Doctoral Program in Actuarial Studies

University of Melbourne

Australia, Melbourne

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University of Melbourne

Australia , Melbourne

Key Facts

Program Level

Professional Doctorate

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

056955G

Application Fee

AUD 154

Campuses

Parkville

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJuly-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

AUD 56,992 / year

Next Intake July-2026

Doctoral Program in Actuarial Studies

About

Overview

Located within the Department of Economics, the world-renowned Centre for Actuarial Studies is one of the seven teaching units that are fully accredited by the Actuaries Institute with leading researchers in actuarial studies and financial mathematics. It has been designated a Centre of Actuarial Excellence (CAE) by the US Society of Actuaries (SOA).

Generous scholarships are available for high achieving applicants, including full fee waivers and a stipend of AUD 38,500 per year (2025 RTP rate).

Research conference travel funding of AUD$15,000 is available to all confirmed PhD candidates.

Register for an Information Session

The Doctoral Program in Actuarial Studies has consistently drawn top-tier graduates in actuarial science. Our esteemed PhD graduates have secured influential positions in both academia and the industry.
Associate Professor Xueyuan (Shane) Wu, Actuarial Studies Graduate Research Director

The Centre for Actuarial Studies holds a Joint Seminar Series on Stochastic Processes and Financial Mathematics, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne's School of Mathematics and Statistics.

Graduate Research candidates form an integral part of the Centre and are strongly encouraged to participate in its research and teaching activities. The working environment for graduate research students is first class, with excellent library and computing facilities.

Research students are usually allocated office space close to their supervisor. View our PhD graduates placements.

For more information including a list of academic staff in the Centre, please visit the Centre for Actuarial Studies website.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum eligibility

You’re considered an international student based on your citizenship – even if you're studying in Australia.

Masters

You must have completed an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution. Most Masters degrees also require a minimum WAM (Weighted Average Mark)based on your previous studies for entry. You can use our graduate coursework grade conversion eligibility calculator to get an indication of whether you’re eligible for a specific Masters degree.

Depending on your previous studies and experience you could also be eligible for credit towards your studies at the University.

Find Masters by coursework degrees

Doctorates

If you go on to a doctorate, you need to have completed an Honours and Masters degree in the relevant discipline. Additional qualifications and work experience is also taken into consideration.

Go to Graduate research study for more information

To find out about assessment and our admissions criteria, see How you're selected.

Course-specific requirements

Graduate coursework degrees may have specific interviews, portfolios and supplementary tests you need to do before you can be accepted into a degree.

To find out about specific requirements, review the entry and application information for the course you're interested in to find out what these are.

English Program Requirements

English Language Criteria

Applicants are required to satisfy the University's English language requirements for graduate courses.

Applicants from countries where English is not the official language or the language of institutional instruction and assessment must provide evidence of English language proficiency.

Minimum scores and tests accepted

IELTS (academic English only): Overall 7.0 with 7.0 in writing and no band less than 6.0
TOEFL (internet-based): 94, with writing 27, speaking 18, reading 13, listening 13
Pearson Test of English (Academic): 72+ with written communicative skill of 75 and no other communicative skill below 60
Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 185+ with no less than 185 in Writing and 169 in each other skill

Applicants may be provisionally offered a place in the program on the condition they attain the required minimum English proficiency level before commencing the program.

Career

The Melbourne Business School Doctoral program prepares graduates for research and teaching careers at top-ranked educational institutions and for careers where world-class research and advanced analytical skills are necessary.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD, the graduate researcher will be able to:

demonstrate command of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the forefront of a discipline
independently and systematically engage in critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation
independently and systematically develop, adapt and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing knowledge
independently and systematically generate original knowledge and understanding such that they can make a substantial contribution to a discipline
disseminate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context
demonstrate autonomy, authoritative judgement and responsibility as an expert and scholar
demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics and integrity.

Graduate attributes

For graduate attributes, refer to the Graduate Research Hub.

Success stories

Xiang Cheng

Quantitative Analyst
UBS Investment Bank, London

"I was surrounded by friendly and highly motivated colleagues alongside a beautiful campus with excellent facilities. My supervisors highlighted my PhD experience by supporting every aspect of my research and personal life. They were willing to understand my thoughts and help me achieve my long-term career goals by providing guidance balancing industrial practicalities and frontier research directions. With two meetings scheduled every week, we had more timely discussions on research projects and solved encountered difficulties in a more time-efficient way."

Navin Ranasinghe

Quantitative Analyst
UBS Investment Bank, London

"I think that completing a course work component ensures that you have the underlying skills necessary to understand, and contribute to, your chosen field. At the start of any PhD, it is important to build up a deep understanding of the relevant methods and results, and having a more structured approach can certainly help. Course work gives a greater breadth of knowledge, which is useful throughout a future career in academia or industry."

Dan Zhu

Lecturer of Actuarial Studies
Monash University

"I studied a PhD in the field of Financial Mathematics and Actuarial Studies within the department of Economics. During the graduate program, I had the opportunity to explore across interesting disciplines offered by a group of world-class researchers. As a graduate student, my supervisors made me feel that I am actually an important part of the team and the work I do matters! One of my most memorable moments was the acceptance of my paper by an A* Journal, which gave me the confidence needed in the final year of my PhD for seeking a career as an academic."