uwloo

ACTSC 232Life Contingencies 1

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Actuarial Science

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

The future lifetime random variable: probability and survival functions; force of mortality; complete and curtate expectation of life; Makeham and Gompertz mortality laws. Life tables: characteristics of population and insurance life tables; selection; fractional age assumptions. Life insurance payments and annuity payments: present value random variables; expected present values; higher moments; actuarial notation. Annual, 1/mthly, and continuous cases. Relationships between insurance and annuity functions. Premiums: expense loadings. Present value of future loss random variables and distribution, net and gross cases. Equivalence principle. Portfolio percentile principle. Extra risks.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • STAT230 - Probability (0.50)
      • STAT240 - Probability (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Earned a minimum grade of 60% in each of the following:
      • ACTSC231 - Introductory Financial Mathematics (0.50)

Corequisites

  • Completed or concurrently enrolled in:
    • MTHEL131 - Introduction to Actuarial Practice (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001595027 / 66MWF 09:30–10:20
TUT 101649827 / 66F 15:30–16:20
TST 201649927 / 66Oct 22 16:30–17:50
Nov 19 16:30–17:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00155700 / 96MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 701221247 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10156910 / 96M 14:30–15:20
TST 20164580 / 96Feb 26 18:30–20:00
Mar 19 18:30–20:00

Reviewed on UW Flow

73% liked it47% easy92% useful

From 60 ratings and 13 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • STAT 230 first half and then they introduce ACTSC 231. Quizzes and Assignments were easy but the tests were a real time crunch.

    Apr 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Problem sets are very useful for studying for the exams.

    Jun 2014 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Good course for starting the coverage of MLC material. Essential for anyone in ActSc. Text is useful, and be prepared to do questions on your own, as that's the only way you'll learn.

    Nov 2012 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Pretty nice course overall. Course is mostly applications of ACTSC 231 and STAT 230 in an actuarial context. Course gets pretty intuitive once you understand the different insurance and annutity options. Might not be too applicable for P&C insurance, but it does go over life tables, which is a small part of MAS - I.

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Tough course

    Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

152 posts and comments in 114 threads mention ACTSC 232, August 2013 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Spring 2024

Math career thought dump 14 points, 17 comments

“I just finished my 1B term in Math/Business with probably an 85 - 89 average (marks for this sem haven't been released yet) and I genuinely feel a bit lost in what I want to pursue. …”

u/onlyinsurance-ca: “You 100% described actuarial. High income quickly, very stable 37.5 hours a week.plus strong chance of doing technical work right from the rest go. …”

u/onlyinsurance-ca: “… the next couple of exams are covered in actsci 232/331 and then some of the fourth year courses. …”

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actsc 372 5 points, 3 comments

u/johnnybravoshoe: “is it possible to do well in actsc 372 if i havent taken actsc232 yet or any of the other 300 level stat courses? I've done all the pre-reqs that are stated on the site, but I'd like to know if it would be easier having done the other courses. thanks!”

u/DarkEmperor7135: “definitely, actsc 372 basically has nothing to do with actsc 232 and the stat 33x courses”

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Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

Fall Course Load Math 1 point, 3 comments

“Opinions on this course load: Actsc363, Stat331, Actsc331, Accounting Elective (wlu), Management Elective (wlu)”

u/onlyinsurance-ca: “… Acts 331 is just like part b of Actsc 232. If you've taken 232, then you know what 331 will be like. Looks like you're going down the life side? When I did my undergrad, I didn't take 363 for the loss model stuff - I took 441 and 442 IIRC. …”

u/aglassofmangojuice: “Thanks for the reply! I’m planning on November FAM (I am going down the Life side and already wrote P and FM). I was told Actsc232 and Actsc 363 are best prep courses for it and Actsc331 is good as well. Not sure if it is true however…”

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Most manageable Math major? 1 point, 10 comments

“What’s the most manageable math major and why do you think so?”

u/aglassofmangojuice: “… Actsc232 with Emily has been amazing so far! …”

u/onlyinsurance-ca: “She tutored me in my undergrad when she was doing her masters. I failed a midterm, panicked, and went looking for tutors. Ended up with a mark in the 80's. A term or two later, I walked into an actsci class and she was the teacher. …”

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Fall 2022

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar