How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel

by Nanyang Business School | Sep 18, 2025 | MSc Accountancy

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC ACCOUNTANCY

How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel

Some professionals navigate daring risks on a daily basis, because the rewards make it worthwhile. So it is with Yu Tianlong, a Senior Associate in Risk and Regulatory Advisory at KPMG Singapore – one of the “Big Four” accounting firms. Even as he faces down challenges and curveballs regularly at work, he’s betting on his ability to turn complexity into opportunity.

Tianlong’s work at KPMG puts him right in the thick of things, helping financial institutions tackle the tricky, fast-changing world of compliance and risk.

“My work focuses on regulatory compliance and risk advisory for financial institutions,” Tianlong explains. “It requires a comprehensive skill set: regulatory knowledge, analytical modelling, fact-finding and professional client engagement.”

The problem-solving, research, and communication skills that Tianlong brings to bear in this demanding role were first honed during his MSc in Accountancy (MACC) at Nanyang Business School. So what did Tianlong take away from the MACC that still guides him in his work today?

Broadening horizons beyond China

While doing his dual undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Law at Renmin University of China, Tianlong found himself drawn to the clear, structured nature of accountancy – a welcome contrast to the broader, more conceptual management theories covered in his studies. “I found accounting more practical and hands-on,” Tianlong recalls.

This set the course for his career after graduation. After completing China-based internships in private equity, investment banking and audit, Tianlong decided to pursue a master’s programme as the next logical step. “My motivation was largely skill-based and career-oriented, with the primary goal of securing job opportunities,” he explains.

The MACC programme at Nanyang Business School (NBS) caught his eye for a few reasons. First, he appreciated the change of perspective that a Singapore-based education could offer. “I’ve always aspired to study outside of China, to broaden my horizons and enrich my experience as a student,” Tianlong shares. “I was deeply impressed by Singapore’s resilience and inclusiveness derived from its history, and I’ve wanted to experience it firsthand ever since.”

In fact, Tianlong had intended to join an exchange programme at NBS as an undergraduate, but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his plans. “I was determined to make up for that missed opportunity,” he says.

Building collaborative skills outside his comfort zone

Tianlong quickly adapted to the MACC programme’s practice-driven course structure and highly interactive teaching approach. “Most modules featured group projects where we tackled real-world problems, and the professors combined academic rigour with industry experience,” he recalls.

The collaborative nature of the courses – centred on case studies and presentations – taught Tianlong to lead and collaborate effectively in diverse, deadline-driven environments. “This also trained me to prepare and deliver outcomes in formal English,” he shares.

“ Several key experiences helped prime Tianlong for his compliance and risk career. For one, the Forensic Accounting and Digital Forensics module gave Tianlong his first practical encounter with Singapore’s Big Four firms. “Several lectures were delivered by practicing forensic professionals from one of the Big Four firms, who walked us through real-life forensic tools and investigative approaches used in the industry,” he explains.”

Another memorable experience – a group project on cryptocurrency forensics – helped to push him out of his comfort zone. His team was tasked to investigate how forensic teams could obtain evidence in the context of advanced blockchain transactions and crypto exchanges. “It was a technically complex topic that was relatively new to many of us,” he recalls.

To successfully complete the project, he had to collaborate closely with diverse team members to pick up knowledge fast and meet tight timelines. “That experience has deepened my subject knowledge as well as strengthened my ability to work effectively in complex settings – skills I continue to rely on today.”

From school connections to career opportunities

Such experiences gave Tianlong a head start in landing career opportunities even before finishing the MACC programme.

Attending a Big Four networking event at NTU directly led to his first full-time job at KPMG Singapore. “I reached out to an HR executive and expressed my interest in risk-related roles,” he shares. “She kindly suggested I speak with one of the partners, who is also an Accountancy alumnus of NTU.”

