Macquarie University Actuarial studies vs. UNSW actuarial studies (1 Viewer)

[stu_dying_]

I am thinking of doing actuarial studies next year! However, I am unsure of which university I should go to. I have been told they are essentially the same but Macquarie has the reputational advantage of being the first university in the world to offer a credited actuarial studies course (and I have been told they are still the first in Aus for actuarial studies.) and UNSW has the reputational advantage of being part of the Group of 8 universities (and has a strong reputation in Aus for finance). I am pretty certain I want to be an actuary when I graduate so I won't have the issue of choosing a university purely based on the one with better courses available if I drop out. I am also thinking of doing a double degree so that at the end of the degree I am qualified with exceptions from Part I and Part II. The double degree at Macquarie would be applied finance/actuarial studies and the double degree at UNSW would be commerce(finance)/ actuarial studies. I have been to both campuses and I like the feel of them both. If it helps MQU is closer to me than UNSW. I know that UNSW has a better reputation for finance in comparison to MQU but MQU has a better actuary reputation so I am quite conflicted. I think this poll has been posted before but I would like any recent thoughts. Thank-you!

 

[seremify007]

I'm not in the field but I've always thought Macquarie was the uni to go to for Actuarial studies - as long as you're set on that path, then that's where I'd go. Just keep in mind though, once you graduate you'll go on to do post grad with the institute anyway so noone will care which uni you went to. If you aren't so sure and think you may end up changing degrees/focus later on then I'd go with the uni which offers better 'backup' then.

 

[stu_dying_]

Thank-you! This helps a lot. Yeah, that is true that no one will care about which uni really when I do postgraduate with the institute. All the best

 

[BLIT2014]

Have you visited both campuses? Given Macquarie is closer I’d be inclined to suggest Macquarie for you. A point of difference between UNSW and Macquarie is that Macquarie has semesters whilst UNSW has trimesters. This means that units have often are condensed and less material is covered, whilst it is easier to get behind abd have less time to learn the content.

 

[stu_dying_]

Have you visited both campuses? Given Macquarie is closer I’d be inclined to suggest Macquarie for you. A point of difference between UNSW and Macquarie is that Macquarie has semesters whilst UNSW has trimesters. This means that units have often are condensed and less material is covered, whilst it is easier to get behind abd have less time to learn the content.

Yeah I have been to both campuses and I found both really nice, but I don't mind about the campuses really cause I guess It's the people around you who make any place enjoyable. Yeah, I have heard a lot of UNSW students complaining about trimesters, I guess it would be better to have more time to learn the content as you suggested semesters allow. Thank-you so much!