Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Indicative student workload
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks
• Alternative exits
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure
• Work experience

Course overview

Build upon the core knowledge and skills required of a professional financial planner by studying Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning. Graduate with a FAS-approved degree, that enables you to either enter the financial planning profession or expand upon existing career opportunities.

Interested in a qualification that not only meets minimum education requirements but also enhances and further develops your core financial planning competencies?

Recent changes to the Australian financial services industry require financial planners to meet new education standards set by the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS). 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 FAS-approved course like our Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

If you're a current financial planner returning to study, you'll develop and refine your knowledge and analytical skills to better support the needs of your clients. Whether you're looking to start your career in financial planning or progress it, under the guidance of industry-active teachers you'll learn about:

• the theoretical principles underlying the rules, regulations and practices that apply in financial planning
• the digital tools of the modern financial planner
• the application of knowledge in an applied and practical learning environment.

Importantly, the course 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 financial planning graduates in a strong position to stand out from the pack.

As a graduate, you may 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 FAS-approved course, making it a recognised pathway towards becoming a registered financial planner.

Graduates will satisfy the education standards prescribed by FAS to be able to provide financial advice in Australia, subject to meeting other registration requirements prescribed by FAS (including completion of a Professional Year for Provisional Relevant Providers and passing a National Adviser Exam).

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning will be eligible to undertake the CFP® program of the Financial Planning Association and the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) designation offered by the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).

Career opportunities

From 1 January 2019, FAS’ 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 FAS, 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. 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.

Alternative exits

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose 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. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

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 module, MAI010 Academic Integrity Module. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

Core units

^*MAI code denotes Intensive version of the unit.

Elective units

Plus 1 credit points of elective units from:

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