Statistics and Actuarial Science
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Programmes

​The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science is part of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. We strive to create a vibrant learning environment. Our skilled lecturers and researchers, together with guest lecturers and specialist practitioners, provide an innovative and relevant learning experience. This is complemented by outstanding technology, computer and library facilities.

The Department collaborates with a network of national and international role players, such as SAS (a global software company), Eskom, Sasol and Novare. These partnerships allow our students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems.

Skills development

Our bachelor degree programmes run for three years with the option of postgraduate study. In the first year, all students take more or less the same subjects. From the second year, you can select your preferred focus of study.

Whatever subjects you choose, you can expect to develop specialised mathematical and statistical modeling knowledge, excellent business acumen, strong computer skills, the ability to manage projects and creatively analyse and solve problems.

Career options

 Depending on your interests and skills, your career may develop in:

  • Private corporate companies, which need to evaluate risks and make strategic decisions;
  • Government, the public sector and industry where vast data sets need to be analysed;
  • Consulting firms, which for example need to validate advanced financial derivative pricing procedures;
  • Financial services industry including banks, insurance and asset management  companies;
  • Accounting companies;
  • Universities (as academics);
  • Research institutes.

All the bachelor degrees offered by the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science are a springboard to postgraduate study and/or a professional qualification. In fact, our graduates are globally in demand to take up stimulating, challenging and financially rewarding positions

​Degree programmes

  • ​​BCom (Mathematical Sciences)
  • BCom or BCom (Economic Sciences)
    • Statistics (more applied than Mathematical Statistics) as the main subject.

  • BCom (Actuarial Science)
    • Designed for the student who wants to be an actuary
    • Structured so that successful students are exempt from having to write some of the professional exams, as required by the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA). In order to qualify as an actuary and register as a Fellow or Associate of ASSA, students must pass professional exams and obtain work-based skills. This usually takes another three to six years after having succesfully completed the BCom (Actuarial Science) degree.

  • BSc (Mathematical Sciences)