Overview
Who is it for?
You are a UK student who excels in and enjoys mathematics, especially modelling and probability. You love asking “What if?”.
The skills you gain on the Actuarial Science Foundation course will kickstart your actuarial career. You can also enter careers in risk management, investment management or financial analysis.
Objectives
The Foundation Year in Actuarial Science aims to provide students with a knowledge of Mathematics, Probability and Statistics, Accounting and Finance, Economics, IT and Computing sufficient to enable them to undertake an undergraduate degree in the area of Actuarial Science. These modules have been carefully designed to include material that they will come across should they successfully proceed onto the BSc Actuarial Science undergraduate degree programme.
In addition to providing students with the essential mathematical and scientific background necessary to progress onto the undergraduate Actuarial Science degree programme, there is an integrated study and communication skills component. This, together with considerable tutorial support, aims to encourage the development of the students' awareness of the learning process, and to foster their intellectual development, so that they achieve a sense of their competence as learners.
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Structure
What will I learn?
The Foundation course has been designed to familiarise you with material that you will study in more depth in later years of the Actuarial Science degree programme.
The teaching style on the foundation course is different to that which you will encounter on the rest of the degree. The foundation course will have lower numbers of students than on the main degree programme and there is more continual assessment. This will help you to make the adjustment from the teaching style at most schools and colleges to the university style, which usually requires more self-study.
Unlike the other years of your degree, there is no exam period due to the use of continual assessment which takes the form of in-class tests and take home courseworks, which can be both individual and group based.
Year 0
Core modules:
Mathematics
This will cover A-level maths and topics from A-level further maths. As you will have already studied A-level mathematics (or equivalent) we will focus more on the later topics such as calculus. The material in this module will prepare you for the first year Mathematics for Actuarial Science module.
Foundation probability and statistics
The probability and statistics module will assume that students will arrive with no knowledge of probability or statistics. The module will start with basic concepts such as summary statistics and basic probability and will develop these concepts to more advanced topics such as confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression and probability distributions.
Introduction to economics
This course will cover fundamental topics in both macro and micro economics. We will assume that you have not covered this material before and this module will help you prepare for the first year Economics module. This module will have an integrated study skills module which will develop your ability in such areas as note taking, essay planning, mind maps, etc. which will help both with this module and the rest of your studies and later employment.
Introduction to finance and accounting
This module will introduce you to concepts such as interest rates, discounted cash-flows, different types of investments and company accounts. The material in this module will prepare you for the Finance and Investment Mathematics module in the first year and the Fundamentals of Finance and Financial Reporting modules in the second year. It will also provide real world skills for the analysis of companies and investments.
Introduction to Microsoft Office Suite
This module is taught mainly on-line but supported with a weekly tutorial. Not only will this module prepare you for the Applications of Information Technology module in the first year and in addition will help with all your future studies where Microsoft Office products are used, as well as providing real life skills which will be attractive to employers.
Career pathways
Upon completion of the foundation year you will be able to choose which degree pathway you want: BSc Actuarial Science, BSc Data Analytics and Actuarial Science or BSc Finance with Actuarial Science. The types of career pathways that these degrees lead to can be found on the relevant webpages.
Assessment methods
Some assessment is by coursework which you take home and complete with the aid of your notes. For year 0, there will be continual assessment using class tests but no large formal exams.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The approximate percentage of the course assessment, based on 2017/18 entry is as follows:
Year 0
0% written, 17% practical, 83% coursework.
Overall workload
Most contact hours take the form of lectures. A number of tutorials, exercise classes and surgery hours are scheduled during the year. Approximate study time based on 2018/19 entry is as follows:
Year 0
28% scheduled learning, 72% independent learning, 0% placement.
Term dates
Academic year
For a full breakdown of the current and forthcoming academic year view our term dates page.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
Application
How to apply
All applications should be made through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Applications are made via Apply, UCAS's online application system.
UCAS Institution code: C60 (Bayes Business School and City, University of London)
UCAS Course code: G320
You can find more information at UCAS and in the UCAS Handbook.
Bayes Business School works in partnership with INTO City and Kaplan International College London to offer foundation courses for international students.
