Pursue Undergraduate Program in

Actuarial Science

Actuarial Science is the area of mathematics that applies quantitative methods to assess risks in the insurance and finance industries. It became a formal discipline in the late 17th century, when the increased demand for such long-term insurance coverages as life insurances, annuities, and burials expense coverages emerged. Since then and for a long time, actuaries have been interested in studying the present monetary value of future obligations as well as the variability of these present values in the contexts of life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, pension funds and social wealth-fare programs. Today actuaries are also being employed in the areas of enterprise risk management, and even in general finance and investment.

An actuary is a professional concerned with: the design and administration of insurance policies, pension plans, government welfare plans and similar programs. The main responsibility of actuaries is to ensure that these programs operate on a sound financial basis. To do this, they use many areas of mathematics and statistics, as well as general principles of economics and finance.

In North America, the standard way to become an actuary is to pass the examinations administered by either the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society.


You can get a Bachelor of Arts Honours (BA Hons) or Bachelor of Arts Specialized Honours (BA Spec. Hons) degree in Actuarial Science. A Certificate in Actuarial Science is also possible.

We encourage you to explore our program to learn more about our academic programs, courses, students, professors, cutting-edge research, activities, and more.

You can also explore related programs in:


Program Details


Offered By

Faculty of Science

Degrees Offered

BA

Fall Entry

Yes (first and upper year)

Winter Entry

Yes (first and upper year)

Summer Entry

Yes (first and upper year)

Ways to Study

Full-Time, Part-Time

Sample Schedule (First-year)

  • Principles of Risk Management
  • Micro and Macro Economics
  • Calculus and Linear Algebra
  • Problems, Conjectures and Proofs
  • Writing: Methods and Models
  • General Education Course(s)
  • Elective

Possible Career Paths

  • actuary
  • quantitative risk analyst
  • financial business analyst
  • risk modelling analyst
  • data analyst
  • data scientist
Explore what you can do with your degree
Faculty of Science

BA

Requirements for admission:
  • Alberta High School Diploma
  • ELA30-1 or English 30
  • Pure Math 30 or Math 30-2 or Math 30-1
  • And three additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31 - recommendation(s) below:
    • Math 31
    To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
    Faculty of Science

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • British Columbia Secondary School Graduation Diploma
  • English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
  • Principles of Math 12 or Foundational Math 12 or Pre-calculus 12
  • And three additional Grade 12 Academic subjects - recommendation(s) below:
    • Calculus 12
    To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
    Faculty of Science

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Baccalauréat Général
  • Première Spécialité mathématiques
      • A maximum of 30 possible transferable credits may be granted for successful completion of the Baccalauréat Général. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
      Faculty of Science

      BA

      Requirements for admission:
    • Successful completion of the final year of senior studies
      • Minimum overall result of “Bien/Buena/Bueno/Good” on all academic courses.
      • Some programs require a higher GPA.
    • Senior-level math
      • Faculty of Science

        BA

        Requirements for admission:
      • Diploma with a total of at least six units, including prerequisites, and grades of 1, 2 or 3 in each unit.
        • A minimum overall average of 3 out of 7 is required. Higher grades required for certain programs.
      • 2-unit math
          • CAPE 2-unit courses, with results of 3 or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
          Faculty of Science

          BA

          Requirements for admission:
        • One year of CEGEP
        • 2 semesters of English (code 603) / Français (code 601)
        • Linear Algebra 1
        • And nine additional academic courses (high-school equivalent courses not accepted) - recommendation(s) below:
          • Calculus 1
          • Extra courses will be assessed for transfer credit. Applicants with the DEC may be awarded up to one full year of transfer credit.
          To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
          Faculty of Science

          BA

          Requirements for admission:
        • Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate
        • Grade 12 math
          • Faculty of Science

            BA

            Requirements for admission:
          • Lise Diplomasi
          • Senior-level math
            • Faculty of Science

              BA

              Requirements for admission:
            • General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations
            • A-level math
                • GCE A2 examinations with results of "C" or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                To gain admission to this program, minimum average of C is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of C.
                The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                Faculty of Science

                BA

                Requirements for admission:
              • Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
              • Twelfth Year math
                • Faculty of Science

                  BA

                  Requirements for admission:
                • International Baccalaureate Diploma
                  • IB Diploma with passes in six subjects: three passes at the Standard-level and three passes at the Higher-level, or two passes at the Standard-level and four passes at the Higher-level
                • One of the following math subjects
                  • Analysis and Approaches higher-level
                  • Analysis and Approaches standard-level
                  • Applications and Interpretations higher-level
                    • Transfer credit is granted for IB courses with Higher-level final grades of 5 or better, to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                    To gain admission to this program, minimum IB diploma point scores of 28 is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum IB diploma point scores of 28.
                    The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                    Faculty of Science

