Actuarial Studies Degree at Asia Pacific University (APU) in Malaysia

Find Out About the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Actuarial Studies Degree Course Details, Entry Requirements, Fees & Intakes at Asia Pacific University (APU) Malaysia

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Malaysian students after high school or Pre-University wanting to find out more about the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Actuarial Studies course, intake dates & tuition fees at Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia have come to the right place. We will provide detailed information for the course and counseling is available.
Established in 1993, Asia Pacific University (APU) is famous in Malaysia for its technology courses and is one of the first private universities to offer the actuarial science degree programme. The Actuarial Science degree at Asia Pacific University (APU)  has been awarded full accreditation from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) (UK). APU is among the 7 universities in Asia to receive such worldwide recognition. In addition, APU is the first and the only Malaysian university that has all the six preliminary exams (P, FM, IFM, LTAM, STAM & SRM) and all the three VEE topics listed in its SOA UCAP profile.
Read on to find out why you should choose to study the Actuarial Science degree at APU.

Actuarial Science Degree Programme at Asia Pacific University (APU) in Malaysia

Students after SPM or O-Levels will join the Foundation in Business & Finance at APU and subsequently upon successful completion will continue into the BSc. (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at APU.
The actuarial science degree programme at Asia Pacific University (APU) is specifically designed to provide:

• The necessary knowledge and skills to provide advice to institutions like insurance or reinsurance companies, pensions funds and financial and investment institutions. The skills acquired by actuaries are not confined to the financial sector but are also transferable to any organisation that has to deal with risk and make financial sense of the future.
• Opportunities to adapt to Insurance-related industries by providing them with assignments to mimic the actual decision making process and broad-based information pertaining to the industries.
• Opportunities to develop their skills to solve a problem and model a solution using specialized statistical and actuarial methods.

Why Study Actuarial Science at Asia Pacific University?

• A course of study in Actuarial Science which has been awarded full accreditation from the IFoA (UK). APU is among the 7 universities in Asia to receive such worldwide recognition.
• Competent teaching staff with professional or specialized academic qualification, possessing working experience from actuarial industries/academia.
• Course syllabus which is comprehensively structured in tandem and compliance with the 2 biggest actuarial bodies, the IFoA (UK) and the SOA (US).
• Comprehensive guidance to mold graduates to be industry-ready.
• According to the latest Graduate Tracer Study 2018 by Ministry of Education Malaysia, 100% of APU graduates are employed by graduation. This is not just a number, but a significant symbol of APU’s success and pride in nurturing professionals for global careers.
• The university has more than 12,000 students coming from over 100 countries. 60% of its students are international students giving the campus a very international flavour. This is advantageous to Malaysian students who want to learn in a global environment in order to compete in the multinational work force of the future. In addition, it forces Malaysian students to improve their English while communicating with the international students.

Actuarial Science Programme Details at Asia Pacific University (APU)

APU’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Actuarial Studies is a 3-year degree programme of full-time study. This programme is to develop students’ mathematical, statistical and analytical skills in addition to actuarial practices as preparation to become a qualified actuary.
Actuaries are highly regarded professional and they work across several industries including life and general insurance, commercial and investment banking, pensions and healthcare, consulting firms, and public sector. Actuaries are problem solvers and strategic thinkers with a deep understanding of risk management; they are one of the top paying professionals as they are usually in high demand worldwide.

Education Pathway to the Actuarial Science Degree at Asia Pacific University (APU)

Students after SPM or O-Levels may go for the Foundation in Business & Finance at Asia Pacific University for 1 year before continuing on to the 3-year BSc. (Hons) Actuarial Studies degree.
With 3 credits in SPM or O-Levels including Maths, students may go for the 2-year Diploma in Accounting and then enter into Year 2 of the Actuarial Studies degree at top rank Asia Pacific University (APU).
Pre-University students with the relevant results in STPM, A-Levels, SAM, CPU, AUSMAT, etc. can enter directly into Year 1 of the BSc. (Hons) Actuarial Studies degree.

Entry Requirements for the Actuarial Studies Degree at Asia Pacific University (APU)

Programmes	General Requirements
DIRECT ENTRY TO LEVEL 1 OF THE DEGREE:
STPM	• 2 Passes in STPM with a minimum Grade C+ (GP 2.33) and a Credit in Mathematics and a Pass in English at SPM Level or its equivalent.
A-LEVEL	• 2 Passes in A-Level in any 2 subjects, and a Credit in Mathematics and a Pass in English at SPM/O-Level/ IGCSE or its equivalent.
UEC	• 5 Grade B’s in UEC including Mathematics with a Pass in English.
MATRICULATION/ FOUNDATION	• Passed Foundation programme (minimum CGPA of 2.5) with a Credit in Mathematics and a Pass in English at SPM/O-Level/IGCSE or equivalent.
DIRECT ENTRY TO LEVEL 2 OF THE DEGREE:
DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING	• Passed Diploma with minimum CGPA of 2.5 and a Credit in Mathematics at SPM level.

Any qualification that APU accepts as equivalent to the above.

What you will study in the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University (APU)

APU BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies is a 3 years degree programme of full-time study. This programme is designed not only to provide students with knowledge and skills to enter the actuarial profession but also prepare them for the professional examinations that will lead them to a qualified actuary.
During their undergraduate studies, students can attempt the examinations conducted by professional bodies such as Society of Actuaries (SOA) or Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and upon graduation, they can embark on careers as an actuarial assistant.
While working, they continue to sit and pass the remaining professional exams, eventually becoming qualified actuaries in their chosen specialisation in various areas such as Corporate Finance and Enterprise Risk management, Individual Life and Annuities, Group and health Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Quantitative Finance and Investment, and General Insurance.
APU graduates will also acquire the essential leadership qualities, work in teams, communication skills, problem solving abilities, critical thinking, as well as entrepreneurial and managerial skills that will enable them to face the challenging and exciting world today.
Actuaries usually work primarily for the insurance industry. They are also highly sought after by other sectors such as private corporations, banks, financial institutions and investment firms, brokerages and even government department such as Bank Negara also requires actuaries in risk management and financial consulting services.

Accreditation & Recognition of the Actuarial Science Degree at Asia Pacific University (APU)

The Actuarial Science degree at Asia Pacific University (APU)  has been awarded full accreditation from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) (UK). APU is among the 7 universities in Asia to receive such worldwide recognition.
APU graduates who perform to the required standard can be eligible for exemption from CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1 and CB2. This is a 6-paper exemption out of 7 papers of the Core Principles Professional Papers for the new IFoA Curriculum 2019, which is the maximum paper exemptions.
In addition, the university has competent teaching staff with professional or specialized academic qualification, possessing working experience from actuarial industries/academia.
APU's Actuarial Science course syllabus is comprehensively structured in tandem and compliance with the 2 biggest actuarial bodies, the IFoA (UK) and the SOA (US).
At Asia Pacific University, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Actuarial Studies students will also receive credits for all the 3 Validated by Educational Experience (VEE) papers from SOA as long as they receive a minimum mark of 70% in the APU equivalent papers.
APU is the first and the only Malaysian university that has all the six preliminary exams (P, FM, IFM, LTAM, STAM & SRM) and all the three VEE topics listed in its SOA UCAP profile.

SOCIETY OF ACTUARIES (SOA), USA

APU is also recognized by the Society of Actuaries (US) that our BSc (Hons) Actuarial Studies will prepare students for all the six preliminary exams (P, FM, IFM, LTAM, STAM, and SRM) in the new SOA curriculum. This is in addition to the approved coursework for all the three VEE topics (Accounting & Finance, Economics, and Mathematical Statistics).

