Master of Financial Planning
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Duration
1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (HE Block 1, Semester 1, Semester 2, Term 4) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Part-time
2021 Start Dates
2022 Start Dates

Swinburne Financial Planning Association Member Scholarship
This scholarship provides a course tuition fee discount for students who are current members of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) who are studying a postgraduate course in Financial Planning delivered face-to-face at the Hawthorn campus or via online study with Swinburne Online. This scholarship also provides a unit tuition fee discount for students studying selected stand-alone bridging units.

AACSB Accreditation
Swinburne Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The alumni of AACSB accredited business schools are among the world’s most influential leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs impacting business, government, and non-profit sectors. Only five per cent of business schools worldwide are AACSB accredited.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Master of Financial Planning, students must complete 150 credit points comprising:
- 11 core units of study (137.5 credit points)
- 1 elective unit of study (12.5)
It is recommended that students pursuing a CPA accreditation undertake ACC80008 as an elective. Students seeking CFP accreditation are advised to undertake and complete the CFP Certification Capstone unit (CFP C) with FPA and apply for an exemption towards the elective.
Students progressing from the Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning will be given full credit for the units completed.
Units of study
FIN60010 Elements of Financial Planning and Regulation
FIN60011 Behavioural Finance and Investment *
FIN60012 Ethics and Client Management *
LAW60003 Corporations and Contract Law
Elective Unit
Students who wish to pursue CPA accreditation must complete this unit. Students may wish to complete the external FPA CFP Certification Capstone unit (CFP C) and apply for an exemption towards this unit.
ACC80008 Managerial Accounting
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
- apply coherent and advanced knowledge of financial planning and business concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking
- apply problem solving, design and decision making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
- communicate proficiently with clients, gather and interpret appropriate data and use advanced tools and practices to produce a financial plan
- demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and a broad awareness of the professional code of conduct and cultural norms
- critically analyse and evaluate a range of complex information to produce systematic strategies for wealth creation and risk minimisation in preparing financial advice
- apply knowledge of research principles to plan and execute a piece of research independently
- function as an effective member of a diverse team and take responsibility for continuing professional development.

Graduate skills
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas and an ability to engage in critical enquiry
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work, community situations and reasoning skills
- adaptable and able to manage change, and
- aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic and natural).
Professional recognition
The Master of Financial Planning is approved by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA). Students may also be eligible for recognition as a Tax Financial Advisor with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Registration with TPB also depends on students’ previous work experience being assessed and final confirmation of eligibility will be provided by TPB.
A FASEA approved degree is mandatory in order to practice as a financial planner or advisor in Australia.Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
Entry requirements
- a recognised bachelor degree in a related discipline or
- a recognised bachelor degree in any discipline PLUS a minimum of two year equivalent full-time relevant professional experience* or
- a Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning** or
- completion of the Postgraduate Qualifying Program PLUS either previous Higher Education Study in a related discipline OR a minimum of two years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience* (International applicants only)