Bachelor of Business with a Major in Financial Planning
UndergraduateSWI-BFP-DEG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Change more than your clients’ money habits—change their lives
Work with clients to secure their financial futures. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, you’ll study taxation, retirement planning, and personal financial risk. Gain valuable industry connections and launch your career with confidence.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Business with a Major in Financial Planning
About this degree
Taxation
Understand the major principles of tax planning issues and concepts.
Principles of Financial Planning
Examines the management of financial planning practices and develop a Statement of Advice based on the unique characteristics and requirements of clients.
Ethical Client Relationships
Learn about the fundamental ethical principles, the main ethical issues encountered, and the ethical behaviour support resources available, in professional financial planning services practice.
Investment Planning
Gain knowledge of the financial system, various regulatory bodies, key participants and potential risks in the financial markets.
Retirement & Estate Planning
Learn about retirement planning with a particular focus on the superannuation industry and estate planning.
Management of Personal Financial Risk
Gain understanding of the pervasive nature of pure risk on individual and society.
On successful completion of this Course students will be able to:
- Define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to a business discipline and apply those principles in a range of practices.
- Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in business contexts.
- Formulate creative solutions that are fit for purpose and demonstrate cognisance of the impact of business decisions on the environment, economy and society.
- Coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas.
- Communicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience.
- Build on and continuously develop the intellectual independence to be critical and reflective learners, cognisant of new technologies.
- Work collaboratively in diverse groups.
With a degree in Financial Planning, you’ll become the trusted expert people turn to for important advice throughout their lives. By sharing your expertise, you’ll enable your clients to reach their financial goals and make a real difference by doing so.
Taught by experienced professionals, you’ll use the latest financial software and collaborate with your peers on a consulting project for a live client, meaning you’ll be able to step into the workplace with confidence.
This course meets the educational requirements of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA). It is approved by the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS), ensuring you’ll learn the skills necessary to enter the financial planning industry with confidence.
Recommended study pattern
A total of 24 units are taken to complete the Bachelor of Business with a major in Financial Planning, including five core business units, three core practice business units, eight financial planning major units and eight electives.
Core Business Fundamentals units
Financial Information for Decision Making (ACC10007)
Economics for Business Decision-Making (ECO10005)
Business Digitalisation (INF10024)
Contemporary Management Principles (MGT10001)
Marketing and the Consumer Experience (MKT10009)
Business Practice units
Learning and Communicating for Innovative Business Practice (COM10011)
Business Consulting Project (BUS30032)
And a choice of one unit from:
Planning for Career Success (CAR10001)
Sustainable Business Practice (BUS30031)
Professional Internship – Business (BUS20009)
Financial Planning Major units
Taxation (ACC30005)
Principles of Financial Planning (FIN10003)
Ethics and Client Relationships (FIN20015)
Finance and Behavioural Bias (FIN20017)
Investment and Financial Planning Project (FIN30017)
Retirement Planning (FIN30023)
Law of Commerce (LAW20019)
Elective options can be viewed on the Swinburne Online website.
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Business students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:
- Eight [8] core units of study (100 credit points)
- Eight [8] units of study from the financial planning discipline major in one of the following: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Health Management and Communication, Human Resource Management, International Business, Information Systems, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing or Sports Management (Swinburne Online) (100 credit points)
OR sixteen units from the Accounting and Finance Professional Program or the Accounting and Financial Planning Professional major (200 credit points)
- Eight [8] units of Secondary studies (100 credit points) comprising of electives (NOTE: Students undertaking the Accounting and Finance Professional Program or the Accounting and Financial Planning Professional major will not need to undertake secondary studies).
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,992
Indicative total fee $50,976
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 19
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 14
How to apply
Swinburne University of Technology manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to Swinburne University of Technology who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.
Diploma entry pathways
Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and provides advanced standing to the second.
Credit available may vary depending on the major selected within any given degree but in most instances you may receive up to 8 unit credits.
Our Course Consultants will step you through the process of entry and credit using previous study.
2022 Guaranteed Entry ATAR: 60
Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
VCE prerequisites:
Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL).
Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for credit.
Applicants who have completed a Diploma in a related discipline may be eligible for credit of up to 8 units; the equivalent of a third of the course. Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.
Career opportunities
Financial Planner
Assist individuals and companies to reach their long-term financial goals. Provide expert advice on investing, retirement planning, superannuation and other key financial aspects of people's lives.
Financial Adviser
Create tailored advice and education to help individuals reach their financial goals. Use your expert knowledge to help develop plans for investments as well as savings, budget, insurance, and tax strategies.
Paraplanner
Work with financial planners to prepare documents and data for clients. You'll use financial management software, such as Xplan, to keep track and play an important role in the financial planning process.
Business Analyst
In this dynamic role, you'll use data analytics to assess processes, determine requirements and deliver data-driven recommendations and reports to key stakeholders.
Business Development Manager
Your role is all about the future - new customers, new markets, new products and new processes. You'll plan and strategise development, helping your company to reach their business goals.
Commercial Analyst
Working within the finance team of a company, you'll prepare budgets, forecasts and use financial data to guide decision making.
Accountant
Help clients manage their finances and give expert advice on financial reporting, forecasting and analysis.
Finance Manager
Play a crucial role in supporting organisations to make informed financial decisions. You'll be able to find ways to improve profitability, a key aspect of financial leadership.
Professional recognition
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Swinburne business degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, and are a part of the five per cent of business schools worldwide accredited by AACSB. The alumni of AACSB accredited business schools are among the world’s most influential leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs impacting business, government, and non-profit sectors.
Financial Adviser Standards (FAS)
From January 2022, the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS), which forms part of the Treasury Department of the Australian Government, sets the education and training standards and the Code of Ethics for licensed financial advisers in Australia. Prior to FAS, this was managed by the Financial Advisers Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA).
FAS has approved Swinburne Online’s undergraduate and post graduate courses in Financial Planning. This includes the Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning and the Bachelor of Business – Accounting and Financial Planning. It also includes the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.
Graduates of a FAS approved Swinburne course will satisfy the education standards and requirements prescribed by FAS to provide financial advice in Australia.
Financial Planning Australia's CFP Certified Program
Graduates are eligible for entry into the Financial Planning Association of Australia’s CFP (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER) certified program. Students who hold a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning from Swinburne Online will receive recognised prior learning for CFP1 – 4, and will only need to complete the CFP Capstone unit to become a CFP.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Finance Managers | Over $120K | Up 24.7% |
Financial Brokers | Over $120K | Up 47.5% |
Financial Dealers | Over $120K | Up 4.8% |
Financial Investment Advisers and Managers | Over $120K | Up 25.4% |