Master of Actuarial Science

Summary

Kick start your career as an actuary with New Zealand's only Master’s-level actuarial science qualification.

Sustainable societies need actuaries

Actuaries will always be in demand to plan for the future. They predict and analyse financial risks and solve business problems in many industries, and can contribute to policy work on climate change, future health and retirement provision, and natural disaster planning.

Make an impact

Actuaries make recommendations and decisions that have an impact on people’s lives. You could work on investment programmes in the private or public sectors, design life insurance products, manage pension schemes, or advise government on retirement, education, and health planning.

During your studies, you will hone your professional skills and develop practical competence in problem-solving, negotiating, and influencing.

Download the latest prospectus

Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our professional and postgraduate programme prospectus.

Get the prospectus

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Gain an edge in the job market

The Master of Actuarial Science is the only Master’s-level actuarial science qualification offered in New Zealand. Your skills will be in strong demand globally and in New Zealand.

Your studies will connect you with organisations in the public and private sectors that employ actuaries, giving you the opportunity to build a powerful network of contacts that will benefit you in your future career.

A fast track to professional accreditation

Qualified and accredited actuaries belong to professional bodies to show employers and clients that they have the expertise and knowledge needed to be a successful actuary. It is a profession that is highly regarded for its skills, ethics, and professionalism.

The Master of Actuarial Science will provide you with a fast track to Actuaries Institute of Australia accreditation, which is recognised in both New Zealand and Australia. Graduates will be exempt from all but two of the exams required for accreditation, allowing you to become an accredited actuary faster.

Build on your mathematics, statistics, and finance expertise

Mathematics, statistics, or finance graduates are among those ideally suited to study this programme. You’ll hone your abilities to:

• analyse and interpret financial and stochastic information
• solve complex problems in risk management
• make accurate and methodical decisions under uncertainty
• communicate complicated scenarios to relevant stakeholders.

Diploma and certificate options

Depending on your goals, you can opt for a shorter postgraduate Actuarial Science qualification by doing the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Science. Both programmes are a great way to experience some of the courses included in the Master of Actuarial Science programme.

As well as being valuable qualifications in their own right, courses completed as part of the Certificate and Diploma can count towards the full Master’s programme, if you decide to continue your studies.

Scholarships

You can look for scholarships based on your level of study, subject area, and background.

Learn about how and what you’ll study for the Master of Actuarial Science.

Recommended study plan for full-time students starting in Trimester 1, 2026

The following study plan allows you to avoid timetable clashes.

Trimester 1, 2026

• ACTS 511—Actuarial Control Cycle I
• ACTS 513—Data Science for Actuaries
• STAT 433—Stochastic Processes.

Trimester 2, 2026

• ACTS 512—Actuarial Control Cycle II
• FINA 403—Derivative Securities
• FINA 406—Fixed Income Securities
• STAT 438—Generalised Linear Models.

Trimester 3, 2026

• 60 points of elective courses (usually four 15‑point courses).

Workload and duration

The workload is about 15 hours per course each week.

Full time

Full-time MActSc students can expect a workload of 60 hours per week. You can complete the MActSc in three trimesters of full-time study—12 months.

Part time

Part-time MActSc students can take between one and four courses per trimester.

You must complete all your courses within four years of enrolling in the programme.

Workload and duration

The workload is about 15 hours per course each week. E...