UK Based Actuary/CERA looking for Education Advice

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11/6/14
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I'm a qualified actuary with cera designation (http://www.actuaries.org.uk/becomin...artered-enterprise-risk-actuary-qualification).

I have a 1st in Actuarial Science and Stats from Heriot-Watt Uni, where I had to take all of the actuarial preliminary exams:

  • CT1 - Financial Mathematics
  • CT2 - Finance and Financial Reporting
  • CT3 - Probability and Mathematical Statistics
  • CT4 - Models
  • CT5 - Contingencies
  • CT6 - Statistical Methods
  • CT7 - Business Economics
  • CT8 - Financial Economics

These all cover time series, stochastic processes, financial engineering concepts (continuous time finance), derivative pricing in addition to some masters level derivatives and risk management courses. I also took bayesian stats, PDEs etc while there. They also have an average of 40% ish pass rate.

I then moved to the US where I did the Enterprise Risk Management, Advanced Finance and Core Foundations Of ERM exams; links to the syllabus below:

ERM:https://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/edu-exam-erm-detail.aspx
AdvF:https://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/edu-exam-advf-detail.aspx
CFE:https://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/edu-exam-advf-detail.aspx

Cliff notes of syllabus:
Corporate Finance - Funding
Capital Management - Decision-Making
Stochastic Modelling
Adv. Risk Assessment Techniques
Financial Risk Management
Risk Modelling and Aggregation of Risk
Portfolio Risk Measurement
Derivatives Pricing with Monte Carlo

In total I sat 14 hours of advanced examinations while working. I have 5 years work experience applying the above concepts in insurance risk mangement.

So I want to become a quant, and am looking at my options. I know a Phd is necessary, I will most likely do it on longevity swap valuation, but my question is whether I can jump straight to a PhD (at Warrick possibly), or do a masters first?

I looked at a masters in Cambridge, I'm hoping given that I am technically in the top 15 youngest qualified actuaries with a flawless academic track record to date, that I could get in, but it doesnt appear as though the programs there have anything to add to my current academic background (unless I take pure maths courses). I'm confused as to what my next steps should be, should I be trying to get a PhD right now? Or should I apply to a top university and choose only courses I know I can ace to get a distinction for the brand?
 
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