About

Overview Actuarial and Financial Mathematics degree from University of Pretoria is structured to provide the aspiring actuary with the opportunity to comply with the requirements for exemption from the ASSA examinations in the shortest possible time. In order to achieve the maximum exemptions, a follow-up honours degree is recommended. Students who elect not to complete the follow-up course will be well equipped to enter the financial services industry or apply for a host of other postgraduate degree options. For aspiring financial analysts or engineers, the programme provides depth and develops the student’s ability to design and analyse financial products. The analytical techniques that are essential for modelling the stochastic behaviour of financial processes and analysing the resulting effects on investment portfolios are studied.Career OpportunitiesActuarial and financial mathematics is a popular field, with career opportunities in the business market and at investment institutions like banks and insurance companies. The skills of mathematicians are essential in portfolio management and the modelling of financial risk. This programme prepares students for professional careers as actuaries or financial engineers. For actuaries or actuarial technicians, activities include long-term capital projects, designing the benefits of medical schemes, the management of pension funds, the determination of contributions and financial management on a sound long-term basis, the evaluation of investments in shares, property and other transactions, and the determination of the premiums and reserves for outstanding claims of insurers. Financial engineers can be employed by banks and financial institutions, brokerage firms and investment institutions. The mathematical skills of financial engineers are essential in portfolio and risk management. Activities include asset management (trading in bonds, futures and derivative instruments such as options), designing new financial products, and devising strategies to control credit risk.

Students who are enrolled for a Actuarial and Financial Mathematics degree from University of Pretoria can choose between an actuarial or a financial mathematics option for their coursework.

Disciplines

MathematicsActuarial ScienceFinancial Mathematics

Requirements

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6

Other Requirements

1Applicants from countries other than South Africa must meet various admission requirements of which the most important ones are: the academic admission requirements and the equivalent certificate called the Exemption Certificate issued by the organisation: Universities South Africa (USAf). School Qualification Certificate from the country of originSubjects passed on an exit-levelCertificate of Complete Exemption or Foreign Conditional Exemption obtainable from Universities South Africa (USAf) National Benchmark Test (NBT), if requested by the relevant faculty and/or South African Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) results, if requested by the relevant faculty

Actuarial and Financial Mathematics