Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
Quick facts
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
AU$30,720 (2021 total)
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
Not applicable
Duration
Not applicableLocation
Not applicableFees
Not applicable
Next intake
Not applicable
Overview
Skills in financial planning are highly transferable and extremely valuable across a number of industries. The Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning is designed to help students develop a strong practical and theoretical understanding of the discipline, and how to apply it to a range of professional situations.
The finance and financial planning industry needs graduates who can demonstrate critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, and who are able to design solutions for those seeking financial advice. In this diploma, you’ll gain the required skills to analyse financial information and create effective planning proposals for clients. You’ll learn how to apply financial planning theories and concepts across core financial areas, such as retirement and superannuation and much more.
RMIT offers you comprehensive training in this qualification that has been developed in collaboration with the Financial Planning Association of Australia and the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA). This is a qualifying award if you are looking to upgrade your financial planning qualifications for registration with FASEA, or as an exit point from the Master of Financial Planning and the Master of Financial Planning (CPA Australia Extension).
Details
As a student of this graduate diploma, you'll undertake several different modes of learning, including face-to-face and online learning, lectures, simulations, seminars, team presentations and preparing proposals. With an emphasis on work integrated learning, there are many opportunities for you to interact with industry and gain beneficial professional experiences.
As a graduate, you will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of financial advice regulation and practice in Australia
- analyse complex financial information including scenarios and theories
- apply reasoning, technical and creative skills to evaluate complex ideas to solve finance problems. This includes problems related to investment, superannuation planning, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance, and taxation planning.
- communicate financial planning advice
- apply your knowledge to client scenarios in professional practice.
Combine your graduate diploma with the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification
RMIT University has entered into a new partnership with the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), which allows students to combine a Master of Financial Planning degree with the CFP® Certification Program.
Students who complete a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning at RMIT will receive advanced standing for CFP 1,2,3 and 4. Therefore, student would only need to complete the final CFP Certification Unit through FPA, to meet the education requirements of the CFP Certification Program. Once the industry experience pathway of the CFP Certification Program have been satisfied, students will be eligible to apply for the CFP designation.
This opportunity means existing financial planners are able to combine all their study requirements into a single qualification, making a significant saving in time and cost.
- Abdullahi Ahmed
- Daniel Richards
- Orhan Azizoglu
In your first semester in this graduate diploma, you will undertake four subjects:
- Financial Planning Regulatory Obligations (BAFI3244)
- Professional Ethics (BAFI3242)
- Behavioural Financial Advice (BAFI3245)
- Business and Corporations Law (LAW2480)
In your second and final semester, you will complete these four subjects:
- Superannuation and Retirement Income (BAFI3240)
- Insurance and Estate Planning (BAFI3243)
- Taxation Law and Practice (LAW2471)
- Applications in Financial Planning (BAFI3246)
The practical skills and theoretical understanding you develop in this course will be immediately applicable to your career.
Note: This is an entry/exit award at the Graduate Diploma level if you want minimal credentials and an exit award from the Master of Financial Planning. To complete the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning you must complete all eight subjects listed above.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning | City Campus |
1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
|
1 year full-time
|
GD211 |
Choose a program structure
Program code: GD211
Career
The career prospects for financial planners are positive. The Australian government predicts that by 2023, the number of new job openings in this sector is expected to grow to around 17,000.
With this graduate diploma, you will have the qualifications and knowledge required to work across investment solutions, and superannuation, retirement, estate, insurance and taxation planning. You'll be able to clearly and successfully communicate complex financial concepts to your business or clients, and have confidence analysing financial problems and theories.
Admissions
Applicants must have successfully completed:
An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification) in any discipline from a recognised tertiary institution; or
An Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent overseas qualification) in any discipline from a recognised tertiary institution; or
The RMIT Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Credit and exemptions will be assessed in accordance with the RMIT University Credit Policy. If you have completed your studies or have partially completed a similar program at another institution (with entry criteria similar to this program) may be accepted with some credits or exemptions being granted towards this program.
Credit pathways between RMIT University programs enable you upon graduating from an RMIT University qualification to apply for advanced standing in a higher-level qualification.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed in accordance with the RMIT University Credit Policy. If you have completed your studies or have partially completed a similar program at another institution (with entry criteria similar to this program) may be accepted with some credits or exemptions being granted towards this program.
Credit pathways between RMIT University programs enable you upon graduating from an RMIT University qualification to apply for advanced standing in a higher-level qualification.
Fees
2021 indicative fees
Full-fee places: AU$30,720.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$313 maximum fee for 2021.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
Amount quoted is the 2021 total program tuition fee, and is based on a total annual load of 96 credit points. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
This program is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. If you are offered a place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
Learn more about fees for postgraduate study.
Payments and refunds
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
Eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
This program is approved for income support.
You may be eligible for student income support payments from the Commonwealth Government if you are undertaking a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or an approved professionally oriented masters by coursework program. For more information see Income support for Masters students.
If you are enrolled in an eligible program you will also need to satisfy all other student payment eligibility requirements. You can contact Centrelink or Services Australia for further information about student income support entitlements, your eligibility and how to apply.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student. The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2021 is $313.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2021 commencement is AU$40,320.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Applying for refunds
For information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student, please see Refunds.
Looking for answers or more general infomation?
For frequently asked questions or how to find more information regarding applications and enrolments, fees, student support services, university policies and more, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.