Where Ambition Meets Opportunity

Where Ambition Meets Opportunity

by | Nov 5, 2025 | Master in Management

Graduate Studies Blog

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MASTER IN MANAGEMENT

NTU’s Master in Management | Where Ambition Meets Opportunity

Read the headlines and you might feel that robots are taking over every aspect of work – a worrying thought for anyone entering the workforce.

But a glimmer of hope persists: human-centric skills like critical thinking, ethical decision-making, creativity, and cross-cultural leadership stand alongside tech fluency as skills with the fastest growing demand in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. “These are in demand because AI cannot replicate them,” explains Prof Tan Joo Seng, Academic Director of the NTU Singapore Master in Management (MiM) programme.

To thrive amidst AI disruption, develop these skills early – ideally within a programme like the NTU MiM that integrates them from the very beginning.

“Our MiM produces graduates who combine business fundamentals, AI literacy, sustainability awareness, and human-centric leadership – exactly the hybrid skill set employers want,” adds Prof Tan. 

Prof Tan's Quote

 

Data literacy is critical, but not enough

In today’s global, tech-driven economy, employers want graduates who deliver value from day one.

“When hiring graduates, employers expect a return on investment (ROI) through productivity, fresh thinking, and adaptability,” says Cheryl Leong, executive search Partner at Pullman Morrison. “New hires must learn fast and add value within months, not years.”

It’s a pattern that recruitment professionals like Cheryl recognise: technical skills are still necessary, but no longer enough. Employers now seek the following traits in fresh graduates and can no longer wait for them to learn these on the job.

“Data literacy is critical, but future leaders are good at turning insights into strategy,” says Cheryl. “Graduates who blend tech fluency with business sense are most valuable.”

Influence in the office: Technology has also eased rigid reporting chains in the office. “It’s less about formal authority; it’s now about empathy, communication, and managing diverse perspectives,” Cheryl adds.

Strong communication has become a key differentiator, Cheryl explains: “Graduates may know the latest frameworks, but if they can’t present ideas clearly or build trust, their impact is limited.”

Cheryl's Quote

 

How to turn knowledge into application

As employers prioritise applied skills over paper qualifications, graduates must go beyond academics and build cross-disciplinary capabilities:

Gain fluency in AI and sustainability. These are now essential competencies, with AI now embedded in most business functions and sustainability driving consumer choices. “Graduates who think across disciplines, leverage AI tools, and turn data into insights adapt faster and make greater impact,” Cheryl explains.

Develop critical thinking. Future-ready professionals assess trade-offs, not just execute tasks. “It’s vital to navigate complex decisions in organisations shaped by AI and digital transformation,” Prof Tan explains.

Develop empathy. Future managers must understand diverse stakeholder perspectives – especially as AI adoption reshapes human responses. “This is a skill set that has to be consciously developed, setting the foundation for long-term leadership success,” Cheryl says.

 

Learning disciplines within the context of disruption

Recruiters are increasingly ROI-driven when assessing graduate business degrees.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents to the latest GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey say a graduate business degree’s relevance has increased. AI and other new technologies require additional business acumen, increasing recruiters’ demand for graduate-level talent.

“Employers signal three main needs: Tech fluency, sustainability literacy, and adaptability in disruption,” Prof. Tan explains. “The NTU MiM responds by integrating AI, embedding sustainability, and developing graduates who can thrive in ambiguity.”

At the NTU MiM, students learn business fundamentals as dynamic disciplines – continuously transformed and tested by disruption. You’ll learn about core business concepts, and how these evolve as AI and sustainability move from emerging trends to strategic pillars.

“The fastest-growing roles combine AI fluency with sustainability literacy: the hybrid skill set the NTU MiM develops,” explains Prof. Tan.

 

The NTU MiM’s return on investment for graduates

The NTU MiM offers clear ROI not just for employers, but for fresh graduates and early-career professionals shaping their career paths.

“A MiM provides cross-disciplinary exposure when new professionals are still defining their direction,” says Cheryl. “Employers value this versatility; MiM graduates can move across roles from strategy to operations, then specialise later.”

NTU’s reputation gives graduates a strong head start: 96% of specialised master’s graduates secure roles within three months. This reflects NTU’s high standing among the world’s top universities for business education: the latest QS World University Rankings ranked NTU 12th globally, while the 2025 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking placed NTU’s Nanyang Business School 22nd in the world and number one in Singapore.

“Students develop a talent profile that employers recognise as job-ready, adaptable, and equipped to lead in a digital, sustainability-focused economy,” concludes Prof. Tan.

“A Masters in Management on a CV shows the graduate has invested in building a management toolkit and is more job-ready than a typical fresh graduate,” Cheryl Leong says.

 

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Take charge of your future with the NTU Master in Management and stand out to top employers. Discover how the NTU Master in Management helps you secure great opportunities and accelerate your career success.

 

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Internships, Industry Insights, Career Support: How The MSc Financial Engineering Launches Finance Careers

Internships, Industry Insights, Career Support: How The MSc Financial Engineering Launches Finance Careers

by | Oct 22, 2025 | MSc Financial Engineering

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Internships, Industry Insights, Career Support How The MSc Financial Engineering Launches Finance Careers

MSC FINANCIAL ENGINEERING

Internships, Industry Insights, Career Support: How The MSc Financial Engineering Launches Finance Careers

For computer science graduate Wang Qianteng, moving into financial engineering felt like a natural next step rather than a career shift. As an intersection of mathematics, computer science, and financial theory, financial engineering offered a unique way to combine her two interests: building systems with technology and uncovering structure in financial markets.

