ACTL20001 Introductory Financial Mathematics

University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

• Final exam 70%: exam-heavy
• About 3 class hours a week

Is ACTL20001 hard?

ACTL20001: About average. Not counted by Bachelor of Science, so it isn't on its lists. Makes it harder: Final exam 70%, You must pass the exam on its own. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.

What you learn

The maths of money over time: interest rates, present values, bonds, loans and judging investment projects.

After it you can

• Find present and future values of payment streams
• Price bonds and build loan schedules
• Appraise projects with discounted cash flows

What you need first

((MAST10006 or MAST10021) and (MAST10007 or MAST10022)) or (MAST10008 and MAST10009) or ((MAST10007 or MAST10022) and MAST10009) or (MAST10008 and (MAST10006 or MAST10021)) or (MAST10019 and MAST10018 and MAST20026) or (MAST10019 and (MAST10007 or MAST10022) and MAST20026) or (MAST10018 and MAST10009) or (MAST10018 and MAST10019) or (MAST10018 and (MAST10006 or MAST10021)) or (MAST10013 and MAST10009)

• MAST10006 Calculus 2
• MAST10021 Calculus 2: Advanced
• MAST10007 Linear Algebra
• MAST10022 Linear Algebra: Advanced
• MAST10008 Accelerated Mathematics 1
• MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2
• MAST20026 Real Analysis

What it leads to

• ACTL20003 Stochastic Techniques in Insurance
• ACTL20004 Topics in Actuarial Studies
• ACTL20005 Intermediate Financial Mathematics

How it’s assessed

Assignments 30%, Final exam 70%

Student reviews and ratings

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Quick answers

When is ACTL20001 offered?

Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

What do I need before taking ACTL20001?

Needs ((MAST10006 or MAST10021) and (MAST10007 or MAST10022)) or (MAST10008 and MAST10009) or ((MAST10007 or MAST10022) and MAST10009) or (MAST10008 and (MAST10006 or MAST10021)) or (MAST10019 and MAST10018 and MAST20026) or (MAST10019 and (MAST10007 or MAST10022) and MAST20026) or (MAST10018 and MAST10009) or (MAST10018 and MAST10019) or (MAST10018 and (MAST10006 or MAST10021)) or (MAST10013 and MAST10009).

Does ACTL20001 have a final exam?

Yes, the final exam is 70% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Assignments 30%, Final exam 70%.

How many class hours a week does ACTL20001 have?

3 h a week in class

Can I take ACTL20001 as breadth?

Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.

What can I take after ACTL20001?

3 subjects need it first, for example ACTL20003, ACTL20004, ACTL20005.

Can I rate ACTL20001?

Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.

Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026

Always confirm in the official Handbook.

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