Do your research: find out if an actuarial career is for you – try the following sites:
Work experience: arrange work experience with an actuarial company - careers advisers can assist.
Choose your actuarial science course carefully: the course / uni you choose will be essential to your future success. You don't need to only do actuarial science. But it can help with university exemptions. See our Uni Courses page links to various actuarial science or other actuarial course options.
Study hard: Uni studies will make or break your future career - most actuarial employers require a 2:1. As Eminem says, you only get one chance to blow… so don't blow it. Whilst studying, you can still partake in the usual fun and games but be warned - whichever course you select, this is not an area where you can 'slack and succeed'. But when the hard work is over and done, the reward will be worth it.
Try an internship: some uni courses offer internships - you will get to work in an actuarial company and learn what lies ahead!
Pass those exams! Actuarial Courses differ in content, but some exams are based on the actuarial professional syllabus. You'll likely need the equivalent of a 2:1 to get exemptions from certain professional exams after university. Give it your all - it is worth it. You'll have better chance of securing that first job, and your starting salary will be higher if you’ve earned exam exemptions.
Let us help you find that first job: why not have a browse through our actuary jobs pages and find your first role.
More exams: whilst working, you will need to pass various professional exams until fully qualified, typically 6-10 years post-graduation.
Flying high: once fully qualified, the actuarial world is your oyster - and you'll be heading to that oyster bar. You can work in a management or non-management role, anywhere in the world, including the sunny shores of Bermuda!
Pimp my ride: see our salary survey to find out what you could earn as a fully fledged actuarial professional…time to plan ahead for that brand new car
A worldwide profession: once qualified, you can work anywhere…London, New York, even the sandy shores of the Caribbean!
Intellectual challenge: this unique career employs a range of high level strategic management, analytical, problem solving, mathematical and communication skills.
Making a difference: your work brings tangible benefit to individuals, organisations and the general public.
Financial security: as an actuary you will have the potential to earn a high salary. See our salary survey page for more details. You will also be an expert in managing financial risk which can be of immense benefit to your personal finances.
No burning the midnight oil: other financial professions, and similarly paid professions such as law and medicine may require you to 'live to work', not ‘work to live’. Actuaries enjoy an excellent work life balance, largely based around standard office hours.
Being part of an elite profession: this is a highly respected, specialist, niche profession. There are only around 30,000 members of the profession in the UK, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries is the only UK body. In comparison, there are 340,000 members of the UK accountancy profession, split across 7 bodies.