Deakin University
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Graduate Diploma
Study online to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional financial planner, allowing you to enter the profession or expand your career opportunities.
Course overview
Build upon the core knowledge and skills required of a professional financial planner by studying Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning. Graduate with a fully accredited and approved degree, enabling you to enter the financial planning profession or expand upon existing career opportunities and accreditation requirements.
The Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is accredited as an FAS-approved degree, providing you with a pathway to progress your career as a professional financial planner.
If you are a current financial planner returning to study, you will develop and refine your knowledge and analytical skills to better support the needs of your clients. Whether you're looking to start your career in financial planning or progress it, under the guidance of industry-active teachers you will learn about:
- The theoretical principles underlying the rules, regulations and practices that apply in financial planning.
- The digital tools of the modern financial planner.
- The application of knowledge in an applied and practical learning environment.
Importantly, the course places a strong emphasis on the professional responsibilities of the modern financial planner, both in an ethical and compliance sense - as well as the practical application of concepts to work-based problems. Industry reforms have created an increased demand for ethical decision-makers, putting Deakin financial planning graduates in a strong position to stand out from the pack.
Key facts
July, 2026
November, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, students must attain a total of eight credit points consisting of seven credit points of core units and one credit point of course elective units chosen from a specified list, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module
Core units
- Estate Planning and Risk Management Strategies
- Financial Behaviour and Decision Making
- Financial Planning and Economic Fundamentals
- Superannuation and Retirement Planning
- Ethics for Financial Services
- Principles of Income Tax Law
- Business Law
These are intensive units that are completed within a short time frame.
Course elective units
Plus one credit point of course elective units from:
- Financial Advice Regulation
- Financial Planning Development
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher.
- At least two years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).
English language requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent.
- Other evidence of English language proficiency (contact the university for more information).
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 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 Deakin's Recognition of Prior Learning system, which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding and application of core financial planning concepts and theories.
- Apply appropriate communication skills within the context of providing advice on financial matters.
- Use appropriate digital technologies to identify and disseminate complex information, concepts and theories.
- Apply a systematic research process and develop a clearly articulated argument to support a view and use it to justify one or more conclusions.
- Apply problem solving skills necessary to conceptualise and solve complex issues in financial planning.
- Demonstrate independent study and learning in the field of financial planning.
- Identify challenges associated with organising and managing teams in professional contexts and the importance of providing an instructional framework to nurture teamwork.
Career outcomes
As a graduate of this course, career options may include:
- Financial Advisor
- Insurance Advisor
- Business Development Manager
- Superannuation Consultant
- Personal financial Planner
- Paraplanner
- Claims Administrator
- Compliance Manager
- Risk Advisor
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $31,600 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of eight credit points (normally eight units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.