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Financial planning courses

Invest in yourself and show others how to grow their wealth with careful financial planning

Help me choose a course

Introduction to Financial planning

Are you a natural planner with a talent for numbers and a passion for helping people? Channel your focus into a financial planning career and drive individuals, businesses or major organisations towards financially sound decisions.

Take the leap with a course in financial planning through Open Universities Australia. We’re here to help you find and enrol in courses that are delivered online by leading Australian universities.

Explore financial planning courses
Finance page - Simon
Simon studied financial planning with RMIT University through Open Universities Australia

Discover financial planning courses

Online financial planning subjects and short courses

Griffith University

Financial Planning 1

UndergraduateGRF-AFE122

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 03 Mar 2025, 14 Jul 2025
University of South Australia

Business Finance

UndergraduateUSA-BANK2010

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 07 Apr 2025, 22 Sep 2025
University of Tasmania

Financial Planning

UndergraduateTAS-BFA204

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 21 Jul 2025
Curtin University
Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 01 Sep 2025
View all subjects

Online financial planning degrees

Griffith University

Master of Financial Planning

PostgraduateGRF-CFP-MAS

Equip yourself for growth

Study method
100% online
Duration
Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
University of South Australia

The base for your business career

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
University of Tasmania

Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

PostgraduateTAS-MFP-GDI

Become confident in providing compliant advice

Study method
100% online
Duration
1 year full time or part time equivalent
Southern Cross University

An accredited financial services specialisation

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

Discover 56 ways to study financial planning with leading Australian universities.

Explore financial planning courses

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Financial planning study FAQs

Why should you study financial planning?

If you’re able to make people feel comfortable during challenging conversations, a financial planning course could be the career path for you. In addition to mathematics, data and listening skills, those who thrive in team settings or get a thrill out of helping others achieve their goals may find fulfilment in this corner of finance.

You won’t be alone in joining the financial planning community. Labour Market Insights data indicates that the industry has grown strongly over the last 5 years and is expected to continue, with 68,800 financial planners and advisors likely to be employed by 2026.

Already working full-time or otherwise committed? Take advantage of the flexibility and availability of online finance courses in Australia through Open Universities Australia. It’s hard to go back to the classroom after experiencing the freedom of studying your way. 

How long does it take to become a financial planner?

Generally, it takes 3 to 5 years to become a financial planner, depending on the pace at which you study.

Aspiring financial planners must complete a 2-year advanced diploma or 3-year bachelor degree, as per Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) guidelines. You can choose from a range of degrees, as a general business course or accounting qualification both meet the Certified Financial Planner minimum criteria, provided you've listed financial planning as a major.

Once you’re qualified, you'll be required to complete a year of professional experience under a licensed financial planner to meet ASIC requirements.

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.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

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 may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

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.

What you'll learn in a financial planning course

Whether you’re new to financial planning or come from a strong background in the space, studying a financial planner course can help you take the next step in a rewarding career.

As an undergraduate student, you’ll explore the foundations of business and finance, so you can understand clients' financial goals and then research the best ways to get them there. As a postgraduate student, you’ll build on this knowledge at a more advanced level, which can give you the experience you need to meet new regulatory requirements or progress to a management role.

Get ready to develop your skills in areas such as:

  • personal financial planning
  • risk management and insurance
  • Australian tax law
  • investment planning
  • insurance planning
  • superannuation and retirement planning.

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We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

A student leaping from one side of a platform to another, with a blue sky in the background.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 523,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

Enrol in courses from 25 of Australia's leading universities

Griffith University logoTorrens University Australia logo
University of New England logoThe University of Queensland logo
Bond University logoCurtin University logo
University of the Sunshine Coast logoMurdoch University logo
The University of Notre Dame Australia logoUniversity of South Australia logo
The University of Newcastle logoLa Trobe University logo
Australian Catholic University logoSouthern Cross University logo
University of Southern Queensland logoUniversity of Tasmania logo
Swinburne University logoEdith Cowan University logo
Australian National University logoUniversity of Adelaide logo
Macquarie University logoRMIT University logo
Flinders University logoCharles Sturt University logo
James Cook University Australia logo

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