“My computer science training helps me turn models into reliable tools to solve financial problems,” she shared. “In turn, financial engineering gives my technical skills a clear, applied focus within finance. Together, they form a coherent path that fits how I like to think and work.”

To advance on this path, Qianteng needed to build her financial knowledge and quantitative skills. A master’s in financial engineering proved to be the perfect platform to do so. One year on, her MSc Financial Engineering (MFE) journey at Nanyang Business School (NBS) has opened doors to industry opportunities, setting her on track to a fulfilling career in finance.

 

A powerful launchpad for a finance career

When choosing her master’s programme, Qianteng had one clear goal: launching her career in the finance industry. Beyond academic rigour, she was looking for a programme that would give her valuable industry exposure.

“NBS’s curriculum seemed both comprehensive and deep, with a clear progression from foundations to advanced topics,” she recalled. She was especially drawn to the optional internship module, which allows participants to embark on a six-month internship at the end of the one-year programme.

“This would help me gain hands-on experience before starting a full-time role, while offering flexibility in my graduation timing,” she explained. “Both of these are important at the start of a career.”

Qianteng was already familiar with NBS from her days as a computer science major at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). As an undergraduate, she had taken several NBS electives and been impressed by the learning environment.

“The thoughtful course design, the lecturers’ enthusiasm, and the strong career support left a lasting impression,” she said. “Having seen the quality of NBS up close, I was confident that the MFE programme would be rigorous and industry-relevant. That’s why it became my first choice.”

 

Turning challenges into growth – together

Coming from a computer science background, Qianteng found it relatively easy to pick up new programming tools and techniques in a financial context. The real challenge came during her classes in quantitative finance.

“Early on, the language and structure of mathematical frameworks like stochastic calculus felt unfamiliar,” she reflected. “The concepts were tightly interlinked, which made it hard to find a starting point.”

She soon learnt that the trick to mastering these theories was putting them into practice. With support from fellow course mates and professors, she was able to shorten her learning curve.

“Once I saw how the ideas showed up in pricing assignments and projects, the pieces began to connect,” she shared. “Working on problem sets, talking to lecturers, and discussing with classmates helped me to build intuition step by step.”

By the end of the programme, Qianteng no longer felt uncomfortable with quantitative finance – in fact, quite the opposite. “It’s an area I’m excited to keep exploring, and one where I know continuous refreshing and learning will always be part of the journey,” she said.

Looking back, she appreciates how the supportive nature of the MFE community has enabled her to grow – both inside and outside the classroom. One of her fondest memories is the programme’s annual ‘chillout’, which brings together current students, alumni, and faculty.

“The event was a rare chance to connect with MFE alumni and get to know our professors outside the classroom,” she shared. “The conversations were candid and ranged from career advice to internship tips and reflections on different paths. It truly strengthened my sense of community and clarified my next steps after graduation.”

 

Building career readiness through internships

Such fruitful conversations gave Qianteng insight into potential career paths after graduation, and the concepts she explored in class helped to sharpen her career goals. In particular, a module on Exotic Options & Structured Products piqued her interest in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to financial engineering.

When the time came to do her optional internship module, Qianteng sought out opportunities to further her interest in AI. NBS’s Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO) supported her internship search with recruitment events, regular check-ins, and one-on-one guidance from career counsellors.

“Their support made my search more efficient and helped me secure my current role,” she affirmed.

 

On the cutting edge of AI in finance

Currently, Qianteng is an AI Research Intern at Dymon Asia Capital, a Singapore-based alternative investment management firm. Her role focuses on building AI tools that support investment research and strategy development. Some of her key tasks include designing ETL (extract, transform, and load) pipelines to collect market data, and enhancing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems to improve large language model (LLM) output.

“These components power an internal LLM-based market intelligence suite,” she shared. “With this suite, portfolio managers and analysts can rapidly drill down into data and move from questions to insights faster.”

While the work is demanding, Qianteng has honed the skills to deliver quality results. Her MFE journey strengthened her programming skills in the financial context, enabling her to build data pipelines and apply quant libraries for backtesting. Meanwhile, her grounding in quantitative finance enables her to frame problems correctly and connect model outputs to investment objectives.

Thanks to the MFE’s many hands-on projects, she now has the confidence to tackle real-world problems. “The programme’s project-driven approach equipped me with both the tools and the confidence to experiment with new techniques and communicate my findings to stakeholders,” she explained.

For Qianteng, there’s no doubt that this is a career path she wants to pursue in the future. “This internship has given me a front-row view of LLMs’ potential to augment the investment process,” she said. “I’m excited to continue developing responsible and high-impact applications.”

 

Ready to launch into the future of finance

As she wraps up her MFE journey, Qianteng believes the programme has “delivered on all fronts”. Her one-year experience has given her the practical skills, confidence, and connections to kickstart her finance career.

“The curriculum was cohesive and demanding, well beyond what I could have achieved through self-study,” she summed up. “Over this one year, I’ve built meaningful relationships that have grown into an active professional network. Finally, the optional internship has given me hands-on exposure and sharpened my career direction before graduation.”

For those breaking into the finance industry like Qianteng, the MFE programme is built to support your transition. With a rigorous curriculum, robust industry exposure, and dedicated career support, the MFE can be your springboard to launch a successful career in finance.

 

Find out more about the MSc Financial Engineering programme here.

 

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How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel

How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel

by | Sep 18, 2025 | MSc Accountancy

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How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel

MSC ACCOUNTANCY

How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel

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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

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

by | Sep 16, 2025 | MSc Business Analytics

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

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

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

by | Sep 11, 2025 | MSc Actuarial And Risk Analytics

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

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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