Actuarial Science Research Foundations

Objective: To develop the ability to identify significant actuarial, insurance, financial and risk-related problems, critically engage with existing literature and establish a clear direction for independent master’s-level research.

Research Components:

• Research Problem Identification
• Critical Literature Review
• Development of Research Questions
• Actuarial, Financial and Risk Inquiry

Objective: To develop the ability to design rigorous actuarial and quantitative research using appropriate statistical, mathematical and analytical approaches aligned with the research problem, objectives and intended outcomes.

Research Components:

• Advanced Research Design and Methodologies
• Quantitative and Statistical Research Methods
• Mathematical and Actuarial Modelling
• Research Ethics and Academic Integrity
• Data Collection and Analysis Planning

Objective: To develop a coherent and academically rigorous research proposal establishing the rationale, actuarial context, theoretical or mathematical foundation, methodology and intended contribution of the proposed research.

Research Components:

• Research Proposal Development
• Conceptual, Statistical and Theoretical Framework
• Quantitative Methodological Planning
• Proposal Review and Approval

Objective: To strengthen the learner’s ability to conduct independent postgraduate research, critically evaluate quantitative evidence and apply appropriate analytical, statistical and research methods throughout the research process.

Research Components:

• Developing Research Capability
• Critical Analysis and Academic Argument
• Statistical and Quantitative Data Interpretation
• Academic Writing and Scholarly Communication

Objective: To enable learners to investigate an approved actuarial, insurance, financial or risk-related problem independently while receiving structured academic supervision and research guidance.

Research Components:

• Independent Actuarial Research
• Academic Supervision
• Research Progress Reviews
• Data Collection, Modelling, Analysis and Evaluation

Objective: To demonstrate advanced research capability through the completion of a substantial independent research project addressing a relevant problem within actuarial science, insurance, finance, pensions, risk management or quantitative practice.

Research Components:

• Master’s Dissertation Writing
• Research Findings and Critical Evaluation
• Actuarial, Professional and Research Implications
• Final Review, Submission and Defence

Upon successful completion of all academic and graduation requirements, learners receive two master’s-level qualifications:

• Master of Science in Actuarial Science — EuroAmerican Institute (EAI), Malta
• Master of Science in Actuarial Science — EIMT, Switzerland

Together, they form the SwissEU™ dual-qualification pathway, combining a nationally recognised European master’s qualification with a Swiss master’s qualification within one integrated research journey.

The Master of Science in Actuarial Science – By Research does not require learners to follow a predetermined specialisation.

Instead, each learner develops an approved research direction based on the proposed actuarial or quantitative problem, professional background, industry context, analytical interests and intended contribution.

Research areas may include:

1. Actuarial Risk Modelling
2. Life Insurance and Life Contingencies
3. General Insurance and Loss Modelling
4. Health Insurance and Healthcare Risk
5. Pensions and Retirement Systems
6. Mortality and Longevity Modelling
7. Survival Models
8. Financial Mathematics
9. Quantitative Finance
10. Investment and Asset-Liability Management
11. Enterprise Risk Management
12. Insurance Pricing and Reserving
13. Solvency and Capital Modelling
14. Catastrophe and Extreme Risk Modelling
15. Predictive Analytics in Insurance
16. Machine Learning in Actuarial Science
17. Climate Risk and Insurance
18. Behavioural Insurance and Risk
19. Social Insurance and Population Risk
20. Actuarial Data Science

Other actuarial, insurance, financial, statistical and quantitative research areas may be considered subject to academic relevance, supervisory capacity and approval.

The research area defines the focus of the learner’s investigation and dissertation. It does not constitute a separate specialisation award unless explicitly stated within the applicable qualification regulations.

The programme begins with an actuarial problem, insurance challenge, quantitative research question or risk-related issue that is relevant to the learner’s academic or professional context.

Instead of requiring every learner to follow the same predetermined actuarial pathway, each candidate develops an individual research direction subject to academic approval.

Identify

Define a meaningful actuarial, financial, insurance or risk problem worthy of systematic investigation.

