Actuarial Mathematics
The BSc in Actuarial Mathematics prepares you to pursue a career as an actuary or, more generally, for a career in finance. Actuaries are involved in quantifying and managing risk, work in areas as diverse as banking, insurance and healthcare. As markets become increasingly complex there is a growing need for professionals who combine both mathematical and financial expertise.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must present a minimum of 6 Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. In addition, applicants must present at least 2 subjects at Grade H5.
Additional Requirements
Minimum of H3 in Mathematics
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Applicants wishing to undertake a Level 8 degree at DCU must be at least 16 years of age on 15 January of the year of entry.
Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following 6 groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B.
2 Economics, Agricultural Economics.
3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry; only 2 best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry; only best scored.
4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all 3 subjects are taken; only the best 2 will be scored.
5 Latin, Classical Studies.
6 Greek, Classical Studies.
Candidates who meet the points requirements but not the specific course requirements, for example H4 in English for the BA in Journalism, are permitted to repeat that subject only to meet the course requirements.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. However, these courses will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:
DC001 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
DC009 - Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
DC014 - BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance
DC131 - BA in Communication Studies
DC132 - BA in Journalism
DC133 - BSc in Multimedia
DC155 - BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
DC231 - BA in International Relations
DC232 - Bachelor of Civil Law and Society
DC235 - BSc in Education and Training
DC238 - BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation
DC291 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Media)
DC292 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Law)
DC293 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (International Languages)
DC294 - BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability
DC295 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Politics)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Please note that LCVP link modules cannot be used as a subject for general or specific course entry requirements, but can be used for the calculation of points.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
No
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
Actuarial Consultancy
Risk Management
Investments
Life and Health Insurance
General Insurance
Pensions
Further Study - Teaching
In These Areas
Financial Services
Insurance
Pensions
Banking
Further information
Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.
For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.
For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions
30
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why DCU?
- Fully accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) UK
- Paid work experience provides practical actuarial experience and enables you to make informed career decisions
- Specialise in the latest in applications of mathematics to finance
- Industry sponsored prize awarded each year to the graduate with the best academic performance
- BSc in Actuarial Mathematics may offer exemptions from the Core Principles examinations of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, (IFoA) UK - CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1 and CB2
About You
If you excel in mathematics and problem solving, and want to apply your talents to a career in the actuarial profession or in finance, then come and join the course.
Understanding: Actuarial Mathematics
How long will people live and for how much should their lives be insured? Can we understand and predict the movement of stock prices? What is the rate of return on capital on an investment venture – and should that project be funded? These are some of the questions we will help you to answer at DCU.
The BSc in Actuarial Mathematics prepares you to pursue a career as an actuary or, more generally, for a career in finance. Actuaries are involved in quantifying and managing risk, work in areas as diverse as banking, insurance and healthcare. As markets become increasingly complex there is a growing need for professionals who combine both mathematical and financial expertise.
Course Structure
In Years 1 and 2 of your degree you will cover the fundamental mathematical principles that underpin the financial models studied in later years. You also study practical and finance-related subjects such as computer programming, economics and accounting. In Years 3 and 4 you apply sophisticated mathematical techniques to real-world problems in insurance, finance and banking.
In Year 3, you will have the opportunity to undertake paid work placement (INTRA) in the actuarial or financial industry.
The placements are, typically, with major insurance companies, actuarial consultancies, investment banks or trading houses. This is a key opportunity for you to gain practical skills and experience in a commercial environment and will help you make an informed career choice upon graduation.
Additional Information
The BSc in Actuarial Mathematics is fully accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA). These are the initial examinations required in order to qualify as an actuary in Ireland and the UK. Exemptions depend on examination performance during the degree and achieving all exemptions can significantly reduce the time taken to qualify as an actuary.
Graduates of this course are well placed to undertake further studies and research in actuarial science, mathematics, financial mathematics, economics and finance. The course provides a strong foundation for those who wish to pursue a postgraduate qualification in teaching and covers over 90% of the mathematics required for Teaching Council recognition.
Internship: Yes.
What Will I Study?
Year 1
Mathematical Analysis | Probability | Computing for Mathematics | Linear Mathematics | Microeconomics | Sequences and Series | Calculus | Macroeconomics | Financial Modelling with Excel
Year 2
Statistics | Calculus | Linear Algebra | Numerical Methods | Analysis | Differential Equations | Probability | Accounting
Year 3
Actuarial Modelling | Stochastic Modelling | Financial Mathematics | Accounting | Financial and Actuarial Models | INTRA
Year 4
Life Contingencies | Financial Economics | Time Series | Simulation for Finance | Deep Learning | Probability and Finance | Stochastic Finance | Optimisation
Additional Information
Graduates of Actuarial Mathematics are well placed to undertake a postgraduate qualification in teaching, and have completed at least 50 of the 60 credits of mathematics required for Teaching Council recognition.
Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 7012 / 700 5291
E: kwokchuen.wong@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC126