Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning
Deakin course code	M569
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Online	Yes
Duration	1 year part-time
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024 This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024 This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2024 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Please note: This course is only available for part-time study.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Be ready for Australia's financial planning reforms by studying Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning. Develop the decision-making skills needed to provide practical and professionally responsible financial advice to your clients.

Looking for a course that's purpose-built to help you meet the industry's changing education requirements and build upon your professional knowledge and skills?

Designed to meet the current and future needs of the industry, the course places a strong emphasis on preparing professionally responsible financial planners, both in an ethical and compliance sense. As a graduate you will have gained valuable new skills and knowledge, in particular relating to:

ethics for financial services
financial behaviour and decision making
financial services regulation.

The Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning incorporates the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) three bridging units, providing advisers with an opportunity to complete the bridging units and gain a formal qualification.

As a graduate, you may articulate into Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Career opportunities

Whether you’re currently working in the industry or looking to move into a financial planning role, you will be prepared to excel in a variety of positions including:

financial adviser/planner
insurance adviser
paraplanner
business development manager
superannuation consultant
claims administrator
compliance manager
risk adviser.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcome	Course Learning Outcome
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate the application of core financial planning concepts and theories in authentic contexts; and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of regulatory, ethical and legal obligations for financial advisers
Communication	Apply appropriate communication skills within the context of providing advice on financial matters
Digital literacy	Effectively and critically navigate, evaluate and create information using a range of digital technologies
Critical thinking	Analyse critically, evaluate and express sound judgement, ideas and reflection in relation to a range of core financial planning issues
Problem solving	Summarise and explain the financial planning issue to be solved and apply the financial tools necessary to reach a solution
Self-management	Develop skills necessary for independent study and learning in the field of financial planning
Teamwork	Develop skills necessary for independent study and learning in the field of financial planning
Global citizenship	Engage ethically, professionally and productively in work and a professional context, in a manner reflective of an understanding of ethical principles, a systematic knowledge of professional codes of conduct

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning, students must attain a total of 4 credit points, consisting of 3 credit points of core units and a one credit point course elective unit chosen from a specified list, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity Module. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.