Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours)

Join Australia’s #1 Business School

International

You have reached the maximum of 6 degrees.

Take your impact even further with this one-year honours program, suited for students who have recently completed the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies degree. Leverage UNSW Business School’s top academics and researchers to complete a research thesis to further advance your analytical, problem-solving and research skills.

Commencing Terms: Term 1 & 3
Duration: 1 Year(s)
Delivery Mode: Face-to-face (includes blended)
Campus: Kensington
Codes: Program code 4520; CRICOS code 087814J

ATAR/2024 lowest selection rank: N/A
2025 Indicative first year full fee: $15,500*
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree: $15,500*
2025 Indicative first year full fee: $54,500*
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree: $55,500*

Research-led
Accredited program
Build employability

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Overview

By measuring and managing risk, actuaries help businesses, governments, not-for-profit organisations and individuals make critical decisions for the future.

This one-year Honours program is designed for students who have completed UNSW's Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and want to deepen their expertise to gain a competitive edge. Through a significant research thesis, you will develop analytical, problem-solving and research skills highly sought after in business and government.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

We are ranked Australia's #1 Business School (Australian Financial Review (AFR) Boss, 2024). That means our business education leads the way in career impact, quality and reputation.

Our School of Risk and Actuarial Studies is ranked #1 globally for Actuarial Studies Research (UNL Global Research Rankings of Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance, 2024).

By deepening your expertise and expanding your research skills, this Honours program will give you a competitive edge upon graduation. Honours can also act as a springboard to further study and research, such as a PhD.

Program Code

4520

CRICOS Code

087814J

Campus

Kensington

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

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Entry requirements

2024 Lowest Selection Rank ¹

N/A

2024 A levels ²

N/A

2024 IB Diploma ³

N/A

2024 Lowest ATAR ⁴

N/A

This degree is open to students who have passed the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies, opens in a new window. For the full entry requirements, please see the Admission Requirements section of the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours) Handbook.

The 2024 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024.

The 2024 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.

The 2024 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024. It is to be used as a guide only.

The 2024 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.

To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.

We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.

See more

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

English language tests and university English courses
Prior study in the medium of English
Other qualifications

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.

International direct entry

I studied in:

Qualifications	Direct entry requirement
International ATAR	N/A
UNSW Foundation Studies GPA	N/A
Great Britain General Certificate of Education (GCE A levels)	N/A All applicants must present a minimum of two Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry Scores are calculated from the best two, three, or four A2 Level subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1.
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)	N/A Entry criteria is based on scores required for entry into UNSW in 2024 and are only applicable if the Diploma has been completed. Students currently attempting the IB Diploma or Bilingual Diploma can apply directly to UNSW or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (after 2016)	N/A Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) based on the total of evidence-based reading and writing and mathematical test scores. Must be provided in conjunction with evidence of successful completion of senior secondary studies.

We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.

Please contact us for direct entry requirements.

Admission pathways

If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence. 

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

English language tests and university English courses
Prior study in the medium of English
Other qualifications

For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

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Program structure

This program will expand on the knowledge of risk & actuarial studies gained through the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies. You'll be introduced to research methods in the actuarial studies before you undertake your own supervised research projects and some interesting electives. For current and detailed course information, visit the Actuarial Studies (Honours) Handbook.

Go to the handbook

Future careers

You'll graduate this Honours program with research skills and depth of knowledge, combined with transferable skills in analysis and statistics that will set you apart in a crowd and allow you to move across the private sector, financial institutions, and government departments.

UNSW Business School's Career Accelerator provides work experience and professional development opportunities to kick-start your career - opportunities that are supported by our industry and alumni networks. As one of Australia’s leading business schools we have strong connections to industry and more than 90,000 alumni worldwide who could be connections to your future career. Not only that, UNSW supports start-ups, with more founders than any other Australian university and over 300+ clubs to find people with complementary skillsets.

Potential careers

Actuarial Analyst
Asset Management Trainee
Business Consultant
Credit Analyst
Data Analyst
Insurance Analyst
Investment Banker
Risk Assessment Officer
Superannuation Adviser
Wealth Management Analyst

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and relevant courses are approved for VEE by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) in the USA.

Double degrees

Design your degree to suit your career goals with the flexibility to specialise in up to two different business areas, or a subject outside the UNSW Business School faculty, such as arts or science. With a wide-ranging education, you can strengthen your career opportunities by completing a double degree.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online, opens in a new window service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2025 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$15,500*

2025 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree

$15,500*

Commonwealth Supported Place: Student Contribution Band 4

*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the university and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year.

The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only - other fees and charges are not included.

2025 Indicative First Year Fee

$54,500*

2025 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$55,500*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships

At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.

Explore Scholarships

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Worldwide

QS World University Rankings, 2025

Most

Employable Graduates

AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020-2025

Leading

Innovation

#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders

Being able to model and analyse data is such a diverse tool.

Alisa Zheng

Actuarial team, PwC