Program Requirements

The Master of Actuarial Practice requires the completion of 120 units, which must include:

72 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ACST8032 Actuarial Data Analysis

ACST8040 Actuarial Control Cycle 1

ACST8041 Actuarial Control Cycle 2

STAT6013 Principles of Mathematical Statistics for Actuarial Studies

STAT6014 Regression Modelling for Actuarial Studies

STAT6043 Life Contingencies

STAT6045 Actuarial Techniques

STAT6046 Financial Mathematics

STAT7004 Introduction to Stochastic Processes

STAT7042 Survival Models

STAT8057 Risk Modelling 1

STAT8058 Risk Modelling 2

48 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ACST8045 Advanced Insurance

ACST8047 Advanced Life Insurance

ACST8048 Advanced General Insurance

ACST8049 Advanced Global Retirement Income Systems

ACST8050 Research Essay in Actuarial Studies

ACST8060 Enterprise Risk Management 1

ACST8061 Enterprise Risk Management 2

BUSN7008 Financial Statements and Reporting

ECON8069 Business Economics

FINM7003 Continuous Time Finance

FINM7006 Applied Foundations of Finance

FINM7007 Applied Corporate Finance

FINM7008 Applied Investments

FINM7041 Applied Derivatives

FINM8006 Advanced Investments

Students must achieve a minimum 60% weighted average mark in the first 48 units of courses attempted in order to remain enrolled in the Master of Actuarial Practice.

If the total number of units attempted exceeds 48 in the same teaching period in which the 48th unit is attempted, exactly 48 units will be used in the calculation of the weighted average mark with units from the course with the highest mark applied first followed by further units from courses in descending order of marks.

Students who do not achieve a minimum of 60% weighted average mark in the first 48 units will be transferred to the Graduate Diploma of Business.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry. 

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0, with at least one course in the field of mathematics that must cover calculus and linear algebra.

Or an ANU Graduate Certificate of Finance and Actuarial Statistics (Actuarial Statistics or Actuarial Studies specialisation) with a minimum GPA of 4.5/7.0, with at least one course in the field of mathematics from university studies that must cover calculus and linear algebra.

Students must achieve a minimum 60% weighted average mark in the first 48 units of courses attempted in order to remain enrolled in the Master of Actuarial Practice. Students who do not achieve a minimum of 60% weighted average mark in the first 48 units will be transferred to the Graduate Diploma in Business. If the total number of units attempted exceeds 48 in the same teaching period in which the 48th unit is attempted, exactly 48 units will be used in the calculation of the weighted average mark with units from the course with the highest mark applied first followed by further units from courses in descending order of marks.

Cognate Disciplines

Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Statistics, Actuarial Studies, Maths, Business Information Systems, Management, Marketing, International Business, Engineering, Physics, Science

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors. 

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0 or 4.5/7.0 as applicable. 

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. 

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of: 

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency. 

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Diversity factors

As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.

Assessment of qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.

 Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

Cognate Disciplines

Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Statistics, Actuarial Studies, Maths, Business Information Systems, Management, Marketing, International Business, Engineering, Physics, Science

Pathways

Graduates of the Master of Actuarial Practice from ANU may progress to an Australian Qualifications Framework level 10 qualification (Doctoral Degree) subject to specific admission requirements.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate key concepts in actuarial studies and related fields, including:

   a. Utilise concepts in financial mathematics, including the time value of money, annuities, bond and loan calculations
   b. Apply mathematical statistics, regression modelling and other statistical techniques to actuarial problems
   c. Describe and apply stochastic processes, survival models and their application in actuarial contexts
   d. Model and value cash flows dependent on death, survival, illness, retirement, and other contingencies
   e. Apply risk modelling techniques across a variety of financial situations

2. Apply these key concepts in advanced contexts by integrating technical concepts and business awareness

3. Analyse and interpret specific business situations so that the correct actuarial techniques can be applied.

4. Utilise critical thinking to solve specific actuarial problems and communicate their results to a relevant audience.

5. Apply actuarial research planning and methodology.

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is currently not available for this program

Further Information

Accreditation

The Master of Actuarial Practice enables students to undertake a sequence of accredited courses that satisfy certain educational requirements of the Actuaries Institute. For more information on accreditation visit the ANU Actuaries Institute exemption policy page.

Admission

Entry is available in both Semester 1 and 2. If applicants do not have sufficient maths background, they can consider completing MATH1113 in Semester 2 as Non-Award enrolment or in the Graduate Certificate of Finance and Actuarial Statistics.

Credit application

If applicants seek status/exemption, please go to the CBE web page here. Please note that only translated course outlines with the university seal or by a NAATI translator (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) can be accepted.

Research component

Students in the Master of Actuarial Practice program have the option of applying to undertake a Actuarial Practice Masters thesis as a possible pathway to PhD study. Details regarding the Masters thesis are below:·             Length: 24 units, to be completed in the final year of the Master of Actuarial Practice

·             Eligibility: To be eligible to apply, students must have achieved a GPA of at least 6.5 across prior coursework within the Master of Actuarial Practice. Eligibility will also depend on the compulsory courses that students are required to still complete as part of their Masters degree, and specifically whether students have sufficient space in their program.

·             How to apply: Students’ must write a case as to why they want to engage in the course and must have already secured a supervisor

·             Courses the thesis replaces: The courses that the thesis replaces will be determined in consultation with the Actuarial Practice Masters convenor and will depend on the background of each student. 

 Students who are accepted into the Masters thesis component should contact Robert Clark (Robert.Clark@anu.edu.au)to confirm their study plan for the program. Please note that undertaking a Masters thesis does not guarantee entry to a PhD.