BSc Actuarial Science and Mathematics / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

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First Year BSc Mathematics with Scarlett and Hana

The BSc Actuarial Science and Mathematics programme is accredited by the Institute  and Faculty of Actuaries. Students graduating from the programme may be recommended for exemption from the CS1, CS2, CM1, CB1 and CB2 subjects depending on the performance in a particular set of course units. The course gives a firm foundation in Mathematics, together with specialist course units in Actuarial Science whilst giving you the opportunity to develop team working, communication and leadership skills.

The mathematical skills involved include most of the topics taught to students on the first year of the specialist mathematics degree i.e. covering aspects of pure and applied mathematics and statistics as well as some more general mathematics. As the course progresses, the statistical topics are explored in more detail. Courses in all areas of mathematics are used as a basis for some of the actuarial units.

Although the mathematics topics are more prevalent in the early years of the programme, there are opportunities to select from a wide range of mathematics options in the final year.

The actuarial topics start off with Economics, followed by Finance, and then consider the various actuarial models and contingencies used in the profession.

Supporting skills include options in leadership, enterprise and sustainable energy. These can be taken as options with alternatives including a wide range of mathematics units.

Special features

  • Small group teaching is a significant part of the first year.
  • A wide range of options is available in the third year.
  • All undergraduate students have affiliate membership of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
  • Students have an opportunity to spend a year on a work based placement. This gives an opportunity to gain invaluable work based experience and learn more about themselves and the workplace so that they are better able to make good choices about a career post-graduation. Many students who have a year placement are taken on by the same employer once they have finished their studies. The placement happens after two years study, with the student returning after their placement year to take their third year here.  Whilst students wanting to take the work based placement are responsible for finding their own placement, they will be supported in this through a special programme set up to help them. This will be done by working closely with dedicated advisers from the Careers Service and support and mentoring within the Department. 

Teaching and learning

Most teaching takes the form of lectures, with various support classes (example classes, small group tutorials or sessions in one of the computer clusters) to help you get to grips with the material, exploring topics and working on examples set by the lecturers.

Coursework and assessment

Most course units have some continual assessment (which may be, for instance, a combination of homework and in-class tests), which is put together with the result of an end-of-semester examination to provide the final mark. Some course units (such as a project) are assessed entirely by your submitted work during the semester. The class of your degree is normally based on only your last two years' work.

Course content for year 1

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Microeconomics 1 ECON10221 10 Mandatory
Macroeconomics 1 ECON10252 10 Mandatory
Financial Mathematics for Actuarial Science 1 MATH10951 10 Mandatory
Linear Algebra MATH11022 20 Mandatory
Real Analysis MATH11112 10 Mandatory
Mathematical Foundation & Analysis MATH11121 20 Mandatory
Introduction to Vector Calculus MATH11411 10 Mandatory
Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations MATH11412 10 Mandatory
Probability I MATH11711 10 Mandatory
Statistics I MATH11712 10 Mandatory

