This professionally-oriented course is specifically designed to meet the education needs of the financial planning industry.

Over the past two decades, superannuation has become an industry of great economic significance to Australia, with its size now greater than the nation’s annual Gross Domestic Product, the market capitalisation of the ASX and total cash deposits held by Australian banks.

The Master of Financial Planning is ideal for both those aspiring to join the financial planning industry and those currently employed in the industry. This degree seeks to build your financial planning abilities, skills and knowledge.

You will collect, analyse and synthesise financial planning information and use your skills to prepare financial planning solutions for clients. The course emphasises the professional responsibilities of the financial planner both in an ethical and in a compliance sense.

The course will give you an overall understanding of investment management in relation to different asset classes, plus the skills to construct, manage and evaluate portfolios using the key principles of modern portfolio theory. You’ll learn how to apply, analyse and relate the key principles of modern portfolio theory and asset pricing models using different portfolios of financial assets.

You’ll get an introduction to superannuation and retirement planning with a focus on the major trends and features of the industry and the framework in which the industry operates. The course will look at issues relating to superannuation contributions, different types of superannuation funds, the rules relating to the taxation and accessing of benefits, a consideration of alternative retirement income stream products and strategies designed to enhance superannuation and retirement income benefits.

The Master of Financial Planning is a course approved by the new financial planning standards body - the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA).

The Master of Financial Planning is typically a 12 credit point course but this is dependent on your entry point. 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, but may be limited by the FAS education standards.

To complete the Master of Financial Planning, students must attain a total of 12 credit points consisting of 11 credit points of core units and 1 credit points of course elective units chosen from a specified list, 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.
Students are required to meet the University’s academic progress and conduct requirements.

Increasing demand by clients for financial advice and recently introduced education reforms have created an increased demand for registered financial planners with a high-level understanding of what it means to provide responsible and professional advice.

The Master of Financial Planning is approved by FAS, ensuring Deakin students graduate with the right qualification and skills to take advantage of this demand.

Whether you’re currently working in the industry or looking to move into a financial planning role, you will be prepared to excel in a variety of positions, including:

• financial adviser
• insurance adviser
• business development manager
• superannuation consultant
• paraplanner
• claims administrator
• compliance manager
• risk adviser

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, OR Successful completion of Deakin’s Masters Qualifying Program (or MQP Extended), OR Other evidence of academic ability judged to be equivalent.

IELTS: Overall 6.5 No band lower than 6; TOEFL IBT: 79 Writing 21; TOEFL PBT: 577 Writing 4.5; CPE: 176 No band less than 169; CAE: 176 No band less than 169; PTE: 58 No less than 50 in each skill; OET: Overall C+; DUELI EAP PROGRAM: EAP 4 (60%)