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Programme Code & Mode of Study
6729 | Full-time: 4 years
Credit Required for Graduation
240 Credits
Aims & Features
Actuarial Science is a separate discipline with its own area of knowledge requiring multidisciplinary knowledge in probability, statistics, data science, economics, investment, finance, law, taxation and accounting. Based on the evaluation of the financial, economic and business implications of future contingent events, actuarial science proves to be very useful in the business world, including the insurance industry as well as the banking and finance fields.
The HKU Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science (Programme Code: 6729) is the only programme in Hong Kong accredited by the UK’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. It provides formal academic training to students who wish to join the actuarial profession. The programme is designed to provide specialist training in actuarial science and prepare students for the professional examinations towards being qualified as an actuary with internationally-recognised qualifications. Students will learn to tackle different problems in actuarial science and related fields using effective quantitative methods, and become proficient in formulating and communicating practicable business strategies.
In addition, the HKU Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science has introduced the Internship Programme and Career Advising Programme to help students seize career opportunities readily. Students will gain insight into the challenging world and daily activities of an actuary while strengthening their technical, analytical and communication skills. Mentorship, company visits, career fair and other professional preparation activities are organised to further students’ learning beyond classrooms.
Center of Actuarial Excellence
The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, the University of Hong Kong has been designated a Center of Actuarial Excellence (CAE) by the US Society of Actuaries (SOA) since December 2011.
This prestigious designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate excellence in Actuarial Science by meeting strict criteria on curriculum quality, number and quality of graduates, qualified faculty, ties with business, and beneficial research and scholarship.
Over the years, the Department has dedicated itself to world-class standards of research, teaching and learning, and it is now highly regarded as an international centre of research and learning in the field of statistics and actuarial science.
Accreditation
Under an accreditation agreement with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the University of Hong Kong joins the ranks of select institutions worldwide that offer the maximum exemptions (CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, and CB2) approved by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), United Kingdom.
The University of Hong Kong has previously obtained accreditation for IFoA subjects CT1-CT8 from the UK’s only chartered professional body dedicated to educating, developing and regulating actuaries based both in the UK and internationally. With the new accreditation, students who graduate with a BSc(ActuarSc) degree from the University of Hong Kong with the required marks in specified subjects will be exempted from taking various IFoA subjects in the new curriculum, as they begin their journey towards qualifying as an actuary.
SOA - University-Earned Credit (UEC) Program
The University‐Earned Credit (UEC) program of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) allows university students to become eligible for SOA exam credit by attaining a designated UEC mark on university courses at approved Centers of Actuarial Excellence (CAE).
The University of Hong Kong (HKU), as one of the CAE designated by the SOA, obtained the UEC status approved by the SOA in July 2022, as one of the 13 inaugural UEC participants. Students who have taken the approved courses at HKU (not by credit transfer) and received a UEC mark of 60% or above are eligible to apply for the corresponding UEC from the SOA for exam exemption.
The UEC mark of a student taking an approved HKU course refers to Final Exam mark of that course.
Admissions Requirements
6729
Bachelor Sciences in Actuarial Science BSc(ActuarSc)
Programme Name:
Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science
Core Subjects
Chinese Language
English Language
Mathematics (Compulsory Part)
Citizenship and Social Development
Elective Subject(s)
Mathematics Extended Module 1 or 2
Any 1 subject
JUPAS Admission Formula
The scoring formula considers category A subjects only and M1/M2, unless otherwise specified.
1.2 x Eng + 1.2 x Math + 1.2 x M1/M2 + Best 2 Subjects
IB
Lower Boundary
Subject Requirements
GCE A-level / International A-level
Lower Boundary
Subject Requirements
SAT/AP
Lower Boundary
Subject Requirements
Indian Board Exams
Lower Boundary
Subject Requirements
Internship Programmes
There is no better training than obtaining solid hands-on experience in the real workplace. Our Internship Programme serves precisely this purpose. As an intern, the student will gain insight into the challenging world and daily activities of an actuary while strengthening his/her technical, analytical and communication skills.
