Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
2019 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2019 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2019. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser. |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Deakin course code | M640 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8. |
Please note: core units not available in Trimester 3 | |
| Offered to continuing students only. Continuing students should discuss unit selections with their enrolment officer and refer to the Handbook Archives for their course structure.
| |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
Course overview
Launch or advance your career as a financial planner, and advise clients how to get the most out of their investments. Learn about portfolio management, investment, securities and retirement planning when you study financial planning at Deakin.
The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is a professionally-oriented course specifically designed to meet the education needs of the financial planning industry. The course is aimed at those aspiring to join the financial planning industry as well as those currently employed in the industry wishing to advance their knowledge.
On completion you may wish to articulate into Deakin’s Master 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.
Professional recognition
The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning (GDFP) will be nominated for approval with the new financial planning standards body, the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) as satisfying the education standards required to be able to provide financial advice in Australia, subject to meeting other registration requirements prescribed by FASEA (including completion of a Professional Year for Provisional Relevant Providers and passing a National Adviser Exam). FASEA have yet to formally approve Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.
All advisers who articulate and subsequently complete the Masters of Financial Planning (MFP) may gain entry and advanced standing into the certification programs of the financial planning professional associations. Graduates may be eligible for entry into the certification programs of the professional financial planning associations - the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) Certification Program offered by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) designation offered by the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).
The GDFP allows students to meet the education requirements of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) following the completion of estate planning, superannuation, tax and trust administration subjects.
The GDFP also allows students to meet the education requirements of the Tax Agent Services Act (TASA) following completion of Australian Tax Law and Commercial Law units approved by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) as their electives.
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. Click here for more information.
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.Alternative exits
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Learning Outcome | Course Learning Outcome |
| Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities | Demonstrate an advanced understanding and application of core financial planning concepts and theories. |
| Communication | Apply appropriate communication skills within the context of providing advice on financial matters. |
| Digital literacy | Use appropriate digital technologies to identify and disseminate complex information, concepts and theories. |
| Critical thinking | Apply a systematic research process and develop a clearly articulated argument to support a view and use it to justify one or more conclusions. |
| Problem solving | Apply problem solving skills necessary to conceptualise and solve complex issues in financial planning. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate independent study and learning in the field of financial planning. |
| Teamwork | Identify challenges associated with organising and managing teams in professional contexts and the importance of providing an instructional framework to nurture teamwork. |
| Global citizenship | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award. |
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, students must attain a total of 8 credit points consisting of 7 credit points of core units and 1 credit points of elective units chosen from a specified list, plus completion of MAI010 Academic Integrity (0 -credit point compulsory unit). Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point
Course structure
Core units
| MAI010 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| MAA700 | Estate Planning and Risk Management Strategies + |
| MAA719 | Superannuation and Retirement Planning ~ |
| MAA728 | Financial Behaviour and Decision Making ^ |
| MAA745 | Financial Planning and Economic Fundamentals # |
| MAF707 | Investments and Portfolio Management |
| MLC707 | Business Law # |
| MLM717 | Financial Services Regulation |
~ Previously coded MAF708
# Previously coded MAF765
^ Previously coded MAF714
+ New unit consolidating MAA746 and MAA729
Course structure
Elective units
Plus 1 credit points of elective units from:
| MLC703 | Principles of Income Tax Law |
| MAA747 | Administration of Trusts and Estates |
| MAA769 | Ethics for Financial Services |
Work experience
This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Other learning experiences
This course includes the option of other learning experiences including study tour units.
MPT781 Economics for Managers (Tour)
MPT732 Marketing Management>