About the Degree

The Actuarial Science degree offered by Curtin University is a way of completing the Foundation Program, the first part of a prospective actuary's educational journey. The Foundations Program is divided into 6 Core Principle subjects:

  • CS1: Actuarial Statistics 1

  • CS2: Risk Modelling and Survival Analysis

  • CM1: Actuarial Mathematics 1

  • CM2: Financial Engineering and Loss Reserving

  • CB1: Business Finance

  • CB2: Business Economics

For each Core Principle subject, there is a corresponding satellite exam hosted by the UK organisation, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IoFA). As an accredited university, Curtin may allow Actuarial Science students the opportunity to gain exemptions from these exams throughout their degree if they achieve a certain standard in each subject. The exemption criteria for the new curriculum subjects are not yet known, although it may well be similar to what it has been previously: an average of 73+ and a minimum of 65 in the units relating to each subject. The previously mentioned external exams can be sat if a student does not achieve the required score. The Core Principle subject to Curtin unit mapping is shown below. More information regarding the pathway to becoming an actuary can be found via the Actuaries Institute website. Please note that passing these subjects is only necessary for pursuing the full actuarial pathway, not graduating from the Curtin degree.

First Year

Semester One:

  • NSPC1003 Integrating Indigenous Science and Stem

  • MATH1015 Linear Algebra 1 or MATH1017 Advanced Mathematics

  • ACTL1002 Introduction to Actuarial Science

  • STAT1005 Introduction to Probability and Analysis CS1

Semester Two:

  • ACCT1002 Financial Decision Making CB1

  • ACTL1003 Introductory Actuarial Practises

  • STAT1006 Regression and Nonparametric Inference CS1

  • MATH1018 Advanced Mathematics or MATH1016 Calculus 1

Second Year

Semester One

  • FNCE2000 Introduction to Finance Principles CB1

  • STAT2001 Mathematical Statistics CS1

  • MATH2004 Theory of Interest CM1

  • Optional Unit

Semester Two

  • ECON1001 Actuarial Economics CB2

  • STAT3006 Investment Science 1 CM2

  • STAT3001 Statistical Modelling CS2

  • STAT3005 Stochastic Processes CS2

For more information, consult the Actuarial Science handbook and the SAS guide.