Q. Is it better to take a solus maths degree or combine with actuarial science and/or other options?
I am an 18-year-old student currently doing my A2 levels at a sixth form in North Yorkshire and applying for university in under a month. What sort of degree would give me the best chance at a successful actuarial career?
'Would it be better to take a specific actuarial degree (eg. a Bachelor's in Actuarial Science or Actuarial Mathematics), a joint course (eg. Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics, Actuarial and Financial Mathematics, Mathematics with Actuarial Science etc), or solely a Mathematics degree (a Bachelor's or a Master's in just Maths)?'
Obviously a Master's in Maths would be highly valued (it would also be the hardest to get accepted for but it is definitely something I am capable of) and it would 'keep my options open' to many careers rather than this one. This is what my careers office said and thus they recommended I go for solely Maths rather than a degree specific to actuarial.
However, I feel that might leave me short on not only actuarial knowledge but also Financial and Business Mathematics, and will not cover the important Economics content I will need to succeed in my actuarial exams later on, so will leave me at a disadvantage. Is this correct?