More information about applying to Bayes
Terms and conditions
Students applying to study at Bayes Business School are subject to City, University of London's terms and conditions.
Entry requirements
The Foundation Programme is for home fee paying students only. If you think you may still be eligible based on your circumstances, for example you have EU Settlement/Pre-Settlement Status, Indefinite Leave to Remain or Refugee Status, please email bayesug@city.ac.uk. If you are an international student please refer to INTO City for information about the International Foundation Programme.
For international students who do not meet the entry requirements for year 1 entry we recommend our affiliated foundation course providers INTO City, University of London and KIC London.
A-Level: B (Maths) BB
If you are studying General Studies or Critical Thinking these subjects will not be included in any offer condition.
For A-Level applicants we also require a minimum of GCSE English Language grade 4 (C).
IB: 30 points overall with 5 in Higher Level Maths (either Maths Analysis & Approaches or Maths Applications & Interpretation) and English at either Higher Level 4 or Standard Level 5.
Contextual admissions
We apply a contextual admissions process for UK undergraduate applicants who have been in care, attend a low performing school, live in an area where few students go to university, or are the first generation of their family to enter Higher Education.
Those who are eligible may receive a conditional offer with reduced entry requirements, typically up to two grades lower for A-levels and one grade for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
English language requirements
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we will require evidence of English language proficiency. Minimum requirements are:
- GCSE: Grade C or 4
- IGCSE: Grade C
- O-Level: Grade C
- TOEFL (Test centre or iBT Special Home Edition): 92 overall (24 Writing, 23 Reading, 22 Speaking, 21 Listening)
- A-Level: Grade C
- Language Cert International ESOL: Language Cert B2 Communicator High Pass
- IELTS (Academic, UKVI or IELTS Indicator): 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any sub test
- Pearson Academic Online / Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 59 overall with minimum of 59 in each sub test
- International Baccalaureate: Grade 5 at Standard level or Grade 4 at Higher level
- Cambridge English Advanced (also known as Certificate in Advanced English): Grade C (180 overall) at CEFR Level C1 with minimum 170 in each sub test
- Cambridge English Proficiency (also known as Certificate of Proficiency in English): Pass qualification (all grades accepted)
- Cambridge English First (also known as Certificate of First in English): Grade A (180-190) at CEFR Level C1
- Vitnemal: English grade 5
- French Baccalaureat: 14/20 in English
- Malaysian GCE O Level (SPM-1119 syllabus only): grade A
Study abroad
This is an option on the BSc Actuarial Science course, to which you can progress upon successful completion of the Foundation year.
Partner institutions include:
Argentina
Universidad Argentina de la Empresa
Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, UADE has exchange agreements with 40 partner universities around the world. You will take modules from the undergraduate Global Management degree.
Australia
Queensland University of Technology
Located in the bustling city of Brisbane, QUT was the first Australian university to gain 'triple crown' accreditation (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB).
RMIT University
Giving you the chance to study in Melbourne, Australia's 2nd largest city, RMIT is one of Australia's original educational institutions. Their well-established business school allows students to choose from a wide-range of subjects.
Austria
Vienna University of Economics and Business
WU has triple accreditation, one of only two German-speaking universities belonging to this group. They have a well-established exchange programme, with around 240 partner universities around the world.
Canada
HEC Montreal
Like Bayes, HEC Montreal is triple accredited (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB) and was the first school in North America to achieve this. There are opportunities to study in French or English.
Smith School of Business - Queen's University
Queen's Smith School of Business has a rich history dating back to 1841 and is consistently ranked as one of Canada's leading universities. It welcomes over 300 exchange students every year from more than 40 countries.
Ivey Business School, Western University
Ranked in the top 100 for Financial Times MBA Rankings, Ivey School of Business provides a competitive combination of world-class teaching and modern facilities.
Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia
UBC is one of Canada's leading research universities and is consistently ranked in the top 40 of the world. Located 30 minutes from the heart of down-town Vancouver it attracts students from more than 140 countries world-wide.
China
Renmin University of China
Located in Beijing, Renmin Business School is both EQUIS and AACSB accredited. Their MBA programme is ranked in the top 50 in the world by the Financial Times.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
You will take classes from the Antai College of Economics and Management, which was the first business school in mainland China to have been triply accredited by AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA. They have Bachelor programmes in Economics and Finance.
France
ESCP Europe, Paris campus
Like Bayes, ESCP is triple accredited (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB). The Paris campus is located in the centre of the city. The Masters in Management, from which you will take classes, is currently ranked 4th in the Financial Times rankings (2016).
ESSEC Business School
Established in 1907, ESSEC is one of the leading institutions in Europe for business education. Their BBA was the first programme in France to receive the prestigious AACSB and EQUIS accreditations.
Germany
University of Mannheim
The University of Mannheim Business School is highly ranked and has an excellent reputation. You will be studying modules from their Bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Business Education in either German or English.
Technische Universität München
TU Munich was named as the number one university in Germany in the QS World University Ranking 2016.
Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
CUHK was ranked the most innovative university in Hong Kong in 2016 (Reuters). The 137 hectare campus overlooking Tolo Harbour houses a range of facilities such as world-class libraries, art museums, music halls, a swimming pool, sports fields, tennis courts, squash courts, a water sports centre and gymnasiums.
University of Hong Kong
HKU is consistently ranked in the top 50 world universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings). You will be studying at their Faculty of Business and Economics.
Italy
LUISS Guido Carli
LUISS Guido Carli is a private Italian university located in the heart of Rome. They are currently EQUIS and AMBA accredited and Luiss was actually the first Italian institution to have all its management programs accredited by EQUIS back in 2015, from the bachelor's degree program to the Master in Business Administration, as well as additional master's, specialization, doctoral, and business training programs. We are also currently ranked 59th in the QS ranking for Business and Management and our Master in Management is ranked 1st by the Financial Times based on career progress.
Norway
BI Norwegian School of Management
BI is the only Norwegian university with triple accreditation and has student exchange agreements with more than 200 institutions in 45 different countries.
Singapore
National University of Singapore
NUS is ranked 1st in the QS Asian University Rankings 2016 and is one of the top 25 world ranked universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings). More than 1,000 exchange students visit NUS each year.
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang is ranked 54th in the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings. You will have the chance to study at one of Asia's most prestigious universities in the heart of Singapore.
Singapore Management University
SMU was founded in 2000 by the government of Singapore, modelling itself on an American style university structure. SMU has over 180 exchange partner universities around the world.
South Korea
Seoul National University
SNU was founded in 1946 as the first national university of Korea. SNU Business School was also the first business school in Korea to be certified by the Associate to Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Spain
IE Business School
Situated in the heart of Madrid's financial district, IE Business School is ranked 1st in Spain and 5th in Europe (FT European Business School rankings 2015).
ESADE Business School
The school is located in Europe’s most international city and Spain’s second largest city, Barcelona. Like Bayes, ESADE is triple accredited (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB).
The Netherlands
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
RSM is consistently ranked in the top 10 business schools in Europe and has 'triple crown' accreditation (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS). You will study all modules in English.
USA
Emory University, Atlanta
Located near downtown Atlanta, Emory University Goizueta Business School's BBA programme is currently ranked No. 15 by both Bloomberg BusinessWeek and U.S. News & World Report.
Placements
This is an option on the BSc Actuarial Science course, to which you can progress upon completion of the Foundation year.
Fees
UK students
The tuition fee for UK students for this year is £7,200 for the 2023/24 academic year.
The tuition fees indicated are for the 2023/24 academic year only. Fees for each subsequent year of study are subject to an annual increase to take account of City's increased costs of delivering educational services. This increase will be 5% for each subsequent year of study. You should expect your fee to increase by this amount and budget accordingly.
Career pathways
The majority of graduates of the BSc Actuarial Science degree, to which you can progress upon successful completion of the Foundation year, become actuarial trainees and study for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries' examinations. Others embark on careers in:
- Investment banking and investment management
- accountancy
- commercial banking
- insurance
- financial analysis
- management
- computing and teaching.
Recent employers have included EY, Travellers Insurance and Towers Watson. Some students progress to postgraduate study, often on Bayes Business School's MSc Actuarial Management.