MActSc Alumni Stories

A fast-tracked, intense and very rigorous, yet a highly rewarding program is what I would call MActSc Program. For me, it was the true transformational journey as it not just provided me with the Actuarial skillset and the knowledge to pass exams (gain exemptions), but also provided industry wide exposure by way of many presentations, assignments and the industry projects.

The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to cover a wide range of actuarial topics, from advanced mathematics and statistics to corporate finance and economics and Actuarial risk management. The professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also deeply committed to the success of their students. They offer invaluable guidance, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a comprehensive understanding of actuarial principles. The class size is pretty small as there were just 14 students in class, which enabled the professors to give personal attention to each and every student. We could also make deep bonds with each other and lifelong professional connections in this niche field. Collaborative learning environments, networking opportunities, and the camaraderie among students created a holistic educational experience. The sense of belonging and shared passion for actuarial science further enhanced my academic growth. Working in groups helped us to have a taste of the teamwork skills and the tight assignment deadlines helped us to enhance our time-management skills and the ability to work under pressure.

One of the standout features of the program is the practical application of knowledge. Through real-world case studies, hands-on industry projects, networking opportunities with the industry professionals, we felt well-prepared to transition seamlessly into the workforce. I found the program's emphasis on the practical aspects of actuarial science to be particularly valuable, as it bridged the gap between theory and its real-world implementation. Through one of such networking events and the interviews organized exclusively for our class, I feel so grateful to get the job offer as an Actuarial Analyst in SunLife Company.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Master of Actuarial Science program to prospective students who are dedicated to pursuing a successful career in the field. The program's outstanding faculty, rigorous curriculum, and commitment to preparing students for the actuarial profession make it a top choice for those seeking a high-quality education.

In conclusion, my experience at University of Waterloo has been transformative, and I am deeply grateful for the educational foundation it provided. It is a place where academic excellence and personal growth converge, and I am confident that the Master of Actuarial Science program will continue to be a beacon of success for future generations of actuarial professionals.

Link to video testimonial.

Coming from a strong science background, I knew I had all the necessary skills to enter the actuarial field but was missing the essential theoretical knowledge. The MActSc program allowed me to fast-track my development in this regard. 

 I especially appreciated the small class size, which resulted in receiving dedicated attention from all of the amazing professors. What’s more, some of these professors authored the reference material for the actuarial exams I would undertake a few years later! This truly highlighted the privilege of having been taught by experts in their field and reinforced the depth of knowledge I gained during my year at the university of Waterloo.

 The program helped me develop crucial soft skills for my career. It emphasized the importance of efficient communication, whether it be in writing emails or in creating impactful presentation decks. We often collaborated in teams and had plenty of opportunities to deliver presentations to people of importance. Additionally, the program definitely tested my time management and my ability to absorb a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time… exactly the skills I needed to succeed on actuarial exams! I obtained my titles of ASA and ACIA shortly after graduating and am currently in the last stretch to becoming a fully qualified actuary, with all of my exams already behind me. 

After completing this program, I thought I was going to become an actuary in an insurance company. However, after exploring the possibilities available to me upon graduating, I realized that there are many other opportunities that I could pursue. These include traditional and non-traditional roles. I have already pursued roles as a statistician, data scientist, and actuarial analyst in pricing. In essence, all the skills learned in the program are transferable and useful for a plethora of careers.

While I am still dedicated to becoming an actuary in the property and casualty insurance space, the University of Waterloo’s MActSc program and the connections I made are invaluable in shaping my future. I will be able to fall back on the experience I gained in this program for many years to come.

I am currently a Senior Actuarial Associate with the Canadian Experience Analytics team at Manulife. I really enjoyed my time with the MActSc program. Before starting it, I had completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the University of Alberta, but I was unsure of what my future would be. I had heard of actuarial science, but there wasn’t a suitable program at the University of Alberta, so I tried to take classes that would fit – but I was not prepared to join the life insurance industry or challenge the exams.

Once I discovered this master’s program, it seemed like the perfect fit for me. I was someone who was interested in working in the industry, and the connections and preparation that the MActSc program offered was ideal for that goal. It allowed me to cover all the necessary material for the preliminary exams, and fast tracked my career as an actuary. I also learned a lot of valuable skills about studying and networking that have also allowed me to complete the requirements for the FSA very quickly. It provided a great balance of soft and hard skills that has served me well in my career.

I also meet an astounding group of people, all of which held similar goals and ambitions as I did. I am happy to count many of those people as close friends even now that we have spread all over Canada. The culture of the program was excellent the professors that are involved are all very passionate.

The University of Waterloo is a very high intensity place. It is a perfect university for this program, with an excellent culture and reputation for academic success. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to join this program and that I credit a lot of the success I have had in my career to the skills I learned and developed in the program.

The UW MActSc program was a life changing experience for me. As someone who went through their undergraduate without having heard of actuarial science and who graduated into a field I was not passionate about, University of Waterloo’s MActSc program offered me a unique opportunity. The program fast tracked my career change to actuarial science in 12 months by arming me with valuable work knowledge, industry connections, exam exemptions and a master’s degree.

The program was meticulously crafted to bring everyone up to a base level of actuarial knowledge, then build on it with a coordinated course load of material led by top notch professors. The program gave me the opportunity to work with a diverse body of candidates from around the world, of whom some are now lifelong friends and professional contacts.

Since graduation 5 years ago, I have obtained my FSA and work as an Associate Director at Sun Life Canada. In my role I have the opportunity to tackle emerging topics such as valuation under IFRS17, new OSFI capital frameworks and how to position and assess new and existing product offerings under an ever changing economic landscape. A day does not go by where I do get learn something new!

Actuarial science is a perfect fit for me, balancing my strength with analytical problems, desire for a practical application of complex mathematics and satisfaction from working in a team environment. Thank you to the UW MActSc program for putting me on the right course to get there!