Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2020 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2020. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2020. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Deakin course code	M669
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: This course is only available for part-time study in Trimester 3

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Build on your knowledge of modern financial planning principles by studying the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning. Graduate with a FASEA-approved degree, ready to thrive in an evolving financial planning landscape.

Want to see your employability soar with a qualification that’s in demand across the industry?

Recent changes to the Australian finance industry require financial planners to meet new education standards set by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA). What does this mean for current and aspiring financial planners? If you want to provide financial advice beyond 2026, you’ll need to complete a FASEA-approved course like Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

This professionally oriented course prepares graduates for career progression. If you’re a current financial planner returning to study, you’ll gain new knowledge and analytical skills that help you provide advice to clients on how to get more out of their investments. Under the guidance of industry-active teachers, you’ll learn about:

portfolio management
the digital tools of the modern financial planner
investment, securities and retirement planning.

Importantly, the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning places a strong emphasis on the professional responsibilities of the modern financial planner, both in an ethical and compliance sense. Industry reforms have created an increased demand for ethical decision-makers, putting Deakin graduates in a strong position to stand out from the pack.

On completion of the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, 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 is a FASEA-approved course, making it a recognised pathway towards becoming a registered financial planner.

Graduates will satisfy the education standards prescribed by FASEA 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).

Students who complete required elective units in estate planning, superannuation, tax and trust administration meet the education requirements of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Career opportunities

From 1 January 2019, FASEA’s new education standards come into place and, by 1 January 2026, all financial planners will need an approved qualification. These reforms have created an increased demand for registered financial planners with a high-level understanding of what it means to provide responsible advice.

The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is approved by FASEA, ensuring Deakin students graduate with the right qualification and skills to take advantage of this demand.

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

financial adviser
insurance adviser
business development manager
superannuation consultant
portfolio analyst
personal financial planner
investment banker
paraplanner
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.

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here:

https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates

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

Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning (M569)

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 the compulsory 0-credit point units, MAI010 Academic Integrity and MAA071 Pre-Term: Getting to Grips with Postgraduate Study. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point

Course structure

Core units

MAA700

Estate Planning and Risk Management Strategies

MAA728/MAI728

Financial Behaviour and Decision Making (Intensive) ^*

MAA745

Financial Planning and Economic Fundamentals

MAA719

Superannuation and Retirement Planning

MAA769/MAI769

Ethics for Financial Services (Intensive) ^*

MLC703

Principles of Income Tax Law

MLC707

Business Law

^*MAI code denotes Intensive version of the unit.

Course structure

Elective units

Plus 1 credit points of elective units from:

MLC714/MLI714

Financial Advice Regulation (Intensive)

MAA727

Financial Planning Development

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point units

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

MAI010

Academic Integrity

MAA071

Pre-Term: Getting to Grips with Postgraduate Study

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.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central