The conversation motivated Tianlong to apply for a position on KPMG’s official jobs portal, and he eventually received an offer to join the team. “The recognition associated with the MACC programme enabled me to stay competitive in both local and international job markets,” he explains.

He also got a job-hunting boost from the dedicated counsellors of NBS’s Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO). “The GSCDO staff were kind and resourceful, offering not only me but many of us valuable industry insights and access to alumni networks,” he recalls.

Even as an up-and-coming professional today, Tianlong continues to stay in touch with key contacts in the GSCDO. “Their career support doesn’t stop at graduation,” he tells us.

For one thing, he’s benefited from their regular alumni panels and small-group networking opportunities. “These events connect us with peers and senior professionals who are often very open in sharing their journeys, transitions, and lessons learned,” he explains. “Through these honest conversations, I’ve gained deeper insights that support my ongoing career development.”

Equipped to excel

Since arriving at KPMG two years ago, Tianlong’s career growth has been steady but sure.

Tianlong believes his recent promotion to Senior level was aided by the skill sets and insights he’s gained from the MACC programme. “As a compliance consultant at a Big Four firm, I’ve found that the ability to think structurally, communicate clearly, and collaborate across departments is crucial,” he explains. “The MACC programme – especially its hands-on and team-based learning components – helped me develop exactly those capabilities.”

A recent engagement for a leading banking client drove this point home for Tianlong. “The task drew heavily on my expertise and prior experience in both China and Singapore. This enabled me to extract and consolidate facts from a vast volume of documents to construct a narrative, which we then reported to the bank’s local and global leadership within a designated timeframe,” he says.

In this project and many others in his career, he relied extensively on the presentation, research, and cross-functional communication skills he built during his MACC journey. “My ability to manage group dynamics, synthesise complex information, and adapt quickly to evolving client needs has given me a clear edge in my professional environment,” Tianlong reflects.

A degree with lasting relevance in a changing world

As with many industries today, the rate of technological change has accelerated in the accounting industry. “Technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data are transforming the way businesses operate,” Tianlong notes.

Far from being daunted, however, he believes that the MACC has equipped him to meet these shifts head-on. “The MACC programme embraces change and stays aligned with industry trends – preparing us both to respond to change, and to anticipate and navigate it proactively.”

Tianlong is confident that the MACC experience will help him stay relevant even in the face of significant business and career uncertainties. “The MACC programme offers more than just a strong technical foundation. It also gives us a practical mindset to navigate these evolving times,” he sums up. “The comprehensive career support that we receive also equips us with the necessary skills to stay ahead of the curve.”

Find out more about the MSc in Accountancy programme here.

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A Singaporean’s Journey to Upskill Locally Through a Globally Recognised Analytics Programme

by Nanyang Business School | Sep 16, 2025 | MSc Business Analytics

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC BUSINESS ANALYTICS

A Singaporean’s Journey to Upskill Locally Through a Globally Recognised Analytics Programme

If knowledge is power, data is undoubtedly the beating heart of this knowledge. Today’s businesses are increasingly relying on data to boost efficiency and drive growth. In fact, close to 90% of larger firms in Singapore have already adopted data analytics, fuelling demand for data skills across all kinds of industries.

At the same time, recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping data workflows. By chatting to AI-powered assistants in natural language, you can generate database queries, automate reports, and even build data pipelines. With such tools at our fingertips, how important is it to develop deep expertise in data skills?

Very important, according to MSc Business Analytics (MSBA) alumnus Kerk Jun Gang. Having embarked on his MSBA journey in 2021, Jun Gang saw the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT during his studies.

This has given him unique insight into what he dubs the “pre-GPT” and “post-GPT” eras – especially as someone with a non-technical background. With new tools and trends emerging all the time, Jun Gang shares how his MSBA experience has given him the grounding to learn fast and add value.

Upskilling from operations to analytics

Jun Gang first became interested in analytics when working alongside business analysts in his first job. In Singapore’s CPF Board, his duties included streamlining operational processes and improving workstream efficiency.

