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Economics + Finance UCD or Actuarial + Financial Studies UCD

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  • 16-11-2018 12:51pm
    #1
    daretodream
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭


    Both these courses are on my radar. I like the look of both but uncertain which should be my 1st preference on CAO. In terms of employers, types of positions, salary and life/work balance.., which would be your first pick? Trying to think sensibly as both courses are achievable for me so I'm trying to not make mistakes or have any regrets. Hope someone can offer their wisdom and help me decide.


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    #2
    FluffyUnicorn
    Registered Users Posts: 52 ✭✭FluffyUnicorn


    Well, Actuarial is very much a pathway to being an actuary. Of course people can go on to do other things if they wish and the skills are transferable to other areas of insurance and finance, but the degree is geared towards becoming actuaries. Econ&Fin on the other hand is also an excellent mathematical finance & economics degree, but is more general and is not geared towards actuaries in particular. If you definitely want to be an actuary or you're very interested in what it would be like, then Actuarial Studies is great (you'll get some exemptions from the actuarial exams as well), but if you just like business and economics and want to work in the finance sector in general, with no particular interest in becoming an actuary, then Economics & Finance would probably be better.

    Edit: These are also my top two courses if I decide to go with UCD, but I'm personally leaning towards Economics & Finance because I don't really have a burning desire to become an actuary just yet :P For me it seems like specialising a step too far too early, but for someone who's really interested in that career it might be the perfect course.


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    #3
    JackTC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 127 ✭✭JackTC


    I originally began Actuarial & Financial Studies in UCD. I had a disastrous second year and after taking some time out I enrolled in Economics & Finance where I am now in final year. This is what I can tell you.

    - While there is a lot of overlap between the courses , A&F studies is far more theoretical (Mathematical) compared to E&F which is a lot more applied.
    - For example both degrees have courses on statistics but in Actuarial you will be focusing mostly on the mathematical theory of how it works, where as with E&F you will be mostly doing projects and lab work. The reason for this is that Actuaries have a number of theory exams to pass in order to be qualified.

    So here are the two options,

    1) If you love maths I would suggest A&F, but you have to love maths to the point that you're even doing it in your spare time.
    2) If you like maths and business and want a course thats not always bogged down in theory, do E&F.

    I would suggest E&F as it is a 3 year course and if you eventually decide you want to be an actuary you can just do a postgrad in Actuarial science, which lasts 1 year. A&F studies is 4 years so either way you wouldn't have to spend an extra year.


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