Course content for year 2

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Managing My Future MATH20040 0 Mandatory
Practical Statistics MATH20811 10 Mandatory
Financial Mathematics for Actuarial Science 2 MATH20951 10 Mandatory
Contingencies 1 - Actuarial Science MATH20962 10 Mandatory
Actuarial Insurance MATH20972 10 Mandatory
Partial Differential Equations & Vector Calculus MATH24420 20 Mandatory
Linear Regression Models MATH27711 10 Mandatory
Stochastic Processes MATH27712 10 Mandatory
Probability and Statistics 2 MATH27720 20 Mandatory
Fundamentals of Finance BMAN10552 10 Optional
Fundamentals of Financial Reporting B BMAN10621B 10 Optional
Fundamentals of Management Accounting BMAN10632 10 Optional
Introduction to Corporate Finance and Financial Instruments BMAN20242 10 Optional
Principles of Mathematical Modelling MATH20521 10 Optional
Introduction to Financial Mathematics MATH20912 10 Optional
Numerical Analysis 1 MATH24411 10 Optional
Leadership in Action Online Unit UCIL20031 10 Optional
Leadership in Action Online Unit UCIL20032 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 18 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Statistical Inference MATH38001 10 Mandatory
Time Series Analysis MATH38032 10 Mandatory
Regression Analysis MATH38141 10 Mandatory
Generalised Linear Models MATH38172 10 Mandatory
Actuarial Models MATH39511 10 Mandatory
Survival Analysis for Actuarial Science MATH39512 10 Mandatory
Contingencies 2 MATH39522 10 Mandatory
Risk Theory MATH39542 10 Mandatory
Introduction to Corporate Finance and Financial Instruments BMAN20242 10 Optional
Technology, Strategy and Innovation BMAN20792 10 Optional
New Product Development and Innovation BMAN20821 10 Optional
Marketing BMAN20832 10 Optional
Management of Knowledge and Innovation BMAN30010 20 Optional
Marketing BMAN30021 10 Optional
Financial Derivatives BMAN30091 10 Optional
Financial Engineering BMAN30242 10 Optional
Logic and Modelling COMP21111 10 Optional
Teaching and Learning of Mathematics EDUC22001 20 Optional
Theories of Equity in Education EDUC30652 20 Optional
Educational Leadership EDUC34752 20 Optional
Independent Study and Technical Explanations EEEN31001 10 Optional
The Nuclear Age: Global Nuclear Threats from Hiroshima to Today HSTM31212 10 Optional
Double Project MATH30000 20 Optional
Mathematics Education MATH30002 10 Optional
Project (Semester One) MATH30011 10 Optional
Project (Semester 2) MATH30022 10 Optional
Linear Analysis MATH31002 10 Optional
Fractal Geometry MATH31042 10 Optional
Topology MATH31051 10 Optional
Group Theory MATH32001 10 Optional
Commutative Algebra MATH32012 10 Optional
Coding Theory MATH32031 10 Optional
Hyperbolic Geometry MATH32052 10 Optional
Algebraic Geometry MATH32062 10 Optional
Number Theory MATH32072 10 Optional
Combinatorics and Graph Theory MATH32091 10 Optional
Mathematical Logic MATH33021 20 Optional
Complex Analysis&Applications MATH34011 20 Optional
Green's Functions, Integral Equations and Applications MATH34031 10 Optional
Viscous Fluid Flow MATH35002 10 Optional
Wave Motion MATH35012 10 Optional
Elasticity MATH35021 10 Optional
Mathematical Biology MATH35031 10 Optional
Methods of Applied Mathematics MATH35041 20 Optional
Mathematics of a Finite Planet MATH35062 10 Optional
Symmetry in Geometry and Nature MATH35082 10 Optional
Matrix Analysis MATH36001 10 Optional
Numerical Analysis 2 MATH36022 10 Optional
Problem Solving by Computer MATH36031 10 Optional
Convex Optimization MATH36062 10 Optional
Martingales with Applications to Finance MATH37001 10 Optional
Markov Processes MATH37012 10 Optional
Medical Statistics MATH38072 10 Optional
Multivariate Statistics and Machine Learning MATH38161 10 Optional
Mathematical Modelling in Finance MATH39032 10 Optional
Tools and Techniques for Enterprise MCEL30001 10 Optional
Advanced Technology Enterprise MCEL30011 10 Optional
Formal Logic PHIL20141 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 58 course units for year 3

What our students say

You can read some student profiles in our Undergraduate Brochure or on the Department of Mathematics website .

Facilities

The Department of Mathematics is based in the brand new, purpose built £40 million Alan Turing Building, set at the heart of the University Campus.  Students benefit from extensive facilities for computing and study, relaxation and refreshment, in an attractive, light and comfortable environment.  Computing: The Department of Mathematics has a number of computer clusters that run the standard software as well as powerful mathematical and statistical software, such as Matlab, Minitab and Mathematica.  All our students have free access to email and the internet.  Other larger clusters are available in the University libraries and clusters are situated in most Halls of Residence; most student rooms also have Ethernet connection.  Library: You will have access to the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, one of the largest and best-equipped libraries in the UK.  A special section of this library provides a short loan facility, where you can reliably obtain textbooks that are recommended for particular courses and borrow them on an overnight basis.  The Department of Mathematics also houses a mathematical library of more advanced books and other material used mainly by research students and staff.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk