Updated October 2026
TL;DR
These 11 actuary internships and programs let high school students explore insurance modeling, risk management, investment analysis, and data-driven decision-making. Depending on the program, you might value life insurance products, prepare for the first actuarial exam, compete in a team risk management simulation, or support investment research. Several are run by organizations outside the U.S., in Ireland, the UK, South Africa, and Cyprus. Ladder Internships adds an eight-week remote option where you work on a real project with a startup or NGO, with finance among its available fields.
How much should an insurer charge to protect a home, a car, or a life? Actuaries answer questions like this by using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to analyze the economic costs of risk and uncertainty. For high school students who enjoy math, an internship or program shows how classroom skills turn into real decisions about pricing, reserves, and long-term planning. Seeing that work up close can also help you decide whether actuarial science is worth pursuing in college.
We selected these programs based on their actuarial, risk, or finance focus, their openness to high school students, and the hands-on or career exposure they offer.
If numbers draw you to actuarial work, our roundup of math internships for high school students offers more ways to put that interest to use. Students curious about the financial side of risk can also explore these business and finance internships for high school students.
Why should you do an actuary internship?
Actuarial work can be hard to picture from a textbook, since it combines probability, finance, and business judgment. An internship lets you see how actuaries use data to price risk and plan for uncertain events, which can help you decide whether actuarial science fits your goals. If you want remote, project-based experience in a related area, Ladder Internships offers projects in fields including finance.
What skills can you pick up in actuary internships?
You can practice applying probability and statistics to real questions, such as how likely an event is and what it might cost. Actuarial tasks also build spreadsheet modeling skills, since projections and pricing usually start with organized data and clear assumptions. Explaining your results to people without a math background matters just as much, because actuaries regularly present findings to clients and decision-makers.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. Also check requirements related to citizenship, residency, coursework, or GPA, as these can vary significantly!
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost/Stipend |
Best for |
|
Virtual Programs |
Ladder Internships, SAI Transition Year Program, APR Actuarial Insight Program (virtual week) |
Ladder: Free - Fee-based (financial aid available); no stipend |
Students who want to explore actuarial work from home before committing to an in-person program |
|
Job Shadowing Days |
Deloitte AIS Job Shadowing, Deloitte Risk, Regulatory & Forensic Job Shadowing, EY Actuarial Job Shadowing Day |
Free; no stipend |
South African learners with strong maths results who want a first look inside a professional actuarial team |
|
Actuarial and Risk Camps |
Redbird Risk Management Challenge, Actuarial Boot Camp, C.Y. Actuaries Summer Program |
Free – $250 fee; no stipend |
Students who want an immersive stretch of risk, insurance, or exam-focused learning alongside peers |
|
Paid Work Experience |
Data Driven Futures: Actuaries, 1435 Capital Venture Analyst Internship |
Free; stipend paid |
Students who want paid, professional experience applying data, risk, or investment analysis |
1. Society of Actuaries in Ireland – SAI Transition Year Work Experience Program
Location: Online via Zoom
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; up to 30 students per program
Dates: Program 1: January 25–28; Program 2: February 9–12; Program 3: March 1–4
Application Deadline: Students register interest online and are later contacted and offered places
Eligibility: Transition Year secondary-school students; typically aged 15–16, who are interested in mathematics, problem-solving, business, or actuarial careers
Over four days on Zoom, you complete practical assignments linked to the actuarial profession, working both on your own and in groups and using tools such as Google Sheets and Canva. You also join talks, round tables, and conversations with actuaries at different career stages, including actuaries working in insurance and others who have moved into new areas. The Society of Actuaries in Ireland's diversity committee organizes the program to reach students who would not normally have access to this kind of experience.
Who is it best for: Students who enjoy maths and want to find out what actuaries do through hands-on assignments and conversations with working actuaries.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% acceptance; 70 spots
Dates: Winter: begins December 7 (eight weeks); Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts also offered
Application Deadline: Winter: November 15; Spring: TBA; usually February 8; Summer and Fall: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
You work remotely for eight weeks on a project with a startup or NGO matched to your interests, and finance is one of the available fields. Past finance-related projects include building an AI model to predict financial fluctuations and designing an interface for a wealth management platform. You present a first deliverable to your host company in week four and your final project in week eight.
Who is it best for: Students who want remote, project-based startup experience in finance or data-driven work and are open to a placement outside traditional actuarial roles.
3. APR – Actuarial Insight Program
Location: Online or London, England
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Virtual week: March 30 – April 2; In-person week (London): July 12–16
Application Deadline: November 16
Eligibility: Students in their final year of college (approximately UK Year 13, equivalent to Grade 12) or their first two years of university
During the week, you build cash flow projection models to value typical life insurance products, work through general insurance pricing exercises, and build stochastic models to estimate the cost of investment guarantees. A half-day final activity brings the week's learning together, alongside sessions and Q&As with senior actuaries and partners and a session on good practice in graduate recruitment. Completing the program guarantees progression to a later interview stage of APR's Graduate Actuarial Scheme or Junior Analyst Scheme.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on practice with real actuarial modeling in life and general insurance while weighing an actuarial career after school.
4. Deloitte Southern Africa – Actuarial and Insurance Solutions (AIS) Job Shadowing
Location: Midrand (Johannesburg office), Gauteng, South Africa
Stipend: not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: March session: TBA; usually March 26; August session: TBA; usually August 11
Application Deadline: March session: TBA; usually March 13; August session: TBA; usually July 27
Eligibility: Grade 11 or Grade 12 learners taking pure mathematics as a school subject
You spend a full day at Deloitte's Johannesburg office in Midrand, where you are introduced to corporate life and talk with Actuarial and Insurance Solutions team members and leaders about their work in life insurance, general insurance, banking, investments, and healthcare. You will also work through problem-solving examples based on challenges actuaries face in their work.
Who is it best for: Students considering actuarial science who want a one-day look at how actuaries work across insurance, banking, investments, and healthcare.
5. Deloitte Southern Africa – Risk, Regulatory & Forensic Job Shadowing Program
Location: Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: TBA; usually July 16 (one-day event)
Application Deadline: TBA; usually June 26
Eligibility: Grade 11 or Grade 12 learners; taking pure mathematics as a school subject; minimum APS score of 30, excluding Life Orientation
You spend a full day at Deloitte's Midrand office, where you are introduced to life in a corporate setting and interact with team members and leaders. Conversations focus on what it means to be an actuary and the career paths available at Deloitte.
Who is it best for: Students who are curious about actuarial science and want to see how it connects to risk and regulatory advisory work at a large professional services firm.
6. Illinois State University - Redbird Risk Management Challenge
Location: Normal, Illinois (Illinois State University campus)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~20–25 students per year
Dates: TBA; usually July 13–18
Application Deadline: TBA; usually May 31
Eligibility: Students entering their senior year of high school; students planning to attend college after graduation; minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Over the week, your team takes on the role of senior risk management professionals, managing your company's risks to grow its profit; the team with the most profit at the end wins. Evening social activities such as bowling and mini-golf also earn revenue for your team. You also take part in an Innovation Sprint challenge that ends with a Shark Tank-style presentation to insurance and risk management professionals.
Who is it best for: Students curious about insurance and risk management who want to test their decision-making in a competitive team business simulation.
7. Connecticut Insurance + Financial Services – Actuarial Boot Camp
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: $250 fee; waiver available on request / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~18 high school students
Dates: TBA; usually July 6–9
Application Deadline: TBA; usually May 22
Eligibility: High school seniors, college-bound high school graduates, or current college freshmen; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Honors Calculus (including integration), Calculus AB, or Calculus BC taken or in progress
You prepare for the first actuarial exam in probability with study notes and an exam-approved calculator, and you can take an actuarial exam for free. Sessions also cover writing skills, negotiation strategies, and professional ethics, along with guidance on internships and careers. You can network with actuaries working in insurance, finance, government, risk assessment, and consulting; hear guest speakers from companies such as The Hartford, Cigna, Nassau Financial Group, and Travelers; and join an optional Job Shadow Day.
Who is it best for: Students strong in calculus who want to start preparing for actuarial exams while meeting working actuaries.
