Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Science

Actuaries will always be in demand to plan for the future. They predict and analyse financial risks and solve business problems in many industries, and can contribute to policy work on climate change, future health and retirement provision, and natural disaster planning.

Actuaries make recommendations and decisions that have an impact on people’s lives. You could work on investment programmes in the private or public sectors, design life insurance products, manage pension schemes, or advise government on retirement, education, and health planning.

During your studies, you will hone your professional skills and develop practical competence in problem-solving, negotiating, and influencing.

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this programme you'll need:

An appropriate Bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science, Finance, Statistics, or a related field, with the equivalent of at least a B+ average standard in the relevant subject. This may be waived by the associate dean (students) of the Wellington School of Business and Government for a candidate who has extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.

To be accepted by the programme director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study

IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0

TOEFL: minimum score of 90 for the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing

Pearson Test of English: minimum score of 58 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 50)

Victoria University of Wellington English for Academic Purpose (EAP) programme: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5

Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169

New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL): Level 5 (Academic)

NZAPA: English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)