Swinburne welcomed into CFA Institute University Affiliation Program

Swinburne University of Technology has become the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.

The Bachelor of Business with a major in finance and Master of Finance have been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program. These programs position students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, which has become the most respected and recognised investment credential in the world.

Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers and the marketplace that Swinburne’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for CFA examinations. Through participation in this program, Swinburne is eligible to receive student scholarships for the CFA Program each year, with eleven student scholarships allocated for 2021.

Swinburne is one of the only 12 Australian universities that offer the CFA-affiliated finance programs at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Swinburne’s Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance and Master of Finance program give students a deep knowledge of finance, financial technologies, ethics and financial markets. Upon graduation, students are equipped to work in sectors such as investment banking, financial consultancy and asset management, and in brokerage firms.

Each of these programs is highly industry-linked, ensuring students are equipped with relevant and current skills for their future careers. All students are introduced to different technological platforms throughout their degree, including SIG Tech (a cloud-based trading simulation platform), Python Programming, Power BI (a Microsoft business analytics service) and Plus 500 (a financial technology firm providing online trading services). Additionally, postgraduate students can enrol in a financial technology specialisation that introduces them to topics such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Swinburne is also one of the few universities that offers dedicated units on ethics and sustainability, which gives students the opportunity to learn about the latest financial technologies embracing ethical and social values from a range of experts, including industry guest lecturers.

Course Director of the Master of Finance program, Dr Sarod Khandaker, Major Discipline Coordinator of Finance, Dr Reza Tajaddini, and the Swinburne Finance team have been working towards receiving the CFA affiliation for two years. They have updated content across all units, under the leadership of the Department Chair of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Associate Professor Mary Dunkley.

Dean of Swinburne Business School, Professor Keryn Chalmers, says Swinburne’s School of Business is proud to be recognised as a CFA Institute University Affiliation member.

‘The school prides itself on its industry connectedness and this status is testament to our focus on equipping finance graduates with the professional skills and knowledge that resonate with the profession and enhance their career success.’

Simrata Grewal, studying for the Master of Finance with a curriculum tied to professional practice

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The organization is a champion for ethical behaviour in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 176,000 members in 166 countries and territories, including 164,000 CFA charter holders. For more information, visit https://www.cfainstitute.org.

About the CFA Program

The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the program successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the ‘gold standard’ for investment professionals.