Master of Finance

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Master of Finance
Deakin course code	M750
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, the Master Finance is typically 1, 1.5 or 2 years duration. 1 year full-time (2 years part-time) - 8 credit points 1.5 years full-time (3 years part-time) - 12 credit points 2 years full-time (4 years part-time) - 16 credit points Deakin courses can also be studied part-time over a longer period.
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 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	111194F Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study at a university ranked in the top 1% in the world for finance* and delve into the modern financial techniques underpinning investment, financing and risk management decisions of multinational corporations with Deakin’s Master of Finance. Learn about financial markets, corporate governance, corporate finance, derivative securities and portfolio management. You will also be exposed to new knowledge areas such as FinTech, Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence.

Want to expand your career options with a versatile skill set in finance?

The coursework and research components have been designed to enhance professional practice in a range of financial domains, which may be of particular interest to you if you’re currently working as a finance professional.

Develop analytical skills for making key financial management decisions, incorporating time-value-of money and risk-return analysis, plus learn how to apply financial knowledge to solve real-world financial decision problems. Through practice, you will become adept to various digital technologies used to process complex financial data, information and ideas.

As a graduate, you will also have the option to complement your primary studies in finance with a specialisation in a wide range of business-related fields. Designed to meet industry demand for skilled professionals with a breadth of transferable skills, a specialisation can help deepen your knowledge in a particular business field and benefit your future career.

This course aims to provide a high-level education in finance issues and research methodologies. Depending on your unit choice, you may be eligible for membership to Finance and Treasury Association and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

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

Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide.

By completing the Master of Finance, you may gain membership or eligibility to apply for membership at the Australian Corporate Treasury Association (ACTA) and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA), two leading professional bodies for Finance professionals.

The Master of Finance program is recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.

Career opportunities

The Master of Finance can lead you to a diverse range of local and international careers in corporations, financial institutions, managed funds and audit companies as a:

auditor
budget analyst and forecaster
business analyst
compliance analyst
credit analyst
customer relationship manager
financial advisor
finance manager
fund manager
investment analyst
risk advisor
treasurer

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 standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

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

Graduate Certificate of Finance (M530)
Graduate Diploma of Finance (M630)

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	Develop an advanced and integrated understanding of finance theory, financial models and demonstrate how this specialised knowledge can be applied in financial markets (especially in the digitalised markets) to optimise financial outcomes
Communication	Convey complex financial information and recommendations in writing and orally for both financial specialists and non-financial audiences
Digital literacy	Apply appropriate digital technologies to find, use, manage and disseminate complex financial data, information and ideas.
Critical thinking	Conduct research to critically analyse a range of complex finance related information to make informed investing and financing decisions for corporates, the investing community and business at large.
Problem solving	Apply a range of techniques, including research and analytical skills, from finance, accounting and business to create solutions to real-world and complex finance issues.
Self-management	Evidence the ability to work and learn independently and show personal responsibility
Teamwork	Foster a constructive environment through ongoing academic collaboration
Global citizenship	Reflect on different international, ethical and regulatory perspectives in addressing issues faced by finance professionals

Course rules

The Master of Finance is typically 8, 12 or 16 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) - your professional experience and previous qualifications - which can save you time and money.

For students undertaking 16 credit points, you study 11 credit points of core units, 1 credit point from a list of course electives and 4 credit points of open elective units (which may include an optional Faculty wide specialisation), 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.

Students are introduced to research tools and techniques in core units of the course where they learn analytic skills and the practical application of those skills in professional contexts. They must also complete advanced level units and a capstone unit that require them to integrate the skills learnt over their course of study and produce applied pieces of research with reference to prevailing literature.

Specialisations

Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.

*Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point unit

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module

Core units

MAF702

Financial Markets and Digital Innovations

MAF752

Principles of Finance

MAF759

Financial Data Analytics

MPP710

Environmental Sustainability for Business

MAF718

Financial Institutions and Investment Banking

MAF703

Applied Corporate Finance

MAF707

Investments and Portfolio Management

MAF716

Fintech Foundations and Cryptocurrencies

MAF713

Derivatives and Financial Risk Management

MAF760

International Finance

MAF770

Finance in Practice ^(Capstone)

Course elective units

Select one credit point from:

MAF767

Securities Trading in Practice

MWL705

Business for Social Impact

MWL716

Consultancy Experience

MWL717

Entrepreneurship Experience

MWL718

Internship

MWL719

International Consultancy Experience

Open elective units

The remaining 4 credit points of electives may be selected from:

faculty-wide specialisation^{^}
postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to availability)^{^^}
Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials)

^{^}recommended specialisation list:

Business Analytics
Digital Transformation
Financial Planning
Property and Real Estate

^{^^}recommended elective list:

MPT781/MPE781

Economics for Managers ^{^*}

MPA702

Financial Interpretation ^{^}

MIS712

Managing Digital Transformation

MIS716

Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Enterprise Applications

MIS741

Ethics of Digital Transformation

MPE711

Global Trade and Supply Chains

^Students who do not have prior business background are recommended to take MPE781 and MPA702 in their first trimester of study

^* MPT code denotes Study Tour version of the unit

Stackable short courses

Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 cp microcredentials) to earn up to 4 credit point(s) of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work integrated learning units.

Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.

International Students:

This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.

For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit Home Affairs. See 8105 Work limitation.

Other course information

Course duration

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