When his department embarked on a major system modernisation, he took charge of translating operational needs into business requirements for the revamp. He spent long hours collaborating with business analysts to align user needs with transformation efforts, which opened his eyes to the insights that data skills could unlock.

“I realised that in order to better appreciate the work we were doing, I would need a better understanding of these technologies,” Jun Gang recalled. “So, I told myself I needed to do some upskilling.”

Although Jun Gang had completed his undergraduate studies at another Singapore university, he was keen to explore a fresh perspective beyond his alma mater. The MSBA curriculum at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) offered the innovative lens and broad foundation that he was looking for.

“Coming from a non-tech background – political science – to tech, that broader perspective helps a lot,” he explained. “At that time, I was looking to broaden my understanding in tech, and NTU’s core modules met that need. If I developed an interest in certain areas later on, I could use the electives to focus on them.”

Putting classroom learning into action

For professionals making a career change like Jun Gang, one major concern is how useful their classroom knowledge will be in the workplace. But he soon found that the programme’s hands-on approach, backed by real-world data and case studies, helped him turn theory into impact easily.

“One memorable class for me was the Operations Analytics elective, where we worked on case studies on how organisations were failing because their processes weren’t optimal,” he shared.

“In my role, I could see some of these problems first-hand, and hence could appreciate their real-world impact. I could clearly see how using analytics to make operations more efficient would be useful to my company.”

Jun Gang also enjoyed his classes in core skills like database management – to the point that he decided to challenge himself further. To put his classroom lessons into action, he made a career move to a Senior Analyst in Data Analytics and Visualisation at Great Eastern.

Armed with newfound data analytics skills, Jun Gang was able to combine datasets from customers’ digital footprints and buying patterns. This enabled him to analyse how consumers were purchasing products and create smoother customer journeys.

“I could directly apply my studies to my work in many areas,” he added. “I was able to grasp how the data engineers were putting pipelines together, and I had the backend programming knowledge to understand why systems were structured a certain way. All this helped with better understanding customers and driving sales.”

The value of deep expertise in a post-AI world

Jun Gang was halfway through his MSBA journey when ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late-2022. Over the next few years, generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot rapidly rolled out, offering the potential to automate everything from writing SQL queries to solving programming problems.

“My batch was lucky in the sense that we had hands-on experience in both the pre-GPT and post-GPT eras,” Jun Gang reflected. “For example, I’ve gone through the painful process of going through pages of Stack Overflow to find the perfect solution to a problem. But I also know how to use GPTs efficiently to assist my research.”

Having that hard-won expertise in problem-solving has made him better at thinking, analysing, and innovating – rather than simply relying on AI. He cites his experience at Great Eastern, where he had to write SQL queries every day.

“These days, you can type “SQL query to _____” and AI would largely give you the answer,” he shared. “But through the MSBA programme, I gained a deep understanding of how execution logic works and why it works this way. Without this understanding, I wouldn’t have been able to write queries as fluently and comfortably. Being able to actually understand what I’m writing helped me to perform the job better.”

Building a dynamic career on a strong foundation

After graduating from the MSBA programme, Jun Gang quickly landed a role with Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). As a Manager in Digitalisation and Business Excellence, he describes his job as “doing it all”.

“Day-to-day, I do everything from automation to analytics, dashboard creation, and data engineering. Right now, I’m also supervising projects on AI model optimisation,” he shared. “It’s like the organised chaos of a startup.”

Every week brings something new, but his MSBA experience has given him the broad foundation of data skills to adapt quickly.

“I wouldn’t say I do everything well, but MSBA has indeed given me a strong knowledge base to build on,” Jun Gang said. “It’s a foundation on which I can build new capabilities, rather than just following what ChatGPT tells me without understanding what goes on behind the scenes.”