BSc(ActuarSc) students are eligible to use the Department’s Internship / Job Online-application System, where related internships and other job openings from leading financial institutions, including graduate positions, will be posted.
Duration: usually 6 months or 1 year
Period: July-December, January-June
Requirements: Year 3 or above
Each year, the Department would engage outside organisations to collaborate with us in hosting the Corporate Mentorship Programme (CMP). In 2025-26, there there are 28 organisations taking part. Here are the features of the programme:
- Actuaries or line manager of the companies will act as mentors providing guidance and advice to students on career development and professional examinations etc. Students will be inspired of where and how they should start their career
- It provides students with a chance to meet with practising professionals. The relationship established will enlarge the social network of students and at the same time enable them to attain the insurmountable
- The CMP normally begins with an on-site visit to the company where students will meet their mentors, seeking their consensus on the proposed meeting schedule and agreeing on the various subjects to be discussed at each mentoring session
- A platform for companies to prior offer internship opportunity for student-mentees who show active engagement in the meetings with good attitude and taking initiatives throughout etc
To deepen students’ understanding of the industries in relation to their fields, the School has in place the Professional Development (SAAS-PD) to provide students with opportunities to participate in career-related activities and internships, and help them better seize career opportunities readily. Besides one-to-one career consultation, the SAAS-PD will organise other career-related activities to deepen students’ understanding of the industries. The following is a non-exhaustive list of services and activities provided under the SAAS-PD:
- Tailored consultation on CV and cover letter writing
- One-to-one or group consultation on interview skills
- Mock interview
- Tailored modules of Professional Preparation Programme (PPP)
- Career talks
- Company visits
- Alumni sharing
Career Development
Given Hong Kong’s booming insurance industry and the rapid development of the mainland China market, actuaries enjoy very attractive career prospects. Recent graduates hold positions in major insurance and reinsurance companies, actuarial consulting firms, and investment banks such as AIA, AXA Insurance, BOC Group Life Assurance, HSBC Life, Manulife, Sun Life Financial, Prudential, Willis Towers Watson, General Re, Reinsurance Group of America, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered, Ageas Insurance, Ernst and Young, Mercer, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and many others.
Some of our graduates have also pursued postgraduate studies in world-renowned universities such as Harvard University, Cambridge University, Oxford University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University and Cornell University.
Why Choose HKU Actuarial Science
Admitting top students through the JUPAS scheme each year, the programme is flexibly structured so that those who are more mathematical oriented can find sufficient interesting challenges while those who are more applied can receive a lot of exposures to the business and industry.
The HKU Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science has the best and largest group of researchers in Actuarial Science in Asia, and has been designated as a Center of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries since December 2011. The designation is awarded to schools which demonstrate excellence in actuarial science through meeting strict criteria in quality of curriculum, number and quality of graduates, qualified faculty, strong ties to business, and beneficial research and scholarship.
It has obtained accreditation from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the UK's only chartered professional body dedicated to educating, developing and regulating actuaries based both in the UK and internationally. Students who graduate with a BSc(ActuarSc) degree from HKU with the required marks in specified subjects will be exempted from taking various IFoA subjects as they begin their journey towards qualifying as an actuary.
The programme has also obtained Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) approval from the Casualty Actuarial Society, the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries in North America. The University-Earned Credit (UEC) program of the SOA allows our students to earn credit for SOA exams by reaching a specified score in our courses.
Job opportunities for actuaries are vast and available in a variety of industries. Financial institutions like insurance firms, investment banks, accounting firms, government/regulatory bodies, risk/asset/liability management consulting firms, even universities are hiring our Actuarial Science graduates.
As the first programme of its kind in Hong Kong, it has built a large and active network of alumni in the industry. All major insurance companies and many well-known financial institutions in Hong Kong have our graduates, and many of them hold a senior manager or higher position.
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