We spoke with Vaishnavi Srinivasan, Senior Lecturer in Actuarial Science and accomplished actuary with a wealth of experience \u2013 both in academia and in the industry! Vaishnavi shared her valuable insights into what you can expect from studying Actuarial Science at Kent, including practical tips on how to apply, the supportive atmosphere on campus, plus the profitable pathways that our degrees can open for you \u2013 a global passport for future professionals looking for a financially fulfilling career! <\/p>\n
What is your academic area of expertise?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n My area of expertise is Actuarial Science, and wi<\/span>thin that I’m a specialist in life insurance, finance and investment. I also teach a specialist actuarial software called PROPHET. I’ve worked across the industry, from life insurance companies to a start-up, and in both India and the UK. I’ve worked in all the areas that I teach: life insurance, finance, treasury management and actuarial modelling, allowing me to bring my work experience and real-world situations to my students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why should someone pursue a degree in Actuarial Science at Kent?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Actuarial Science isn\u2019t widely taught in the UK but here at Kent, we have around 40 years of experience in teaching this subject. Most of my colleagues are qualified actuaries, and we are one of the academic schools in the UK with the highest number of actuaries teaching the subject. A big draw for many of our students is that these staff members have global experience and industry knowledge, with a variety of specialisms. A few of us are also members of the Indian actuarial profession, as well as the UK equivalent. This is especially helpful for students who join us from India! <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is your biggest academic achievement?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019m one of a small number of people who has directly worked in a start-up life insurance environment. In India, the life insurance market opened up in 2000, so I was there at the right time to have the unique experience where I learned as much as someone who had a 40-year career in a traditional life insurance company would have – in about 2 years! The learning curve was steep, but it was very fulfilling. I then moved to the UK to work in the life insurance industry here, and then I moved careers into academia. My passion for my subject is still the same as it was then, and having enthusiastic engagement and overwhelmingly positive feedback from my students and colleagues in being known as an excellent educator is one of my proudest achievements.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Are you involved in any exciting modules that you can share?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n At Kent, we offer a<\/span> variety of modules taught by colleagues who are specialists in those areas, including life insurance and general insurance. I engage my students by reminding them that money is<\/span> everywhere, whether you’re putting down a mortgage on a home, taking out a loan, your salary – everything is money-related. How do you manage that? How do companies manage their money? Where do they put their money? Where are\u00a0good places to save and what are the options? <\/span>Giving them that insight into the exciting world of: where does money go? Where does it get invested? It\u2019s something that I really enjoy teaching. Finance and Investment is another module that I teach, which is very exciting as it never stays the same. My view is that there are many exciting things happening in the world and as professionals, we need to understand how to take a balanced view, understand what’s going on, be able to propose solutions and problem-solve. Those are the skills that my students come out of my class learning. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What do you love most about the University of Kent?\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The Actuarial Science team atmosphere is pleasant and professional, with so much teamwork and supporting each other. Kent has got so many international colleagues across campus too, so I’ve never felt isolated. It’s so welcoming, inclusive and diverse here with all the groups you can join \u2013 the community is wonderful. Student support is strong too, with all they do to make students feel at home! <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What are your top tips for prospective students in writing their applications for Actuarial Science at Kent?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Good grades are important. It\u2019s critical to demonstrate that you can study well and have an appetite for studying further. This is a line of work where you have to pass many exams, which can be challenging, but the sense of achievement you get when you’ve completed them is huge. If you don\u2019t think your past grades are up to your expectations, it\u2019s good to explain that and say what actions you\u2019ve put in place to change that. Also, mention any relevant work experience or internships you\u2019ve done, as even a 3-month internship adds value. Show in your application how you’ve gone the extra mile, or anything that demonstrates your willingness to learn positively. Also, we understand that sometimes things happen in life, and you can fall off the rails. If that\u2019s the case, own that, take responsibility and express that you\u2019re seeking a second chance and trying to do better. My last tip is to make sure that you\u2019re honest in your application, as it is a professional requirement! <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What careers can you go into with a degree in Actuarial Science from Kent?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Life insurance, general insurance, banking, government jobs, and more! The biggest asset of studying Actuarial Science at Kent is the global nature of it \u2013 it’s like a passport, where you can go and work in many countries across the world, from Africa and Asia to Europe and North America! The options are endless. <\/span>You can work for consultancy firms or financial regulators. You can go and work in climate change or artificial intelligence. They all need people who can interpret numbers and problem-solve, and these are actuarial skills.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What kind of communities can students join when they arrive at Kent?\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Our <\/span>students have the <\/span>Invicta Actuarial Society<\/span><\/a> which is student-run, with a number of staff members who help them out. And in previous years we’ve had various guest speakers, including from within the actuarial profession – experts in certain areas coming and giving talks, all under this umbrella of the Invicta Actuarial Society. If you’ve just arrived here, it\u2019s a great place to start!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What are your favourite parts of Canterbury and the surrounding area?<\/b>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Here in Canterbury, we are less than an hour on the train to London, but w<\/span>e are also very near to <\/span>Blean woods<\/span><\/a>, with their <\/span>rewilding bison initiative<\/span><\/a>. There\u2019s the lovely seaside town <\/span>Whitstable<\/span><\/a> nearby as well, so you have city, countryside and seaside! <\/span>It\u2019s much more affordable to live here compared to London, but we also have\u00a0shops that cater to cultural e<\/span>lements, for our international staff and students. It\u2019s a very welcoming community!<\/span><\/p>\n