Investigate

Critically explore existing knowledge, actuarial models, statistical evidence, mathematical frameworks, industry practices and relevant research.

Research

Design and conduct an appropriate independent actuarial science research project under academic supervision.

Contribute

Develop findings, models, analytical insights, frameworks or practical implications that contribute to actuarial knowledge or professional practice.

Professional experience can provide a valuable starting point for actuarial science research.

Actuaries, insurance professionals, risk managers, analysts, financial specialists, quantitative professionals and other practitioners frequently encounter complex problems involving uncertainty, financial risk, mortality, insurance pricing, reserving, pensions and risk modelling through their professional practice.

The Master of Science in Actuarial Science – By Research provides a structured academic pathway for transforming those challenges into systematic research.

Professional Experience
↓
Actuarial, Financial or Risk Problem
↓
Research Question
↓
Quantitative Investigation
↓
Research Findings
↓
Actuarial, Professional & Academic Value

A research-based Master of Science in Actuarial Science can provide valuable preparation for learners who may later wish to pursue doctoral-level research.

Through the programme, learners experience key elements of the postgraduate research process, including:

• identifying an actuarial, financial or risk-related research problem;
• developing research questions;
• conducting a critical literature review;
• selecting appropriate research methodologies;
• developing statistical, mathematical or conceptual frameworks;
• collecting and analysing quantitative data;
• developing and evaluating actuarial or risk models;
• critically evaluating research findings;
• translating findings into actuarial and professional implications;
• writing an academic dissertation; and
• presenting and defending research findings.

Where academically appropriate, research developed at master’s level may provide a foundation for identifying or refining a future doctoral research direction.

Admission to any subsequent doctoral programme remains subject to the admission requirements and academic assessment of the relevant institution.

Typical Route

Applicants should:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited or recognised institution; or
• Hold an equivalent qualification at EQF Level 6 or comparable level.

Applicants with backgrounds in business, management, economics, finance, marketing, human resources, entrepreneurship, operations, leadership or related areas may be particularly suited to the programme.

Applicants from other academic backgrounds may also be considered where they can demonstrate relevant professional experience, managerial responsibility or an appropriate proposed research direction.

A clearly identifiable research interest or proposed area of business or organisational inquiry is beneficial for admission to the research pathway.

Alternative Route

Applicants who do not meet the standard academic entry requirements may be considered through an applicable APEL/RPL route, subject to academic assessment and approval.

Relevant professional experience, previous academic work, management projects, entrepreneurial activity, research experience, professional certifications or other evidence of preparedness for postgraduate research may be considered as part of the applicable admissions process.

English Language Requirement

• Minimum CEFR Level B2, IELTS 5.5, or equivalent, subject to the applicable admission requirements.

Direct academic engagement. Structured supervision. Integrated research support.

Learners participate in research development activities and academic engagement directly through Swiss Information and Management Institute (SIMI Swiss) under the Swiss Live Class Direct™ model.

Throughout the research journey, learners receive structured support in areas such as research design, quantitative methodology, actuarial research development, statistical analysis, academic writing and dissertation preparation.

Under the SwissEU™ academic model, SIMI Swiss focuses on academic delivery, research support and the learner experience, while the respective qualifications are awarded by EAI Malta and EIMT Switzerland in accordance with their applicable academic regulations.

Swiss Live Class Direct™ provides learners with direct academic engagement without franchise-based teaching or intermediary academic providers.

The Master of Science in Actuarial Science – By Research is designed to support learners throughout the development of their research rather than leaving them to complete a dissertation independently.

Research support may include:

• Research topic development
• Proposal development support
• Research methodology guidance
• Academic supervision
• Research progress review
• Literature review development
• Statistical and mathematical framework development
• Research design and data collection planning
• Quantitative and statistical data analysis guidance
• Actuarial modelling guidance
• Interpretation of actuarial and risk-related findings
• Academic writing support
• Dissertation formatting support
• English academic review
• Preparation for final submission and defence

Academic support assists the learner in developing the research but does not replace the learner’s responsibility for producing original academic work.