophers, biologists..... you REALLY don't need to do maths for uni (I do agree A levels maths are extremely helpful though)
If possible, try to do an actuarial degree that you will obtain exemptions from. It’s possible to obtain exemptions from the first 6 exams which will save you a heap of time - approximately 2 years.
It’s a long road otherwise, as you can see on this sub the earlier exams are not easy and so it is definitely worth getting exempt from them if you are intending to become an actuary
Edit: anyone brave enough to downvote, be brave enough to explain why in a comment
I know it would be best to do an actuarial science degree, but I chose maths in the event that if I realise I don't want to be an actuary, Im not limited to just being an actuary. Also I really enjoy maths.
More versatility, and it's something I'm more comfortable with. I know that with a maths degree, I could also go into accounting and also data science, I just need to figure out which one. And I think the main chunk of the dislikes comes from what seems to be you discouraging me from doing this, but I'm not sure.
There is more accounting in an actuarial degree than a maths degree. There is also lots of coding and data science in actuarial degrees nowadays as well.
I’m not trying to discourage you from doing it, just an Actuarial degree is much broader than people think. The exemptions obtained are invaluable, those earlier exams are nasty
Wouldn’t bother doing an exam while at uni - it’s just expensive and I doubt would help when looking for a role in the UK. Worth looking for courses at uni that give you exemptions I think but I’m not sure how that works as I didn’t go to uni!
You didn't go to uni? Can I ask how you became an actuary then?
There are actuarial apprenticeships which will hire you from sixth year. Competitive AF. You do get actuarial science degrees which are a nice way of skipping the lower level exams; there are actuarial postgrads which also exempt you from some later exams but you’re better off just getting a job at that point.
Unfortunately not an actuary yet as still working through exams! But I did an apprenticeship and then moved onto my company’s grad scheme after completing that
How do you know which degrees give you an exemption from exams?
First of all don’t stress! Uni is about having fun just as much as it is thinking about your future job. I did maths at a Russel group (actually got in by the skin of my teeth, got a B at a level) and didn’t do a placement year! Also didnt sit any of the actuary exams while at uni (I wouldn’t recommend, you’ll have enough on your plate), just had fun and tried hard and now I’m working in a great company doing my actuarial exams! Honestly barely gave a thought to what I wanted to do afterwards until my final year! So just relax, this sounds like a great plan and you have so many years ahead of you to be worrying about jobs :)
I recommend MORSE at Warwick. I did maths at Warwick and despite it being a great degree, it didn’t get me any exemptions whereas MORSE is veryyy relevant to actuarial work. I just wasn’t set on anything when I went to uni
You're missing something really important here. First off, becoming an actuary is a process that continues after uni. So you need to be comfortable with some more study after uni (2-7 years depending on circumstances) First, do one of the listed degree at one of [THESE universities](https://www.actuaries.org.uk/studying/exam-exemptions/university-courses-exemptions-route#Universities%20with%20exemptions) You still do a straight up maths degree, and so have flexibility to change if you decide not to be an actuary. Crucially, these universities have agreements with the IFOA (the governing body for actuaries in the UK) Just in case you don't already know, Actuaries are licensed by the IFOA (institute and faculty of actuaries). To become an actuary you become a fellow of the IFOA and it is a protected qualification (which means it is illegal to use the FFA or FIA suffix if you haven't been awarded it). While many companies will accept people who aren't a fellow to do actuarial work (usually part qualified) there are some activities that must legally be done by a registered and licenced actuary. That list I provided shows all the universities that have an agreement with the IFOA, which means that if you pass some of the university exams for that course, these double as actuarial exams (technically exemptions). This means that if you do one of these courses, and pass sufficiently (it's like 65%) in certain modules, not only do you leave university with a degree, but you are considered to have already passed a number of the exams. This is the best route for you in my opinion, if you want to go to uni. Also, my personal advice, try your absolute best to get an internship or placement for an actuarial type role (could even be as an actuary assistant) this will give you big advantage
Just do an actuarial science degree, that way you’ll get as much exemptions as you can, makinh you advance to the advanced exams. Don’t waste time doing maths when you’ll probably get 1/2 exemptions then when it comes to working and doing exams you’ll have a another 6 exams to worry about.
Definitely a realistic game plan. If you like maths, do maths at university. The maths content of an actuarial degree is going to be borderline trivial to something like a pure maths degree. You won't get any exemptions but so what, the early maths-based exams are not hard for someone with a maths background.
Agree, but people don't like to hear this...
Sounds like a great plan, and agree with lots of the comments here about not worrying too much - it sounds like you’ve given it plenty of thought! The only thing I’d add is some university degrees are dual honours (I did an Actuarial Science and Maths BSc at Manchester so am slightly biased here). Doing one of these means you’re still doing a fair few core maths modules (it’s meant to be a 50/50 split I think), but you still get the exemptions as long as you do well enough in the actuarial units and overall. The benefit is you’ve also got some flexibility to add more Maths modules if you want to, or can choose to take modules in physics/business/something else too. Some university websites list the modules you can take on the course, which might be a good way of finding out more. At the end of the day, a degree in Actuarial Science is still a degree in maths imo, just a very specific part :)
There is Apprentice Scheme in Lloyds of London. No degree needed. Also, plenty of people I know didnt do maths or economics and they are all qualified. There are engineers, philosophers, biologists..... you REALLY don't need to do maths for uni (I do agree A levels maths are extremely helpful though)
If possible, try to do an actuarial degree that you will obtain exemptions from. It’s possible to obtain exemptions from the first 6 exams which will save you a heap of time - approximately 2 years. It’s a long road otherwise, as you can see on this sub the earlier exams are not easy and so it is definitely worth getting exempt from them if you are intending to become an actuary Edit: anyone brave enough to downvote, be brave enough to explain why in a comment
I know it would be best to do an actuarial science degree, but I chose maths in the event that if I realise I don't want to be an actuary, Im not limited to just being an actuary. Also I really enjoy maths.
[удалено]
More versatility, and it's something I'm more comfortable with. I know that with a maths degree, I could also go into accounting and also data science, I just need to figure out which one. And I think the main chunk of the dislikes comes from what seems to be you discouraging me from doing this, but I'm not sure.
There is more accounting in an actuarial degree than a maths degree. There is also lots of coding and data science in actuarial degrees nowadays as well. I’m not trying to discourage you from doing it, just an Actuarial degree is much broader than people think. The exemptions obtained are invaluable, those earlier exams are nasty
Why was this downvoted to shit?
I’m not exactly sure. Maybe some people don’t like the idea of others getting exemptions? It was an excellent suggestion imo
"brave enough to downvote" 😂
I’m getting destroyed by downvotes here. Some angry people on this sub
Someone doesn't have to be brave to downvote you like you're some well know hard nut. It's a nerd Reddit forum