Insurance underwriter

You can take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's graduate training scheme.

Useful subjects include:

• business studies
• finance
• economics
• maths
• law

It can help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship or placement.

Your university careers service will be able to help you with this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge needed to get a trainee position with an insurance company.

Courses include:

• providing financial services
• T Level in Finance

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

You can apply to do an apprenticeship with an insurance company, such as:

• Insurance Practitioner Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Insurance Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Senior Insurance Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These take between 1 and 3 years to complete and combine workplace training and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You may be able to join an underwriting team as an assistant and work your way up through training and promotion.

Employers will usually look for a minimum of GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, 1 or 2 A levels, and good IT skills, especially in using spreadsheets.

Once working, you could take qualifications offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) , such as:

• Certificate in Insurance
• Diploma in Insurance
• Advanced Diploma in Insurance

Career Tips

As you gain experience, you may begin to specialise in certain types of insurance, for example:

• property
• healthcare
• business liability
• cyber

Professional and Industry Bodies

You can join the Chartered Insurance Institute for professional development opportunities and to build up your contacts in the industry.

Further Information

You can find out more about careers in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

As an insurance underwriter, you could:

• inspect insurance applications
• gather background information, like medical histories and credit ratings
• analyse statistics and data from actuaries and other sources
• request specialist assessments from experts, such as risk surveyors
• work out the likelihood of an insurance payout
• calculate the price of insurance premiums
• judge whether to share the risk with another insurer
• prepare quotes and negotiate terms with brokers or clients
• draft policy wording, including terms and conditions
• maintain accurate records of decisions made

You could work in an office.