Course overview

Be ready for Australia's financial planning reforms by studying Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning. Develop the decision-making skills needed to provide practical and professionally responsible financial advice to your clients.

If you're a financial planner returning to study, why not choose a course that's purpose-built to help you meet the industry's changing education requirements and build upon your professional knowledge and skills?

Designed to meet the current and future needs of the industry, the course places a strong emphasis on preparing professionally responsible financial planners, both in an ethical and compliance sense. As a graduate you'll have gained valuable new skills and knowledge, in particular relating to:

• ethics for financial services
• financial behaviour and decision making
• financial services regulation.

The Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning incorporates the Financial Adviser Standards' (FAS) three bridging units, providing advisers with an opportunity to complete the bridging units and gain a formal qualification.

As a graduate, you may articulate into Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning or Master of Financial Planning.

Course structure

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning, students must attain a total of 4 credit points, consisting of 3 credit points of core units and a one credit point elective unit 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.

Intakes by location

The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.

Additional course information

Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

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.

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.

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.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Work experience

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

Entry requirements

Minimum admission criteria:

• Bachelor degree in any discipline OR
• at least two years relevant professional work experience^ OR
• evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent

^ Relevant work experience is determined as working within a financial services role or within the financial services sector. 

For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit Deakin Policy Library.

IELTS / English language requirements

Please note that English language requirements exist for entry to this course and you will be required to meet the English language level requirement that is applicable in the year of your commencement of studies.

It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that she/he has the required IELTS score to register with any external accredited courses.

Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.

All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.

Recognition of prior learning

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.