08 Oct 2025
The recent welcome event for the undergraduate Actuarial Science programme, supported by the Society of Actuaries (SOA), provided a platform for students at all levels to gain insights into professional development, international accreditation, and career planning.
International Accreditation: Building a Curriculum for a Global Context
Dr Xin Xu
Dr Xin Xu, Programme Director of BSc Actuarial Science, noted that one of the programme’s priorities is to engage with both international and domestic actuarial ecosystems, working with professional bodies to align the curriculum with leading global syllabuses while remaining attentive to China’s local needs. The programme has obtained multiple course recognitions from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and multiple VEE (Validated by Educational Experience) approvals from the Society of Actuaries (SOA), providing eligible students with corresponding exemption or credit pathways. In addition, we actively collaborate with actuarial associations and proactively explore industry–academia–research opportunities and practice settings to support diverse student development.
Dr Xu highlighted that whether students plan to pursue further study abroad or seek career positions in China, SOA-related routes and activities provide strong academic and industry engagement channels. She added that, according to recent feedback from visiting professionals, passed actuarial exams and relevant practical experience often better signal a candidate’s competitiveness in many hiring contexts.
Professor Hailiang Yang
Professor Hailiang Yang - Honorary Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (HonFIA), Corresponding Member of the Swiss Association of Actuaries, and Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA)—remarked that China’s actuarial education and industry development have distinctive dynamics shaped by market scale and service priorities. Across systems, professionalism and transferable core competencies remain the common keys to success.
Student Insights: From Practical Experience to Rational Planning
During the free discussion session, students offered valuable insights from various perspectives. Tang Shaoheng, a final-year student who has been accepted to Heriot-Watt University, a top UK university for actuarial science, highlighted that rich practical experience is key to overcoming academic shortfalls and standing out. He mentioned that his two quantitative analysis internships at UBS and JP Morgan, along with two in-school research projects related to the insurance industry, gave his application a strong edge.
Third-year student Liang Sitian shared her rational approach to career planning. She candidly stated that the clear career progression and salary structure of the actuarial profession are its significant advantages. She is currently prioritising a solid grounding in professional knowledge to keep future career options open.
The welcome event underscored the programme’s approach: a solid mathematical and statistical foundation, alignment with international standards, and close attention to domestic industry needs—together offering students multiple practice settings and progression routes, and preparing graduates with both professional rigour and global perspective.
By Qinru Liu and Jiaying Zhang
Photos courtesy of Qinru Liu
08 Oct 2025