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IFoA Exam Exemptions: A Guide to Eligible Universities and Courses

In our previous post, How to Become an Actuary with the IFoA: Your Complete Roadmap To Qualification, we discussed the various pathways to qualify via the IFOA if you are a Student Actuary in 2026.

We have already covered in detail the path to qualification if you are not seeking exemptions – that is, if you plan to sit for all your exams during the April or September sessions conducted by the IFoA.

This post is specifically for those considering the fast-track route to qualification by seeking exemptions based on university modules or courses accredited by the IFoA.

Read on to understand how exemptions from IFoA exams work, the eligibility requirements, and which university courses can help you claim these exemptions.

Bonus

Towards the end of the post, we discuss the pros and cons of this route. This will help you assess whether it’s the right fit for you. If you wish to directly jump to this part, click here.

Let’s start by understanding IFOA exemptions

If you are a Student Member of IFOA, you do not necessarily have to take all exams from scratch. A few universities worldwide are on IFOA’s accredited list. This means that if you take certain courses at these universities and meet the minimum requirements, you may be exempt from certain IFOA exams. Exams not covered by your exemptions will be completed alongside your professional career later, allowing you to gain valuable work experience while continuing to progress toward your actuarial qualification.

Students often choose the exemption route to earn a university degree while also making progress towards their actuarial qualification. Being surrounded by professors and peers who share an interest in the field can also help them develop the right mindset and prepare for a career as an actuarial professional.

📌 Important

University-based exemptions can make your journey towards an actuarial qualification more structured. However, not every course at an accredited university offers the same exemptions. Before deciding, we recommend checking the specific course and intake year carefully rather than choosing based solely on the university’s name.

The universities offering IFOA exam exemptions (As of September 2026)

As of September 2026, universities across the UK, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and other countries offer courses that can make you eligible for exemptions from IFoA exams.

Below is a list of the courses they offer and the corresponding exams for which exemptions are available.

NAME OF UNIVERSITY COURSE OFFERED EXEMPTION OFFERED ON SUBJECTS
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation BSc Actuarial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation BSc (Hons) Actuarial Studies with a Specialism in Data Analytics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation BSc (Hons) Actuarial Studies with a Specialism in Financial Technology CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation MSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CP1, CP2, CP3
Bayes Business School – City St George’s, University of London BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Bayes Business School – City St George’s, University of London MSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP2, CP3
Bayes Business School – City St George’s, University of London MSc in Actuarial Science with Business Analytics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP2, CP3
Bayes Business School – City St George’s, University of London MSc in Actuarial Management CS2, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1, CP2, CP3, SP1, SP2, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8
Beijing Technology and Business University BSc Insurance CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Bristol Numerate degrees offered by the Department of Mathematics CS1
Central University of Finance and Economics Bachelor of Science (Actuarial Science) CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Central University of Finance and Economics MSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1
University of Colombo MSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University College Cork BSc in Financial Mathematics and Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University College Cork BSc in Risk and Actuarial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Dongbei University of Finance and Economics Bachelor of Finance CM1, CS1, CB2, CB1
University College Dublin Bachelor of Actuarial and Financial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1
University College Dublin MSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University College Dublin Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Dublin City University BSc in Financial Mathematics CS1, CM2, CB2
Dublin City University BSc in Actuarial Mathematics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of East Anglia BSc in Actuarial Sciences CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of East Anglia BSc in Actuarial Sciences with a year in industry / abroad CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Essex BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Essex MSc Actuarial Science CS2, CM2, CB1
Fudan University BSc Risk Management and Insurance CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Fudan University BSc Insurance and Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Galway BSc in Financial Mathematics and Economics CS1, CM1, CB2
University of Haifa MA in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM2, CB1
Heriot-Watt University BSc Actuarial Data Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CB2
Heriot-Watt University BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Heriot-Watt University MSc / Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Heriot-Watt University MSc / Postgraduate Diploma in Actuarial Management CP1, CP2, CP3, SP2, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8, SP9
Heriot-Watt University MSc in Actuarial Management CB1, CB2, CM2, CS2, CP1, CP2, CP3, SP2, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8, SP9
Heriot-Watt University MSc in Actuarial Management with Data Science CP1, CP2, CP3, SP2, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8, SP9
University of Hong Kong BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Kent BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Kent BSc in Actuarial Science with a year in industry CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Kent MSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Kent MSc in Applied Actuarial Science CP1, CP2, CP3, SP2, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8, SP9
University of Kent International Masters in Applied Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1, CP2, CP3, SP2, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8, SP9
University of Lagos MSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Leeds BSc Actuarial Mathematics CS1, CM1, CM2
University of Leicester MMath Mathematics and Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1, CP2, CP3
University of Leicester BSc Mathematics and Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Leicester PGDip in Actuarial Science with Data Analytics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Leicester MSc Actuarial Science with Data Analytics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1, CP2, CP3
University of Lisbon Masters in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1
University of Lisbon BSc courses containing Economics I and Economics II CB2
University of Liverpool BSc in Mathematics with Finance CS1, CM2, CB1
University of Liverpool BSc in Actuarial Mathematics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
London School of Economics and Political Science BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Mahidol University BSc Actuarial Science CS1, CM1, CB1, CB2
University of Malaya BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2
University of Manchester BSc in Actuarial Science and Mathematics CS1, CS2, CM1, CB1, CB2
University of Manchester MSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM2
University of Mauritius BSc (Hons) Actuarial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Monash University (Australia) Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies major) CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2
Monash University (Australia) Bachelor of Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2
Monash University (Australia) Master of Actuarial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1
Monash University (Australia) Bachelor of Actuarial Science and Master of Actuarial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CP1
Monash University (Malaysia) Bachelor in Actuarial Analytics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Nanyang Technological University Bachelor of Business: Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Ono Academic College Masters in Business Administration, Actuarial Studies CS1, CM1, CB1, CB2
Patkar Varde College, University of Mumbai BSc Actuarial Science and Quantitative Finance CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Patkar Varde College, University of Mumbai Master of Science (Actuarial Science) CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1
Queen Mary, University of London MSc in Actuarial Science and Data Analytics CM2, CS2, CP1, CP2, CP3
Queen Mary, University of London BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Queen’s University Belfast BSc in Actuarial Science and Risk Management CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Queen’s University Belfast MSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Rashtriya Raksha University MSc Actuarial Science with Data Analytics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1
Shanghai International Studies University BSc Actuarial Science CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Southampton BSc in Mathematics with Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Southampton BSc in Economics and Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Southampton Postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Strathclyde MSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CB2
Sunway University MSc in Actuarial Analytics CP1, CP2, CP3
Sunway University BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Taylor’s University Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Hons) CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Tel Aviv University BA in Management (Actuarial Science track) CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Swansea University BSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Swansea University MSc Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1
Swansea University BSc Mathematics CS1, CS2
Swansea University BSc Mathematics for Finance CS1, CS2, CM1
Swansea University MMath Mathematics CS1, CS2, CM1
Swansea University MSc Mathematics CS2, CM1
Swansea University MSc Mathematics and Computing for Finance CS1, CS2, CM1
Universiti Teknologi MARA Bachelor of Science (Hons) Actuarial Science CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Science CS1, CM1, CB1, CB2
UCSI University BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science CM1, CB1, CB2
UCSI University BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science and Finance CM1, CB1, CB2
University of International Business and Economics BSc Actuarial Science / BSc Actuarial Science experimental class programme CS1, CS1, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Warwick BSc MORSE CS1, CM1, CB1, CB2
University of Warwick BSc Mathematics and Statistics CS1, CM1, CB1, CB2
University of Warwick MMath Statistics and Mathematics CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Warwick MMORSE CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of Waterloo Masters in Actuarial Science (M.Act.Sc) CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2, CP1, CP2, CP3
University of York BSc in Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
University of York BSc in Actuarial Science with a year in industry CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Wuhan University Bachelor of Insurance (Actuarial Class) CS2, CM1
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University BSc Actuarial Science CS1, CM1, CM2
Zhongnan University of Economics and Law BSc Insurance and Actuarial Science CS1, CS2, CM1, CM2, CB1, CB2
Note: The exemptions listed above are based on the IFoA’s current Route A university directory. Exemption eligibility may vary depending on the course, modules studied, grades achieved and enrolment date. Check the latest information on the official IFoA website for any changes to this list and before deciding about a university or course. In case of any discrepancy between the list above and the IFOA website, IFOA website takes precedence.

Pros and Cons of Seeking Exemptions

This section will come in handy if you wish to evaluate your choices before making the right decision.

Pros
Fewer IFoA exams:
You may receive exemptions from selected IFoA examinations after completing the relevant university coursework.
Integrated learning:
You can study actuarial subjects as part of your university degree while progressing towards the IFoA qualification.
Structured actuarial pathway:
An IFoA-recognised course can provide a more structured route if you are planning a career in actuarial science.
More time for other activities:
Having exemptions from some exams may allow you to focus more on internships, projects, technical skills and practical experience.
Potentially smoother transition to professional studies:
Familiarity with relevant actuarial concepts will make it easier to understand the structure of subsequent professional requirements.
Cons
Eligibility conditions:
Exemptions may depend on the specific course, modules studied, grades achieved and enrolment date.
University workload remains:
You will still need to complete the relevant university modules and meet the required academic standards.
Additional costs may apply:
You may need to pay applicable IFoA fees when claiming exemptions. Additionally, the cost of enrolling in the universities may also be high.
Not the complete qualification:
Exemptions from university courses do not automatically mean that all IFoA qualification requirements have been completed.
Exemption arrangements can change:
The exemptions available for a particular course may differ depending on the your enrolment date, so current IFoA information should always be checked.

We hope this information helps you make an informed decision about the path that best suits your actuarial journey. When choosing a university, look beyond the exemptions offered and consider factors such as faculty, placements, learning environment, and overall fit.

Reach out to us for more assistance. We’re happy to help!

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praveenpatwari@actuatorseducation.com

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