                    BA

                    Requirements for admission:
                  • Completion of one of the following:
                    • All-India Senior School Certificate (AISSCE)
                    • Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
                    • Indian School Certificate (ISC)
                    • Intermediate Examination Certificate
                    • Pre-University Examination Certificate
                  • Grade XII math
                    • Faculty of Science

                      BA

                      Requirements for admission:
                    • Manitoba High School Diploma
                    • English 40S
                    • Pre-Calculus Math 40S
                    • And three additional 40S level academic subjects (no more than one at the 40G level)
                      • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • New Brunswick High School Graduation Diploma
                      • English 120, 121 or 122
                      • Math 121 or 122 or Pre-Calc 12B
                      • And four additional Grade 12 academic subjects (college preparatory 120, 121 or 122) - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Advanced Math with Intro Calculus 120 or Pre-Calc 12B
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Newfoundland and Labrador High School Graduation Diploma
                      • English 3201
                      • Math 3204 or 3205 or 3200
                      • And seven additional credits at the 3000 level - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Math 3207 or Calculus 3208
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma
                      • English 12
                      • Pre-calculus 12
                      • And three additional Grade 12 academic subjects (university preparatory academic or advanced) - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Calculus 12
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Nunavut High School Graduation Diploma
                      • ELA30-1 or English 30
                      • Pure Math 30 or Math 30-2 or Math 30-1
                      • And three additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31 - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Math 31
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Northwest Territories High School Graduation Diploma
                      • ELA30-1 or English 30
                      • Pure Math 30 or Math 30-2 or Math 30-1
                      • And three additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31 - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Math 31
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
                      • ENG4U
                      • MHF4U
                      • And four additional 4U or M courses - recommendation(s) below:
                        • MCV4U
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        OUAC code YPD
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Completion of a diploma program or at least two full semesters or one year of full-time academic study at an accredited college
                      • Overall average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                      • MHF4U*
                      • MCV4U (recommended)
                      • * Requirement (or equivalent) must have been satisfied within the previous five years
                      • * Or equivalent
                      • Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        To be considered a mature student, you must:
                      • be at least 20 years old by the end of the calendar year of admission to the University;
                      • have been out of full-time high school studies for at least two years; and
                      • have attempted less than one full year of studies at an accredited college or university.
                      • Requirements for admission:
                      • MHF4U*
                      • MCV4U (recommended)
                      • * Requirement (or equivalent) must have been satisfied within the previous five years
                      • * Or equivalent
                      • Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Completion of at least four full-year courses or one year of full-time degree studies at an accredited university
                      • Overall average of 2.3 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                      • MHF4U*
                      • MCV4U (recommended)
                      • * Requirement (or equivalent) must have been satisfied within the previous five years
                      • * Or equivalent
                      • Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Prince Edward Island Senior Secondary School Diploma
                      • English 621
                      • Math 621A or 621B
                      • And three additional Grade 12 academic subjects (numbered 611 or 621) - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Math 611B
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Quebec Grade 12 Certificate of Graduation
                      • Grade 12 English
                      • Grade 12 Linear Algebra
                      • And four additional academic (university preparation level) subjects - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Grade 12 Calculus
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • Transcript of Secondary Level Achievement
                      • English A30 and English B30
                      • Math B30 and C30 or Pre-calculus 30
                      • And two additional Grade 12 academic subjects numbered 30 - recommendation(s) below:
                        • Calculus 30
                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.
                        Faculty of Science

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • General Secondary Education Certificate
                      • Senior-level math
                        • Faculty of Science

                          BA

                          Requirements for admission:
                        • High School Diploma
                        • Senior-level algebra
                        • The following course(s) are also recommended:
                          • Senior-level calculus
                          • AP College Board examinations are eligible for transfer credit, for results of 4 or 5, up to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                          Faculty of Science

                          BA

                          Requirements for admission:
                        • West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or National Examinations Council (NECO)
                        • Senior-level math
                          • Faculty of Science

                            BA

                            Requirements for admission:
                          • Yukon High School Diploma
                          • English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
                          • Principles of Math 12 or Foundational Math 12 or Pre-calculus 12
                          • And two additional Grade 12 Academic subjects - recommendation(s) below:
                            • Calculus 12
                            To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the high 70s to mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 73.