Skip navigation

Actuarial Science with a Foundation Year

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Bay Campus
Awarded by:
Swansea University (Prifysgol Abertawe)

Course summary

If you enjoy mathematics and want to apply your skills to real‑world business challenges, Swansea University’s BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science offers an excellent route into a highly respected profession.

Actuaries are analytical business professionals who use advanced mathematical modelling and financial understanding to assess and manage future risks.

In your first year, you will build a strong foundation in mathematics, business, and study skills, preparing you for success in the specialist mathematics and management modules that follow. The programme is accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), and graduates can achieve up to six professional exam exemptions, giving you a significant head start in your actuarial career.

Your learning will be supported by experienced and internationally recognised business and mathematics specialists who bring extensive industry insight into the classroom.

BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science is delivered as a partnership between the Department of Mathematics and the School of Management at Swansea University.

The optional Foundation Year for this programme can give you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful in your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education, or are returning to education after a gap. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress onto Year 1 of your BSc.

Modules

The foundation Year (Year 0) combines both subject specific and study skill content, to enable successful integration into Year 1 of the Actuarial Science programme.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Economics for Accounting and Finance, Accounting for Managers, Probability and Statistics & Foundations of Finance.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Probability Theory, Corporate Finance, Credibility, Liability and Ruin & Principles of Financial Accounting.

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: Cashflows and Interest Rates, Financial Mathematics in Discrete Time, Machine Learning & Risk and Survival Models.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Actuaries, Institute and Faculty of

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
N325
Institution code:
S93
Campus name:
Bay Campus
Campus Code:
B

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If you are an International Student, please visit our International pages for more information about entry requirements:- http://www.swansea.ac.uk/international/students/requirements

Open days

Entry requirements

A level
CCD

Applicants who took Mathematics at A-Level should have CCD.

Applicants who did not study Mathematics at AS or A-Level should have BBC and a B grade for GCSE Mathematics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Applicants with a BTEC or 'Access to Science' background are welcomed.

Access to HE Diploma
M: 27 credits

Access to HE (Science): 27 Merits to include Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
24 points

IB: 24 (including 4 in Maths Higher Level).

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Welsh Baccalaureate: Requirements are as for A levels where you can substitute the same non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Level Core Grade.

Overseas applicants should have CDD equivalent and IELTS 6.0 (all components at least 5.5).

All applications will be considered on an individual basis, and we will look at the whole application when deciding whether to make an offer of a place, including: the balance, nature and quality of A-level, AS and GCSE subjects (or equivalent); personal statement and referee’s comments.

General Studies and Key Skills qualifications are normally excluded from our offers.

Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applicants with GCSE qualifications alone.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) and no less than 5.5 in each component.

English Language Requirements at Swansea Universityhttps://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/english-language-requirements/

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

UK applicants who meet course requirements are guaranteed a conditional offer. We assess applications on individual merit. We consider making reduced offers, eg. to Care Leavers or students with extenuating circumstances. We encourage you to disclose any relevant circumstances.

The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales is considered as equivalent to one full A-Level and students can take x2 A-levels alongside this. EPQ students predicted Grade B or above will receive a one-grade offer reduction.

Learn more on the Swansea University website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For the latest fee information, please check the individual course page on our website. Our full range of programmes are listed here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/

Further information on tuition fees can be found here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/

Sponsorship information

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
 
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/scholarships/
 
Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/academi-hywel-teifi/learn/scholarships/

Like this page