The B.Com (Honours) program in Actuarial Studies allows students who have achieved above average grades in their B.Com degree to complete an additional year during which they

Completing the B.Com (Honours) will allow students to specialise their knowledge of an area of Actuarial Studies through research.

This will allow students who achieve high grades in the Honours program to meet the requirements to enrol in a PhD research degree.

PLUS one other course from the Options list below:

Options

Rule 4

4 For the Honours degree, a student must complete a further 48 units in an approved disciplinary stream.

4.1 Honours may be taken in one disciplinary stream only

4.2 The additional units, comprising specified courses from the relevant disciplinary stream and a thesis, must be completed in two sessions following the completion of the Pass degree component.

4.3 Honours degree will not be awarded if academic performance is below the prescribed level.

4.4 Except when recommended to the contrary by the relevant Head of School, a student intending to enter the Honours year must:

4.4.1 satisfy the Pass degree requirements and obtain a minimum average of 70% in Level 2 and Level 3 courses of the relevant disciplinary stream in the Pass degree component,

4.4.2 pass all courses in the Pass degree component at first attempt.

4.5 Except with the special permission of the program authority on the recommendation of the relevant Heads of School, a person on whom the Pass degree of Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent has been conferred shall not be admitted to candidature for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Commerce.

Students applying for the Actuarial Honours Program must have obtained a minimum average of 71% in their year 2 and 3 courses in the Actuarial major.

Students who are interested in the Honours program in Actuarial Studies should contact the Actuarial Studies Office before Session 2 of their final year of the B.Com to discuss their program:

Actuarial Studies Office
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building, Rm G31
Faculty of Business
The University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
Australia
Tel: +61 2 9385 1886

For further information contact

Honours Coordinator for Actuarial Studies
Dr Changki Kim
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building, Rm G29B
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2647
E-mail: c.kim@unsw.edu.au

The profession of Actuary is one of the oldest in the financial world. It is highly regarded and requires the completion of, or exemption from, professional examinations. Fellows of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia, the Institute of Actuaries or Faculty of Actuaries (UK), or the Society of Actuaries (North America) can practise as actuaries in Australia.

Students intending to enter the actuarial profession should normally have completed 4-unit mathematics or obtained a high mark in 3-unit mathematics and should be aiming to obtain at least an average 70% mark in their University studies. Experience has shown that the higher your UAI or equivalent, the better your chances of success in meeting the standard for exemption from the professional actuarial examinations (95 and above is often recommended).

To qualify as an actuary in Australia requires the completion of, or exemption from, subjects in the professional syllabus of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Qualification as a Fellow of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA) requires the completion of subjects in Parts I, II and III of the professional examinations.

Qualification as an Associate of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia (AIAA) is attained on completion of the subjects in Parts I and II.

The following courses at UNSW correspond to the Part I and Part II subjects of the IAAust professional examinations: