Actuarial Studies - mq vs usyd vs unsw (2 Viewers)

[mini8658]

Hello,

what's your opinion on the quality of the actuarial courses at each of those uni's?

If it's not too much, I'm particularly interested in: employment prospects, industry networking during the degree, co-ops/cadetships/internships, flexibility (to study other things. e.g. a second language, minors/majors in other fields), course structure, and accreditation? Are certain degrees considered higher credentials? (e.g. I know usyd's Ba(xx course)/MD is considered higher than unsws MBBS even tho they are the same subject?) Also, what are the extracurriculars like?

Thank you ^^

 

[si2136]

There ain't no Actuarial Studies at USYD brahhh

 

[mini8658]

There ain't no Actuarial Studies at USYD brahhh

Oh whoops xD Thanks for telling me!

 

[BandSixFix]

UNSW.

 

[BLIT2014]

Visit the campuses.

I'd also consider travel time because course quality is likely to be similar.

 

[seremify007]

I've reopened this thread as I think I can add some value here and split out the generic vs. course specific. Note I am a UNSW graduate who did Commerce/Business and did NOT do actuarial but plenty of my friends did.

I'm particularly interested in: employment prospects, industry networking during the degree, co-ops/cadetships/internships, flexibility (to study other things. e.g. a second language, minors/majors in other fields), course structure, and accreditation? Are certain degrees considered higher credentials? (e.g. I know usyd's Ba(xx course)/MD is considered higher than unsws MBBS even tho they are the same subject?) Also, what are the extracurriculars like?

Employment prospects - challenging across the board regardless of uni although in the past people held the Macquarie course in a higher regard. Unsure if this is based on anything or still applicable today.

Industry networking - each of the unis will have Actuarial Societies who will try to do this. I don't think you'll be significantly disadvantaged in this space at least between UNSW and Macquarie. Even if not within Actuarial Society, the Business Societies/Commerce Society will also hold networking events, and then there are even some cross-uni societies like FMAA.

Coops - I'm not sure about Macquarie but the UNSW Actuarial program has been around for a while and I've seen people from there working in our organisation before. That being said, actuarial graduate/internship roles in general tend to be more specialised/less common than say accounting.

Flexibility - Try googling the respective Course Handbooks and you'll get an idea on what the degree structure is like. In UNSW there are also general education courses where you have to do something outside your faculty (e.g. I did aviation, workplace safety and science & religion) which are required for single degrees (can anyone else correct me as I'm not sure if any exemptions apply here fro actuarial).

Accreditation - Can't speak for this with surety but my friends from both UNSW and Macquarie did become accredited with the Institute.

EDIT: Removed text which was wrong based on D94's post below (i.e. Actuarial is no longer a major within B Commerce/Business at UNSW).

 

[D94]

Are certain degrees considered higher credentials? (e.g. I know usyd's Ba(xx course)/MD is considered higher than unsws MBBS even tho they are the same subject?)

No wtf...

Both UNSW and USYD discontinued the MBBS in 2013.

Since 2014, UNSW has offered the BMed/MD, and USYD has offered the (undergrad)/MD.

Both are equally formidable degrees, and the notion of a "higher credential" is ridiculous when comparing these two specific universities.

 

[D94]

Flexibility - Can't speak for Macquarie but my understanding is in UNSW it's just another major.

In 2013, UNSW introduced the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (BActSt) and removed Actuarial Studies from a Commerce major.

The degree seems to have a lot of flexibility in that there's 6 free electives and 2 general education electives. The other 16 courses consist of 12 compulsory courses, 3 compulsory electives (selected out of 7 options) and 1 other Actuarial or Business course.

 

[seremify007]

Thanks D94. Edited my post.

 

[mreditor16]

Employment prospects - challenging across the board regardless of uni although in the past people held the Macquarie course in a higher regard. Unsure if this is based on anything or still applicable today.

General consensus nowadays is that employers/firms now see UNSW and MACQ as offering fairly similar actuarial programs. In fact, one might argue that some employers/firms seem to be increasingly turning their attention away from the once-highly-prestigious MACQ actuarial cohort and have keen eyes on UNSW actuarial cohorts, which are consisting of stronger and stronger students (compared to MACQ) as well as solid students in the Co Op program.

Flexibility - Try googling the respective Course Handbooks and you'll get an idea on what the degree structure is like. In UNSW there are also general education courses where you have to do something outside your faculty (e.g. I did aviation, workplace safety and science & religion) which are required for single degrees (can anyone else correct me as I'm not sure if any exemptions apply here fro actuarial).

Two general education courses have to be completed by actuarial students if and only if their program is single/double degree exclusive to the UNSW Business school (e.g. B Actl Studies with B Comm). If your double degree program is cross-faculty (e.g. B Actl Studies with B Law), then you are not required to do any general education courses.

Accreditation - Can't speak for this with surety but my friends from both UNSW and Macquarie did become accredited with the Institute.

Not familiar with accreditation at MACQ, but here is further details for accreditation through UNSW - http://asoc.unsw.edu.au/about/actuarial

 

[mreditor16]

Also, OP, these might be worth a read:

http://community.boredofstudies.org...e-comm-degree-vs-actl-comm-double-degree.html

http://community.boredofstudies.org...vs-macquarie-actuarial-studies-round-2-a.html