Students

ACST3060 – Quantitative Methods for Risk Analysis

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ken Siu
ken.siu@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ACST3058
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
ACST8085
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores the use of statistical models in insurance: loss distributions with and without risk sharing, compound distributions and their applications in risk modelling, introduction to copulas, extreme value theory. The concepts underlying time series models and actuarial applications of time series models are also studied. Students gaining a weighted average of credit across all of ACST3058, ACST3060 and the CS2-related components of the assessment in ACST3059 (minimum mark of 60% on all three components) will satisfy the requirements for exemption from the professional subject CS2 of the Actuaries Institute.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Model insurance claims using loss distributions.
  • ULO2: Construct risk models with frequency and severity distributions.
  • ULO3: Use premium principles to price insurance products.
  • ULO4: Model dependence and extreme events by copulas and extreme value theory.
  • ULO5: Apply time series models to financial and economic variables.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Formal and Observed Learning: Test 20% No 15/09/2025
Professional Practice: Risk Analysis by Using R 20% No 31/10/2025
Formal and Observed Learning: Exam 60% No Exam Period

Formal and Observed Learning: Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 15/09/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your ability to model insurance claims using loss distributions and to construct risk models incorporating frequency and severity distributions.

You will complete an individual in-class test to assess your understanding and application of these concepts.

Skills in focus:

Discipline knowledge (insurance loss distributions, risk models)

Deliverable: Class test (approximately 90 minutes, including 10 mins reading time) during class time.

Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Model insurance claims using loss distributions.
  • Construct risk models with frequency and severity distributions.
  • Use premium principles to price insurance products.
  • Model dependence and extreme events by copulas and extreme value theory.

Professional Practice: Risk Analysis by Using R

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 31/10/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills in R statistical computing software by modelling insurance claims, building risk models, pricing using premium principles, and addressing dependence or extreme by enhancing your professional readiness

You will solve a set of questions available on iLearn using R software.

Skills in focus :

  • Discipline knowledge
  • Digital skills (R)

Deliverable: Written report including supporting documents, results of the analyses and R code. Only the written report will be marked.

Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Model insurance claims using loss distributions.
  • Construct risk models with frequency and severity distributions.
  • Use premium principles to price insurance products.
  • Model dependence and extreme events by copulas and extreme value theory.

Formal and Observed Learning: Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 60%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to formally demonstrate the expertise you have gained in this unit. ​

You will participate in a 2-hour exam held during the University Examination period. Important information about the exam will be made available on the unit iLearn page. You should also review the MQ Exams website for general tips.

Deliverable: Formal exam​

Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Model insurance claims using loss distributions.
  • Construct risk models with frequency and severity distributions.
  • Use premium principles to price insurance products.
  • Model dependence and extreme events by copulas and extreme value theory.
  • Apply time series models to financial and economic variables.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

The unit will be delivered by weekly lectures and tutorials.

Resources

The unit material will be available for download from iLearn. Some references or recommended reading materials will be introduced whenever appropriate. Please refer to iLearn for details. Students will be required to use iLearn, R, PDF, Excel, Word, a non-programmable calculator and other resources to be mentioned on iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
15/07/2025 “Modified assessment deadline to a specific date.”

Unit information based on version 2025.04 of the Handbook