From his early days of writing SQL queries, Jun Gang has come a long way in his data analytics journey. In one memorable project, he led the building of modern databases for his department, paving the way to shift their data management from Excel to the cloud.

“I started out using basic SQL, but today I can build databases and data pipelines – pretty much what a data engineer does,” he reflected. “Without the fundamentals I gained from the programme, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.”

The enduring value of the MSBA programme

For Jun Gang, a career move from operations to data analytics paid off with a salary boost. But beyond the monetary returns, his investment in upskilling also led him to greater career fulfilment.

“When I was in operations, the day-to-day got a bit mundane,” he revealed. “But with technology changing so fast, I’m never short of new advances to surprise me.”

Even as technology evolves, Jun Gang is confident he has the right grounding to stay competitive in the long run. “The MSBA training isn’t just one-and-done,” he pointed out. “It has provided an analytical lens that I apply to everything I do to drive progress.”

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One Degree, Diverse Careers: How An Actuarial Science Degree Opens Doors Across Industries

by Nanyang Business School | Sep 11, 2025 | MSc Actuarial And Risk Analytics

Graduate Studies Blog

MSc ACTUARIAL AND RISK ANALYTICS

One Degree, Diverse Careers: How An Actuarial Science Degree Opens Doors Across Industries

When you think of an actuary, you might picture someone pricing policies at an insurance firm or crunching numbers to design pension schemes. But while actuaries are essential in their traditional fields of insurance and pensions, many are venturing off the beaten path and stepping into exciting new industries.

Today’s organisations face risks that didn’t exist two decades ago: artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity threats, climate crisis, and more. This has fuelled a widespread need for professionals who can analyse and manage these risks – such as actuaries. In fact, the Actuaries Institute reports that 40% of its members were working in sectors outside insurance in 2024.

With new doors opening across industries, the right actuarial training can help you seize these opportunities. Here’s a look at the diverse career paths that await actuaries today, and how the MSc Actuarial and Risk Analytics programme at Nanyang Business School (NBS) equips graduates with the skill sets to pursue them.

The Rise of Non-Traditional Actuarial Roles

Actuarial science applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess future risks. For example, a company offering pension benefits would need an actuary to advise on investment risk, inflation risk, and longevity risk in order to ensure sufficient funding for future payouts.

Many actuarial science graduates go straight from the classroom to careers in insurance, reinsurance, and pensions. But over the last decade, demand for actuaries has dramatically evolved across industries. New technologies and trends are creating increasingly complex risks, pushing businesses to find talent with the skills to make sense of uncertainty.

Actuaries have a strong foundation in quantitative and analytical skills, from financial analysis to risk modelling. In an increasingly data-driven world, these skills translate well to all sorts of roles that turn numbers into insight: data science, enterprise risk management, public policy, and even sustainability.

Take Dr Nie Ciyu, Academic Director of the MSc Actuarial and Risk Analytics (MARA) programme at NBS, as an example. After completing her PhD in Actuarial Studies, she joined Ernst & Young as an Actuarial Consultant in general insurance. Not long after, she took the leap to become a Data Scientist with popular e-commerce platform Alibaba.

“That was a bit of a career shift, from actuarial practice to data mining,” Dr Nie recalls. “It definitely gave me a more complex understanding of actuarial skills and how important they can be in broader risk management.”

The MSc Actuarial and Risk Analytics: A uniquely interdisciplinary programme

Drawing from her industry experience, Dr Nie has designed an actuarial science curriculum that moves beyond traditional models.

The MARA programme is deeply interdisciplinary, combining strong actuarial fundamentals with risk management, and sustainability thinking. Modules like AI and advanced analytics will give participants a solid foundation in new tools shaping the future of risk.

Participants can also choose to specialise in key areas like climate risk management and financial risk management, preparing them to build a career in these fast-growing fields.

To connect classroom learning with industry problems, participants will work on real-world case studies and projects in collaboration with industry partners. “This will allow students to tackle real issues and gain practical experience,” she says.

Building the Soft Skills for Bold Career Moves

Technical know-how isn’t the only factor in a successful career, especially for those carving out non-traditional paths. Actuarial professionals highlight that communication and collaboration skills are key to moving beyond conventional actuarial roles.

These skills are no less important in core actuarial work – actuaries need to work closely with different business teams and share insights with stakeholders.

Knowing the importance of these soft skills from her own industry experiences, Dr Nie has built a programme that primes participants to effectively express their ideas and work in teams. “Instead of just focusing on mathematics, the MARA programme trains students to communicate clearly and solve problems collaboratively with other teams like marketing, HR, or management,” she shares.

Participants can look forward to a fast-paced, interactive curriculum with plenty of group projects, honing their confidence to navigate different perspectives. “The faculty here is highly supportive, and you’ll also work closely with professors and mentors on specific tasks,” she adds.

One Degree, Diverse Career Opportunities

Armed with both interdisciplinary knowledge and industry-ready soft skills, MARA graduates will have what it takes to enter a wide range of roles and sectors.

Actuaries continue to be in demand across traditional roles: insurance, reinsurance, pensions, finance, and consultancy. “All of these are still very important,” Dr Nie affirms. At the same time, graduates have the flexibility to chart career paths outside core actuarial roles.

For example, having knowledge of AI and advanced analytics enable graduates to potentially transition into a data scientist role. The programme’s solid training in risk analytics opens up possibilities in risk management, from cyber risk to climate risk. Regulatory policy is another option, allowing graduates to apply their strategic skills to develop and implement public policies.

“We’re seeing a lot of demand among regulatory bodies for professionals who can manage risk and build a sustainable society. So, there are opportunities in the governmental decision-making area as well,” Dr Nie shares.

“We’ve also observed that some students go on to join tech startups. They are very highly skilled in numbers, data modelling, as well as AI and machine learning, so they have the capabilities sought after by tech firms.”

In a world defined by constant change, the MARA programme aims to help graduates stay agile and relevant in the long run. “The skills you’ll learn here are highly versatile,” Dr Nie sums up. “This will open up a lot of choices in your future career.”

Ready to seize new career opportunities? Learn more about the MSc Actuarial and Risk Analytics programme here.

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Building Skills Vs. Building Leaders: How the Nanyang Executive MBA Pays Off

by Nanyang Business School | Aug 27, 2025 | Nanyang Executive MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA

Building Skills Vs. Building Leaders: How the Nanyang Executive MBA Pays Off

Leadership skills are in high demand in these challenging times. As advancement becomes increasingly selective, executives are upskilling to stay competitive.

The Singapore government’s recent emphasis on SkillsFuture courses have led to growing interest in short courses as a path to growth. But are they enough to develop the strategic thinking today’s leaders need?

Not likely, explains Prof. Jun Yang, Dean of Nanyang Business School. “In today’s fast-changing world, professionals need more than just technical know-how,” she says. “Postgraduate degrees offer structured, in-depth learning that go beyond what short-term certifications typically offer.”

There is no denying that short courses offer significant value: they are an accessible entry point for foundational knowledge, with low-to-medium commitment required. But for those seeking meaningful, long-term progression, postgraduate programmes like the Nanyang EMBA deliver more, and yield more in return.

To explore the differences between short-term courses and postgraduate degrees like the Nanyang EMBA, we spoke to Joyce Chen (EMBA ‘22). She’s seen both sides – having taken an NTU FlexiMasters, and the Nanyang EMBA a little later on.

What can she tell us about the outcomes of either course – and how much further has she come since completing her Nanyang EMBA?

A pathway to more advanced study

As a DEI Leader in industrial power solutions provider Cummins, Joyce performs consulting, coaching, and upskilling at various organisational levels. It’s a job with wide-ranging demands and little room to pause. “I’d been working in the corporate world for a while – juggling multiple roles, both professionally and personally,” Joyce shares. “It’s been intense.”

Joyce had long aspired to an MBA, but her packed schedule made it difficult to prioritise. So, she decided to undertake a mini-Masters in General Management under the NTU FlexiMasters instead, motivated by its reasonable cost and available grants during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Getting into the FlexiMasters programme was my fail-safe,” Joyce explains. “It was a low hanging fruit at low cost, for a short time. Why not try it?”

The FlexiMasters’ coursework leaned heavily on textbook use cases and technical frameworks – useful for foundational learning, but not quite aligned with the challenges Joyce faced in her senior role. The short course content was better suited to a younger cohort of fresh graduates with limited corporate experience.

Joyce saw it as a pathway to more advanced study. “The FlexiMasters was like scaffolding,” Joyce says. “It gave me the courage to step up and embark on the Nanyang EMBA.”

With strong backing from her senior leadership and a narrow window of personal availability, Joyce knew it was time to commit. “My elder son was about to enter his PSLE year, and I knew that in a few years’ time I’d be too busy with other things,” she says.

Learning alongside experienced senior leaders

Compared to the FlexiMasters, the Nanyang EMBA had a more selective admissions process that included minimum academic requirements and a battery of admissions interviews – all of which Joyce passed with flying colours.

Upon joining, Joyce found a greater strategic depth in the Nanyang EMBA programme. “I definitely could not gain the collective best practices that I gained from the EMBA programme compared to the FlexiMasters,” Joyce explains.

“In the FlexiMasters, when discussing a business case, students share knowledge from their tertiary education,” she continues. “Compare that with the Nanyang EMBA, where the sharing came from the cohort’s personal experiences as executives, not from textbook examples.”

Joyce was pleased to find her cohort consisted of other high-level executives from various industries. “You learn from each other – and you have an impact on each other as well,” she explains. “Think about the experiences each individual participant offers to the programme, and multiply that by the number of participants.”

Each class felt like a safe environment for sharing real-life experiences, and gaining insights into various sectors’ inner workings. On a few occasions, the entire cohort joined a fellow participant at their workplace – like on “Google Day,” where they learned about the tech industry right in the Google Singapore HQ.

“The authentic sharing of different EMBA participants gives you comfort and confidence that, as you lead in your own space and in your own industry, it’s actually not too different from theirs,” Joyce explains.

Gaining a global perspective

The Nanyang EMBA also offers a broader platform to examine global business challenges through direct international exposure – an experience that can’t be found in short courses. “Global immersion modules and international exchanges prepare [participants] to navigate different markets and manage multicultural teams with confidence,” explains Prof. Jun Yang.

For her part, Joyce enjoyed the global perspective provided by the Nanyang EMBA’s international segments at Tsinghua University and University of California, Berkeley. “In today’s era, having this experience of both the US and China enabled us to learn from professors of both sides, and also experience their cultural differences,” Joyce explains.

Both segments allowed Joyce to compare and contrast UC Berkeley’s “startup environment” and Tsinghua University’s Asian take on strategy and entrepreneurship. By hearing directly from energetic, passionate professors on both sides, Joyce better understood the nuances that each approach offers in tackling real-world challenges.

The Tsinghua experience came in handy when she received an internal promotion in 2022, which included additional remit assignments covering the China region and Corporate Responsibility, applying my learnings from Tsinghua eased my relationships with colleagues across Greater China,” she explains.

Leadership transformation: the ultimate return on investment

“Our postgraduate courses provide high ROI for our students, with excellent career outcomes and employer recognition,” Prof. Jun Yang explains. Joyce Chen can vouch for these results, and more – her post-EMBA journey offers a deeper view of what transformation really looks like.

After her Nanyang EMBA, Joyce acted on Cummins’ newfound cultural emphasis on making quick decisions and executing them swiftly. “I coach leaders, helping them role-model the behaviours our company is moving toward,” she says.

Her professional profile also benefited. “My brand equity went up after completing the Nanyang EMBA,” she reflects. Joyce was invited to contribute her DEI expertise to a leadership programme jointly run by NTU and Alstom, and continues to receive invitations to participate in industry forums. “Some of my EMBA peers even approach me in confidence for career conversations,” she adds.

Not all her growth happened in the classroom, either. During the UC Berkeley international segment, Joyce surprised even herself.

“I went skydiving. I wouldn’t have done that otherwise,” she laughs. The experience encapsulated what she’d gained through the Nanyang EMBA: the courage to try, the confidence to act, and the mindset to lead with impact.

A challenge you won’t regret taking on

So, what does Joyce recommend for executives weighing up short courses versus the Nanyang EMBA?

“It really depends on the individual’s situation,” she says. “If someone’s unsure about committing to further study, starting with a short course like the FlexiMasters is a good way to test the waters. You can always decide later if an EMBA makes sense.”

But for those ready to commit, she’s clear: “If you have the energy and mental bandwidth, go for the EMBA. It’s designed to be fast-paced for a reason. It will push you – but you won’t be doing it alone.”

That’s ultimately what sets the Nanyang EMBA apart. “Transformation is the goal,” Prof. Jun Yang explains. “Our programmes are designed to support not just professional growth, but personal and leadership development – something short courses simply don’t offer.”

The value continues to deliver long after graduation. With a powerful alumni network, diverse cohort, and strong track record of career progression, the Nanyang EMBA delivers long-term impact for professionals ready to take that next step up.

Download the Nanyang Executive MBA brochure

Click here to learn more about the Nanyang Executive MBA programme or contact us at execmba@ntu.edu.sg.

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Introducing The MSc Actuarial Science And Risk Analytics: A Future-Ready Degree For Tomorrow’s Risks

by Nanyang Business School | Aug 5, 2025 | MSc Actuarial And Risk Analytics

Graduate Studies Blog

MSc ACTUARIAL AND RISK ANALYTICS

Introducing The MSc Actuarial Science And Risk Analytics: A Future-Ready Degree For Tomorrow’s Risks

We hear it all the time: our world is becoming more complex and uncertain. Beyond the traditional risks that people have been managing in the past, such as those tied to insurance, pensions, or market fluctuations—the landscape of risk has dramatically evolved. New technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) open the door to risks that must be thoughtfully managed, from cyber threats to privacy issues. Global warming is driving extreme weather events, making it vital to protect people and infrastructure from climate risks.

In a world of complexity, professionals who can measure and manage risk are in hot demand across every industry. Actuaries are key players in this space, using actuarial science to quantify and control future risks.

That’s why Nanyang Business School (NBS) is launching a new master’s programme: the MSc in Actuarial Science and Risk Analytics (MARA). Designed to prepare professionals for tomorrow’s risks, this interdisciplinary programme combines actuarial fundamentals with practical risk analytic skills. But first things first: what do actuaries actually do?

What is actuarial science, and what does an actuary do?

Actuarial science draws on mathematics, statistics, and financial analysis to calculate the likelihood of an event happening and what financial impact it might have.

Traditionally, it’s used in insurance and pension planning to help companies design policies and products. By analysing the mortality rates of people of a certain age, for example, an insurance company can estimate when it will need to pay out a life insurance policy and allocate funds accordingly.

In the past, actuaries were often thought to be limited to these fields – but this has not been the case. Dr Nie Ciyu, Academic Director of MARA at NBS and a qualified actuary from the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, shares that actuaries’ risk management and analytical skills make them valuable in any organisation that deals with risk.

“Today, actuaries are involved in strategic decisions across finance, healthcare, sustainability, and even high technology,” she says.

Actuaries have a core foundation in quantitative skills like statistical modelling, which overlap with other disciplines like financial engineering and business analytics. What sets actuaries’ work apart is their unique knowledge in risk management.

“The difference lies in how actuaries apply these skill sets to tackle risk,” explains Dr Nie. “Business analysts use similar skills to enhance business operations, and finance professionals may use them to analyse financial markets. But we have a special focus on preparing for future risks, whether it’s AI risk or financial risk.”

The MSc Actuarial Science and Risk Analytics: An interdisciplinary programme for a complex world

As new risks emerge, actuaries need new tools and skills to take them on effectively. NBS has designed the MARA programme to go beyond a conventional actuarial syllabus, with an interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares participants for a changing landscape.

“Think about the pandemic, climate change, cyber attacks, and more. The risks we face today have become more and more complex,” Dr Nie shares. “We’ve created MARA in response to the growing need for actuarial professionals who can think beyond traditional models.”

The curriculum integrates strong actuarial fundamentals with cutting-edge training in data science and risk analytics. Participants can also choose to focus on certain specialisations, such as climate risk management and financial risk management. Not only does this help participants develop innovative solutions to complex risks, it also opens up more career paths.

The modules are deeply industry-driven, with real-world projects that give participants a hands-on understanding of industry problems. “We’ll collaborate with industry partners to bring real business challenges into the classroom, including key trends like AI risk management,” Dr Nie reveals.

These strong ties to industry partners also mean that networking opportunities are built right into the MARA experience. “We’ll have guest lectures from industry professionals, who can share their work experiences and tips to progress in your future career path,” she adds.

A clear pathway to professional accreditation

After earning a degree, many actuaries go on to pursue further certifications – sharpening their competitive edge and opening doors to specialised roles. The MARA programme delivers on academic depth and rigour, giving graduates a smooth path to global professional qualifications.

“Our curriculum aligns closely with the curricula of leading actuarial bodies, such as the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFOA) and the Society of Actuaries (SOA),” Dr Nie explains. “We’re also designing the risk analytics modules in line with professional exams by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), such as the Financial Risk Management (FRM) certification and the Sustainability & Climate Risk (SCR) certification.”

Right now, the school is in talks with these actuarial bodies to gain accreditation for the MARA programme. NBS’s undergraduate programme for actuarial science is accredited by the IFoA for over twenty years – the only one in Singapore to gain such prestigious recognition. With accreditation, graduates can potentially benefit from exemptions for the IFoA or SOA’s associateship examinations, helping them earn career-ready credentials faster.

“We’re still building up to accreditation, but we’re confident that we can demonstrate the high quality of our training,” shares Dr Nie. “We’ll also provide strong support for our students’ exam journeys through workshops, academic guidance, and connections to certified professionals.”

With a MARA degree in hand, graduates will be poised to stand out to employers – both in Singapore and globally.

Thinking critically, working collaboratively

For those ready to step into the unique world of actuarial science, what kind of learning experience will the MARA programme offer? Dr Nie sums it up in three words: interactive, challenging, and fast-paced.

“You’ll be challenged to think critically and creatively about problems that are important to society,” she says. “But the faculty here is highly supportive, and you’ll collaborate closely with your course mates and mentors on various projects.”

Class sizes will be kept small to give each participant personalised support. Every student can tap into mentorship from the faculty, who are fully certified actuaries with deep expertise in risk analytics and climate risk management.

In this collaborative environment, it’s important that participants are comfortable not only working with numbers – but also with others.

“You should be good with numbers, although I wouldn’t say you have to be a mathematician,” Dr Nie explains. “At the same time, you need to be curious and collaborative, because actuaries don’t work in isolation. We want our students to be skilled at team work and willing to push boundaries.”

By the end of the programme, MARA participants can expect to grow into curious and cooperative problem-solvers – ready to navigate a new era of risk.

Ready to take on the future of risk? Learn more about the MSc Actuarial Science and Risk Analytics programme here.