The Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning is a fully online program designed to introduce you to postgraduate study in the financial planning sector with the option to continue into a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and a Master of Financial Planning.

Financial Planning at Western

You will learn the nature and process of financial planning and financial planning participants within the Australian economic, legal, social, cultural and ethical environment.
The key influences affecting the client relationship are identified along with a focus on the use of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to develop client rapport. This involves evaluating data collection and risk tolerance tools and identifying the impact of the regulatory and economic environment on stakeholders.

Other topics involve budgetary analysis, term structure, investment decisions, ethics, client goal-setting and statement of advice compliance. This provides you with the foundational knowledge essential to develop and apply comprehensive knowledge across all financial planning areas.

You will also learn how to evaluate academic literature in various business contexts so you can communicate effectively as an individual or within groups and apply ethical practices in different business contexts.

Concepts of law and its impact on business and the basic concepts of risk and return in relation to financial planning are also covered.

The Challenge Assessment

In early 2017, legislation was passed requiring financial advisers to hold a degree to practice. New financial advisers need a degree by 2019, while existing advisers need degrees by 2026. If you are eligible for our Challenge Assessment, you can also gain credit for your existing knowledge and experience, so you can fast-track your path to the full degrees you now need.

The Challenge Assessment will be available for the following subjects: Communication and Ethics in Financial Planning, Principles of Financial Planning, Investment Planning & Superannuation, Estate Planning and Funds Management & Portfolio Selection.

The Challenge Assessment is available for the following subjects: Communication and Ethics in Financial Planning and Principles of Financial Planning.



The School of Business has been awarded AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation for its excellence in business education.

Program structure

Our program structure is outlined in our handbook. Here you can view all of the subjects you will be studying.

 

Fees and delivery

Domestic Student:

Fees: $15,412*
Delivery: Online

International Student:

This program is only available to domestic students.

Unfortunately, student visa holders are not eligible to study this degree.

 

Your career

As financial planning graduate, you can look forward to career opportunities in:

• Investment


• Money management


• Corporate finance


• Financial Management

*The tuition fees quoted above are the fees for the normal full-time study load of the program (80 credit points) per annum. International students will be subject to a variable fee regime; i.e. enrolled students will be required to pay fees during their program based on the approved fee for each calendar year. Fee changes (if any) will occur at 1 January each calendar year. Students who extend their program past the normal finish date of the program will be required to pay additional fees based on the prevailing fee level. Western Sydney University is a multi-campus institution. The University reserves the right to alter the location of its programs between campuses and other locations as necessary. Students should be aware of the possibility of change of location for the whole or part of programs for which they enrol and should plan for the need to travel between Western Sydney campuses.