Actuarial & Financial Studies Course

If you enjoy studying Higher Level Mathematics for the Leaving Certificate or at A-Level and you have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, Actuarial & Financial Studies could be for you. An actuary is a professional who uses numbers to make judgements about the future. This course will prepare you for a professional career in the actuarial or financial professions, but it has also been designed to be broader and more diverse than most traditional courses in actuarial science.

A good actuary requires a multidisciplinary education in fields including mathematics, economics, finance, statistics, risk management and professionalism. It takes a combination of strong analytical skills, business knowledge and understanding of human behaviour to design and manage programmes that control risk and guarantee sufficient funds for the insurance and pension sectors. Actuaries have traditionally worked mostly in the insurance and pensions industries but are increasingly moving into wider fields, where they can employ their range of skills.

The course also opens up options to work in finance, investment and trading.

Information on all our courses including pathways, internships and career information is available in the UCD Science Undergraduate Courses Entry 2026 Brochure (PDF).

This is a sample set of modules that an Actuarial & Financial Studies student could study each year in UCD.

First Year

Introduction to Programming • Foundations of Finance • Numbers & Functions • Linear Algebra with Applications to Economics • Introduction to Analysis • Introduction Actuarial & Financial Studies • Financial Accounting • Differential Equations • Advanced Calculus • Statistical Modelling Fundamentals of Actuarial Business Theory • Elective Module

Second Year

Corporate Financial Management • Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics • Introduction to Probability •  Data
Programming with R• Modern Regression Analysis • Economic History • Inferential Statistics • Introduction to Bayesian Analysis • Elective Modules

Third Year

Information Management for Actuaries • Time Series Analysis • Survival Models • Stochastic Models • Workplace Skills for Actuarial & Financial Studies • Investment & Trading 

Fourth Year

International Financial Management • Actuarial Statistics • Financial Mathematics • Actuarial Mathematics • Actuarial Risk
Management • Statistical Machine Learning

Assessment varies across modules but typically comprises of written exams, individual and group assignments, and mid-term tests.

Most graduates take positions as actuarial trainees in life insurance, pensions, health insurance, general insurance or investment. The

Actuarial & Financial Studies degree at UCD offers potential exemptions from the core subjects CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2 and CP1 of the professional examinations of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, UK.

Some graduates also work in banking or finance as business or financial analysts. As an Actuarial & Financial Studies graduate, you are also eligible to pursue graduate study in statistics, computer science, economics, mathematics, management science, finance and other specialist business subjects.

Students complete an internship in the Spring Trimester of Third Year. There is a wide choice of placements that last for 6-8 months, and these are secured through a competitive process.

Students have completed their work placement in a variety of companies and locations. The companies include Allianz, Aon, Deloitte, Irish Life, Mercer, Susquehanna (SIG) and Zurich. The locations include Dublin, London, Boston and New York.

The internships listed are examples of past placements and are subject to change each year.

More information about the internship module and application process.

• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route

UCD Science Office

You can contact the UCD Science Office in the following ways:

• Submit your query using our dedicated Contact Form.


• Drop into the office in the UCD O'Brien Centre for Science, Science East, Room E1.09. Our office opening hours are 10am to 4pm (during term time).

I chose this course because I’m passionate about the intersection of maths and community. I have always enjoyed maths from a young age, finding joy in its complexities and challenges. I love the idea of being able to give back to society through my career. Throughout my time at UCD, I enjoyed many extra-curricular activities alongside academics, such as the French Society, Africa Society, and Ladies’ Basketball Club. I completed my internship in London. I worked on the Single Risk Pricing team at Lloyd’s. I got invaluable insight and experience into the intricacies of the insurance industry.

Lateefat, Graduate

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.