Diploma of Financial Services - FNS51815

The diploma is mainly taught face-to-face in a classroom setting with some structured online components. The online components will require you to actively participate in a teacher led e-learning environment through the use of discussion boards, online quizzes and action learning activities.

RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including group discussions, tutorials, workplace simulated projects, online quizzes, role plays and case studies.

RMIT’s simulated work environment (Practice Firm), called The Swanston Banking Group Ltd, is a key feature of the diploma so we can deliver coursework and current industry practices. Within the firm you will be required to undertake a range of work-related activities. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in collaboration, structuring meetings, working with client files and engaging with simulated clients in the form of role plays. You will assume the role of the financial services industry professional working in the Practice Firm as an employee with a position description.  You will be expected to follow the bank’s policies and procedures.

In your roles you will be provided with a  customer brief and you will be required to assess the client’s future financial status, or research and recommend services and products to meet their needs.

Ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes projects and practical  assignments, oral presentations, case study analysis and workplace simulated projects that are linked to the functions of the The Practice Firm.

All assessment tasks are designed to simulate a workplace environment and require you to demonstrate that you can analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources, and apply the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to develop solutions, and present them, to a range of complex problems or clients.

Through RMIT University’s online learning portal, myRMIT, you will be able to view online resources and learning activities created by lecturers, access course materials via Learning Management System, collaborate with lecturers and fellow students, and access your student email account.  Educational software, the Learning Hub, resources and printers are accessible on campus via the RMIT wireless network using your own laptop, tablet or smart phone or via computer facilities on-campus. You will be able to access the same software from home using myDesktop.

Find out more about student computing at RMIT.

The teachers in this program have current industry practitioners with knowledge and experience, ensuring that your skills will be relevant to current and emerging requirements of the financial services industry.

During your studies you will be required to conduct simulated client interviews to present your advice and practice your skills in client engagement. The diploma offers you opportunities to apply your learning to realistic business challenges and to develop your professional skills through simulations, role plays and collaborating in the classroom and online. You will be using techniques, technology and resources that are used in industry.  

In addition to the expertise provided by the College of Business, the program has an advisory committee that includes senior executives from major financial services corporations and professional bodies. The committee provides input and feedback on the design of financial services programs at RMIT that aligns with the industry trends.

Industry networking

Financial services students will have the chance to meet with industry practitioners through an Industry Seminar Series and an  industry afternoon where high profile speakers present on current industry topics and employability skills.

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.

You will study one core and ten elective course covering the following areas of professional and discipline expertise:

• banking services
  
• financial systems and markets
• professional practice and compliance
• risk management
• wealth management/financial planning
• accounting/organisational budgeting
• economics
• legal principles
• marketing and customer service

You will begin by studying courses that provide foundational knowledge and skills essential to many jobs in the financial services sector. You will then develop and apply those skills to more complex case studies and simulations to demonstrate your abilities in relation to budgets, financial services products and professional practice.