8. Institute and Faculty of Actuaries / EY Foundation — Data Driven Futures: Actuaries
Location: London, England
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~25 participants
Dates: Spring half term: June 1–4; Summer holidays: August 2–5
Application Deadline: TBA; not specified
Eligibility: Students eligible for free school meals at any time in the last two years, or for a college bursary or Education Maintenance Allowance; Year 12 students in England or Fifth Year students in Scotland; aged 16 or 17 during the program; state school students; minimum English Language Grade 4 or English Functional Skills Level 2; students taking A-levels, IB, BTEC Level 3, National 5, or Highers
You explore data science and actuarial thinking through project-based learning tied to real business challenges, alongside guest speakers and mentoring from the actuarial profession. The program combines paid actuarial work experience with employability skills training, and a business mentor supports you during and after the program. In 2024, participants also joined panel discussions and workshops and took part in a Dragons' Den-style competition to apply what they had learned.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, hands-on exposure to how actuaries use data to assess business risk, with mentoring from people in the profession.
If you live outside London or don't want to commute every day, consider Ladder Internships, which pair you with startups to work on real projects in a fully virtual format.
9. C.Y. Actuaries — Summer Program
Location: Cyprus
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: TBA; usually one week in July
Application Deadline: TBA; not specified
Eligibility: High school and university students interested in exploring actuarial science, consulting, investments, insurance, and related careers
Over one week, you join interactive workshops on actuarial science, investments, pensions, and insurance, along with financial literacy, behavioral finance, and AI and innovation. You also practice CV writing and mock interviews, network with professionals, and work through startup challenges and pitches.
Who is it best for: Students who want a broad introduction to actuarial work, finance, and career skills packed into a single week.
10. EY South Africa — Actuarial Job Shadowing Day
Location: Sandton (Johannesburg) and Cape Town, South Africa
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: TBA; usually April 11
Application Deadline: TBA; not specified
Eligibility: Academically promising students considering actuarial science; minimum 75% average in mathematics over the prior three academic terms; academic results in line with accredited universities’ actuarial science entry requirements
During a one-day visit to EY’s actuarial team, you learn what actuarial science involves, which universities offer the degree and what they require, how funding works, and the path to qualifying through board exams and practical experience. You'll also hear from recent actuarial science graduates who joined EY and ask qualified actuaries your questions.
Who is it best for: Students planning to study actuarial science at university who want practical guidance on degrees, funding, and qualifying as an actuary.
11. Venture Analyst Internship – 1435 Capital Management LLC
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically four interns per year
Dates: Summer; 10 weeks, full-time; exact dates not published
Application Deadline: April 4; applications reviewed on a rolling basis from spring
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, or rising college freshmen; at least 16 years old; authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship; applicants located in the U.S.
You support the firm’s investment work through investment analysis, due diligence, market research, portfolio monitoring, and deal sourcing, as well as event planning and administrative support. Interns may also have the chance to join the Homeroom Fund, a venture fund led by high school students.
Who is it best for: Students drawn to the investment and analytical side of finance who want in-person venture capital experience, rather than actuarial work specifically.
Can an actuary internship help with your college applications?
It can give you specific experiences to draw on when you write about your interest in math, risk, or finance. Describing a model you built, a problem you worked through, or a conversation with an actuary shows how you have tested that interest outside the classroom. You can also reflect on what the experience taught you about the profession and the responsibility behind financial decisions.
How do you apply for an actuary internship?
Start with each program’s official instructions, since eligibility rules, required materials, and deadlines can differ widely. Prepare a few concrete examples of your interest in actuarial work, such as a strong math course, a statistics project, or a spreadsheet you built. Give yourself enough time to gather what a program asks for and complete each step before the published deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will I actually do actuarial work, or mostly learn about the career?
It depends on the format. Some programs have you build models, complete practical assignments, or solve problems based on real actuarial challenges, while others center on talks, shadowing, and Q&As with working actuaries. Many combine the two, pairing hands-on tasks with conversations about actuarial careers.
2. Do I need advanced math skills to join these programs?
Not for every program, but several set clear math requirements. These include taking pure mathematics as a school subject, having studied calculus, or meeting a minimum maths average or GPA. In contrast, others mainly look for an interest in math and problem-solving.
3. How much time would I need to commit?
It ranges from under an hour to a full summer. Virtual classroom sessions and shadowing days take a single day or less, while camps and insight programs usually run from four days to a week. The longest options are an eight-week remote project and a 10-week, full-time internship.
4. Will I get paid, or do I have to pay to take part?
Most of these programs are free to join, but only two offer paid work experience, and most others list no stipend. One program charges a fee, but it can waive it upon request. Ladder Internships is also fee-based, with financial aid available for students who need it.