Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co-op)

For Domestic Students only

Make a professional impact helping businesses, governments, not-for-profit organisations and individuals to make critical decisions for the future. Gain financial support, personal mentoring, and up to 18 months of industry experience with a Co-op scholarship.

Faculty

UNSW Business School

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Award

Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co op)

Commencing Terms

Term 1

Duration (Full Time)

4 Year(s)

Overview

By measuring and managing risk, actuaries help businesses, governments, not-for-profit organisations and individuals make critical decisions for the future.

The Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co-op) at UNSW is accredited by the Actuaries Institute. It emphasises real-world experience from the outset, and gives you the opportunity to choose a specialisation, developing an area of expertise for your career. You’ll gain a specialist quantitative skill set in actuarial models, financial mathematics, probability and statistics.

UNSW's Co-op Program offers unique opportunities through financial support, personal mentoring, leadership training and up to three work placements with our global industry partners.

Key features

Financial assistance
The Co-op Program provides a scholarship of $19,600 per year for four years (and it’s tax-free).

Work experience included
Complete up to three internships, a total of 18 months industry training. You’ll trial working at our Co-op Program sponsor organisations, which include leading global organisations like EY, KPMG and PwC.

Personal career mentoring
For your first work placement, you’ll be assigned a Co-op Program graduate to guide you and help your decision-making.

Leadership training
Build professional development and leadership skills through challenging, practical and social camps and interactive workshops.

Optional second major
You can choose to build knowledge in a second business subject, which will support and complement your actuarial knowledge while broadening your career opportunities.

Learn from industry leaders
Our courses are taught by world-leading academic staff and industry practitioners to ensure a balanced development of skills.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

UNSW Business School is ranked the #1 business school in Australia by AFR BOSS*. That means our business education leads the way in career impact, quality and reputation.

We’re currently ranked #1 worldwide in risk management, insurance, and actuarial research with strengths in population ageing, risk and capital.^**

Alongside a rigorous education, you'll grow professionally and socially through the UNSW Co-op Program’s scholarship, work placements with leading global organisations, personal mentoring and leadership training.

^{*AFR BOSS 2022 Best Business School Rankings}

^{**2021 UNL Global Research Rankings of Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance.}

Program Code

3587

Campus

Kensington

UAC Code

424620

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

192

Indicative Enrolments

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Entry requirements

The Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co-op) features sponsored professional development and has limited places available. In addition to meeting the required ATAR (or equivalent), you’ll need to respond to a questionnaire and sit for an interview with UNSW Co-op Program.

ATAR equivalent ranks are derived from the following:

Australian interstate Year 12 qualifications (e.g., OP rank)
New Zealand NCEA Level 3
Equivalent overseas qualifications e.g., International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, GCE A-Levels

You can apply after a gap year (max. 2 gap years) however please note that if you commence a university degree or undertake any university study towards a degree during their gap year you'll become ineligible for a Co-op Scholarship. Some exemptions apply, e.g. accelerated high school subjects.

2022 Lowest Selection Rank

98 + Co-op

2022 A levels

21 + Co-op

2022 IB Diploma

41 + Co-op

2022 Lowest ATAR

98.15

The 2022 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2022.

The 2022 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subject. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.

The 2022 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2022. It is to be used as a guide only.

The 2022 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.

To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.

We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.

See more

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics Extension 1

Adjustment Factors

We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.

HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.

Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.

Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.

Admission pathways

Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.

Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.

Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

International direct entry

I studied in:

We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.

Please contact us for direct entry requirements.

Admission pathways

The pathways to study at UNSW Business School include UNSW Foundation studies and our Diploma of Business, which offers a direct pathway to the second year of UNSW’s Bachelor of Commerce. Visit UNSW Global for more information.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Select from the options below

Which applies to you?

Program structure

The Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co-op) is a four year program consisting of 26 courses and three industry placements (worth 192 Units of Credit/UOC) and personal career mentoring.

The program includes:

Actuarial core courses
An optional second major and/or elective courses
General education courses

Professional development courses and experiences:

Industry training – you’ll complete three work placements with our Co-op Program sponsor organisations.
Personal career mentoring – for your first work placement, you’ll be assigned a Co-op Program graduate to guide you and help your decision-making.
Leadership training – build professional development and leadership skills through challenging, practical and social camps and interactive workshops.
Global work/study opportunities - you can participate in an international student exchange, international business case competitions and study tours.

Study areas

Actuarial Studies

Actuarial Risk Management & Analytics

Behavioural Economics

Business Analytics

Business Economics

Finance

Quantitative Data Science

Full program structure

Some courses need to be studied in your first and second year, so you’re prepared for courses that can only be studied in later years. Your study options are full-time or part-time. Each university year has three terms and an optional summer study period. Depending on how you plan your study load, you can fit two or three courses into a term and one course in a summer term.

Below is an example of what you could study in four years full-time.

First year

6 Level 1 core courses
2 General education courses

Second Year

2 Level 1 core courses
3 Level 2 core courses
Industry Placement 1 with personal mentoring

Third Year

Industry Placement 2
3 Level 3 core courses
4 Elective or optional second major courses

Fourth Year

Industry Placement 3
2 Level 3 core courses
4 Elective or optional second major courses

For a three-year, non-scholarship degree, visit the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies.

Go to the handbook

Future careers

Actuaries have diverse career prospects. You'll graduate with skills, experience and expertise that will put you in high-demand with a range of employers, including life and general insurance companies, banks, fund managers, actuarial and management consulting firms.

Your exclusive access to internships with industry-leading Co-op Program sponsor organisations, offers the opportunity to kick-start your career as you study.

Potential careers

Actuarial Analyst
Asset Management Trainee
Business Consultant
Credit Analyst
Data Analyst
Insurance Analyst
Investment Banker
Risk Assessment Officer
Superannuation Adviser
Wealth Management Analyst

Honours

Take your Actuarial Studies knowledge to the next level with an additional one-year Honours degree, where you'll gain advanced knowledge and research skills in your chosen area of business. You'll have the opportunity to be mentored by top-tier researchers and work on industry relevant projects while undertaking a significant research thesis. Graduate with advanced knowledge, analytical, problem-solving and research skills that are highly sought after in business and government. Learn more about Actuarial Studies Honours.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and relevant courses are approved for VEE by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) in the USA.

Double degrees

It's unusual to study a double degree while participating in the Co-op Program, but not impossible. Discuss your options with a member of the Co-op team if you can:

demonstrate strong academic achievement,
fulfil all Co-op requirements, and
get approval from your sponsors.

(Please note, the Bachelor of Laws is already a double degree program and cannot be added as a second degree to the Co-op study plan.)

How to apply

Domestic students are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens. If this is you, apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) as normal and also directly with the UNSW Co-op Program.

Co-op Program application
Your application to the UNSW Co-op Program will include a questionnaire and interview. Make sure you apply with the UNSW Co-op Program by 30 September the year before you want to start university. If successful, you’ll be awarded a Co-op scholarship, making you eligible for the degree.

UAC application
Visit the Apply section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.

On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January.

Visit the UAC website for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

This scholarship program is only available to domestic students, who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$15,140*

Commonwealth Supported Place multiple Student Contribution Bands may apply for this double degree. See single degrees for the applicable fee bands.*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee

$45,755*

2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$191,520*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

2021 Indicative First Year Fee

$45,755*

2021 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$191,520*

Scholarships

The Co-op Program is a scholarship that is open to high achieving high school leavers. The scholarship is A$19,600 each year for four years. The scholarship is tax-free and paid fortnightly over the duration of the program. You may still be eligible to apply for additional scholarships.