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Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
PostgraduateACU-FIN-GDI2020
Course information for 2020 intake
Certify your career in financial planning
Gain or update your qualifications in this Financial Planning Association Australia accredited course – a new mandatory requirement for financial planners. Cover estate planning, risk management, superannuation, commercial law, tax and more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
About this degree
The learning outcomes for the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning focus on students developing up to date knowledge of the finance industry, its regulation and its role in economic sustainability globally, developing technical skills to facilitate analysis, developing critical thinking skills to interpret that analysis and to be able to communicate decisions and recommendations.
Specifically, the learning outcomes are as follows:
- Graduates should be knowledgeable about current financial market issues, including financial market operations, financial institutions, and the regulations of financial markets and institutions.
- Graduates should be able to make financial management decisions on the basis of finance theory and finance best practice to advance the interests of their organisation and society generally.
- Graduates should be able to employ critical reasoning skills and ethical frames to ensure responsible financial decision-making.
- Graduates should be able to interpret and explain professional decisions or recommendations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Graduates should be able to apply their skills and knowledge to new or emerging situations.
The Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning is designed for new entrants and experienced financial planners. The degree is suited to aspiring and experienced financial planners aiming to boost their skills, knowledge, and credentials. This degree will meet the education requirements of FASEA for financial planners. The degree will prepare graduates for careers in their chosen field through enhanced professional recognition and delivering a combination of skills, knowledge, and expertise which will equip them to gain employment as well-rounded finance planning professionals.
The degree embraces the importance of ethical and sustainable decision making and offers flexibility in delivery online through Open Universities Australia.
Award requirements
Completion of 8 subjects from the Specified Units in the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Submission of application form and appropriate supporting documents
Submission of Application to Course Complete form to ACU
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $28,000
The amount shown here is 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.
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed a bachelor degree in any discipline
Students not holding a bachelor degree may apply based on at least five years’ industry experience in a relevant role.
Students must meet English language requirements as follows:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Overall score: 6.5. Individual score of: 6.0; or
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): 61 with a minimum of 50 in all 4 communicative skills; or
- Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic (TOEFL): Internet based total of 90: minimum 25 writing; or
- ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%); or
- Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): Overall CAE score: 176. Minimum score of 169 in all tests.
ACU will consider requests for advanced standing based on prior studies. ACU has an articulation agreement with Financial Planning Association (FPA) Australia for Certified Financial Planners (CFPs). CFPs may get the maximum credit of four subjects, equivalent to 40cp.
Career opportunities
Graduates can pursue a range of careers such as:
- Financial advisor/planner
- Wealth manager
- Investment consultant
- Financial director
- Chief financial officer
- Chief executive officer
Professional recognition
The Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning is an accredited degree by Financial Planning Association (FPA) Australia
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% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.