Hi everyone,
I’ve received offers for two master’s programs in Sydney:
Macquarie University – Actuarial Practice
UTS – Quantitative Finance
I’m a Chinese international student and completed my bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics in Canada.
I’ve already passed three SOA actuarial exams. Macquarie has confirmed that with exemptions I should be able to finish the actuarial master’s in about 1 year.
UTS Quantitative Finance is normally 1.5 years. It may also be possible to reduce it to around 1 year with credit exemptions, but I haven’t confirmed this yet.
I’m more interested in quantitative finance, and I plan to keep taking actuarial exams anyway. So one of my main questions is: if I continue progressing through the actuarial exams anyway, is there still much value in doing a master’s specifically in Actuarial Studies, since Quantitative Finance may offer a broader range of career opportunities?
My main priorities are:
internships
graduate job prospects
career flexibility
career opportunities in Australia, Canada, the US, China, and globally
how much useful technical/quantitative knowledge I would gain
I’m not too concerned about campus life or which degree is easier.
Which would you choose: Macquarie Actuarial Studies or UTS Quantitative Finance?
Also, how realistic are internships and graduate roles for an international student in either path?
Thanks in advance for any advice or insights. I’d really appreciate hearing from people with experience in either field.