What You Will Study in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Actuarial Studies

APU’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Actuarial Studies is a 3-year degree programme of full-time study. This programme is to develop students’ mathematical, statistical and analytical skills in addition to actuarial practices as preparation to become a qualified actuary.
Actuaries are highly regarded professional and they work across several industries including life and general insurance, commercial and investment banking, pensions and healthcare, consulting firms, and public sector.
Actuaries are problem solvers and strategic thinkers with a deep understanding of risk management; they are one of the top paying professionals as they are usually in high demand worldwide.

Year 1 Subjects for the BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University

Equipping students with essential fundamentals of Mathematics, Statistics, Economics and Finance starts at Level 1. To complement the core knowledge, the students will also learn Business, Communication, and IT skills, before progressing to the Level 2 of Actuarial Science study.
Modules

• Probability Models
• Linear Algebra
• Business and Communication Skills
• Calculus
• Financial Accounting
• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomic
• Introduction to R Programming
• Advanced Probability Models
• Statistics

Year 2 Subjects for the BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University

The core knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics now act as engine to drive the complex models of Economics and Finance in the actuarial industries.
Those core knowledge are integrated to form actuarial tools and infrastructure, ready to be used for planning and managing purposes. Students will receive exposure and coaching which are actuarial centric, targeting at industrial applications. They are gradually groomed to be more independent in their study and research efforts.
Modules

• Asset and Liability Valuations
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Predictive Analytics
• Financial Mathematics
• Calculus II
• Regression Analysis
• Financial Economics
• Financial Planning and Control
• Business Research Methods
• Financial Management
• Business Ethics & Governance
• Mathematics of Financial Derivatives

INTERNSHIP (16 WEEKS)

At APU, we encourage our students to be entrepreneurial and innovative. After the completion of Level 2, students will undertake a short internship/industrial training of a minimum of 16 weeks. This will provide our students opportunities to engage with realworld business problems both in our programmes and in our renowned Professional Training placements.

Year 3 Subjects for the BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University

The students are now ready to merge their knowledge and industrial experience to forge ahead and put into action their acquired skills in planning, managing and analyzing risk. At this level, emphasis is placed on evaluating financial performance of businesses from actuary’s perspectives.
Students will have the opportunity to understand the critical roles played by actuaries, for example, in the development and pricing of insurance products. Risk Management, Actuarial Modeling and Ratemaking are some of a wide repertoire of skills to be used.
Modules

• Stochastic Processes
• Life Contigencies
• Strategic Management
• Corporate Finance
• Risk Theory
• Investigation in Actuarial Studies
• Option and Bond Valuations
• Survival Analysis
• Life Contingencies 2
• Pension and Retirement Plans
• Project in Actuarial Studies

MQA Compulsory Subjects*

• Ethnic Relations (M’sian Students)
• Islamic & Asian Civilisation (M’sian Students)
• Malaysian Studies (Int’l Students)
• Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students)
• Workplace Professional Communication Skills
• Employee & Employment Trends
• Co-Curriculum

​(*All students are required to successfully complete these modules as stipulated by the Malaysian Qualification Agency)

Career Options for Graduates of the BSc. (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University (APU)

• Actuary
• Risk Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Planning Advisor
• Regulator
• Statistician
• Mathematician
• Professor

Intake Dates for the BSc. (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University (APU)

The duration for the BSc. (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Asia Pacific University (APU) is 3 years with 2 semesters a year. Each semester is 6 months long.
Intakes for the degree programmes are in February, April, September and November of each year. For the exact dates, please WhatsApp 01111408838
2020 Course Fees:

Malaysian Students	International Students
Year 1: RM 25,400 Year 2: RM 25,800 Year 3: RM 26,800 Total: RM 78,000	Year 1: RM 28,600 (USD 7,150) Year 2: RM 29,700 (USD 7,430) Year 3: RM 29,900 (USD 7,480) Total: RM 88,200 (USD 22,060)

* Fees stated above do not include Deposits and other Miscellaneous Fees. Please refer to Fee Guide for details.