Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Economics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Economics at UNSW is built for students who enjoy working with numbers, patterns and real-world economic problems, and who want a degree that leads directly to high-impact careers. You’ll develop strong quantitative skills while learning how markets, policy and financial systems actually work — and how to use data to make confident, informed decisions.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year lays the foundations in mathematics, economics and actuarial thinking. You’ll build core analytical skills through subjects like MATH1151 Mathematics 1A, ACTL1101 Actuarial Studies and ECON1101 Microeconomics 1, learning how mathematical tools and economic ideas explain risk, choice and behaviour in the real world. This year is about discovering how numbers connect to people, markets and uncertainty.

Year 2
In second year, the program becomes more applied and intellectually demanding. Courses such as ACTL2131 Probability and Mathematical Statistics, ECON2101 Microeconomics 2 and ACTL2111 Financial Mathematics deepen your ability to model risk, value future outcomes and understand decision-making under uncertainty. You’ll start to see how actuarial models and economic theory work together in finance, insurance and policy contexts.

Year 3
Your final year is where everything comes together in advanced, real-world problem solving. Subjects like ACTL3142 Life Contingencies, ACTL3162 Risk Theory and ECON3203 Macroeconomic Theory challenge you to think strategically about long-term risk, economic cycles and financial stability. By the end of the degree, you’re working at a professional level — analysing complex scenarios with confidence and clarity.

Focus Areas
Actuarial risk modelling, economics and policy analysis, financial mathematics, probability and statistics, data-driven decision making

Learning Outcomes
Quantitative problem solving, economic reasoning, statistical analysis, risk assessment, clear communication of complex ideas

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
This degree is carefully structured to align with professional actuarial standards, giving you the academic grounding required for actuarial accreditation pathways. It’s designed so that what you study at university directly supports your progress toward professional recognition.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)
UNSW Business School is consistently recognised in global rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education for business, economics and employability. Employers know UNSW graduates for their strong analytical thinking, practical skills and readiness to contribute from day one — especially in finance, insurance, consulting and government.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This UNSW double degree is built to help you do something with what you learn — not just remember it for exams. As you study actuarial science and economics, you’re constantly encouraged to link theory to the real issues shaping businesses, governments and financial institutions today. That means you’re developing confidence, practical judgement and problem-solving skills alongside strong academic foundations, so you’re not left wondering how it all applies once you graduate.

What really brings this learning to life is the way experience is woven into the degree itself. Through Career Accelerator opportunities, you can take part in internships, practicums and mentoring while you study, giving you hands-on exposure to professional environments and expectations. You’ll also complete professional development courses and activities designed to help you translate classroom knowledge into real-world decisions and workplace skills employers actually look for.

On top of that, UNSW’s strong global alumni and industry connections open the door to conversations with professionals who’ve been where you’re heading. Learning from their experiences, advice and insights helps you see where your degree can take you — and step into your first role with clarity, confidence and real-world readiness.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Bachelor of Economics at UNSW don’t walk away with just theory — they leave with a powerful mix of quantitative skills and real economic insight that employers genuinely value. That blend opens doors across finance, consulting, insurance, government and beyond. Many graduates step straight into roles like Actuarial Analyst, Economic or Financial Forecaster, Data or Business Analyst, or Risk Assessment Officer — and just as importantly, they’re not locked into one path. The degree gives you flexibility as your interests grow and change.

Career support that actually helps
As a UNSW Business School student, career development isn’t an afterthought. Through Career Accelerator initiatives, you’ll have access to professional development courses, industry-focused projects and work experience opportunities built into your degree. These are designed to help you translate what you learn in class into skills employers recognise.

Real industry experience while you study
UNSW places strong emphasis on learning through experience. With Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities and Co-op-style internships, you can work with industry partners before you graduate. It’s a practical way to build confidence, test career interests and graduate with experience already on your CV.

Strong professional recognition
This program is accredited by leading professional bodies such as the Actuaries Institute and the Society of Actuaries. That recognition matters — it means your studies can count towards professional actuarial exams, giving you a genuine head start if you plan to qualify as an actuary.

A connected student community
Outside the classroom, student societies like the Actuarial Society of UNSW and the Economics Society play a big role in shaping the student experience. Through networking events, mentoring programs and employer-led sessions, you’ll have regular opportunities to meet professionals and connect with organisations actively looking for graduates.

Outcomes you can feel confident about
While salaries and roles vary, actuarial and economics skills remain in demand across finance, insurance, consulting and public policy. Combined with UNSW’s strong reputation in business and risk studies, this degree helps you stand out in competitive graduate markets.

Options to keep going academically
If you enjoy the analytical or research side of your studies, this double degree sets you up well for further study. Many students continue into Honours in Actuarial Studies or Economics at UNSW, sharpening their technical skills and opening pathways into research, consulting or higher-degree study. Others choose postgraduate programs in areas like financial risk management, data science, economics or business analytics to specialise further and deepen their expertise.

In short, this degree doesn’t just prepare you for your first job — it gives you the skills, support and flexibility to build a career that can evolve with you.