In a nutshell
Australia has a new financial planning standards body – and a new set of requirements for professionals in the sector. If you’re a current or aspiring financial planner, you’ll need a course like the Master of Financial Planning from Deakin University to ensure you have a successful financial career.
This comprehensive postgraduate course will help you take your financial planning skills and knowledge to new heights. You’ll cover all the most important areas of the industry, from investment management to modern portfolio theory to superannuation and retirement planning. You’ll also learn how to serve your clients better by applying advanced principles of finance, utilising the latest digital tools and practising ethical decision-making.
Deakin’s course instructors are active leaders in the field, so you’ll be in good hands, gaining constructive feedback on industry expectations and preparing for challenges faced by modern financial planning professionals. You’ll graduate ready to secure your future in the industry and take your career to the next level.
What you’ll need
To be eligible to study this course, applicants must meet the following entry requirements:
- Meet the minimum English language requirements; AND
- Hold a Bachelor degree in a related discipline*; OR
- Bachelor degree in any discipline, plus two years relevant work experience^; OR
- Evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent.
*A 'related discipline' is a Business discipline with a major sequence in Accounting, Financial Planning and/or Finance.
^ Relevant work experience is determined as business experience in either a financial planning role or a managerial position, with business oversight responsibilities in a financial planning related field such as superannuation consulting, estate planning, tax advisory, financial consulting, funds management, banking.
Subject summary
In this financial planning course, the subjects you may study include:
Core Units:
- Academic Integrity
- Pre-Term: Getting to Grips with Postgraduate Study
- Estate Planning and Risk Management Strategies
- Superannuation and Retirement Planning
- Financial Behaviour and Decision Making (Intensive)
- Financial Planning and Economic Fundamentals
- Professional Research and Analysis
- Ethics for Financial Services (Intensive)
- Investments and Portfolio Management
- Principles of Income Tax Law
- Business Law
- Financial Advice Regulation (Intensive)
Elective Units:
- Administration of Trusts and Estates
- Financial Markets
- Property and Real Estate Context
- Accounting
- Industry Based Learning
- Internship
Why Deakin University?

Established in 1974 as Australia’s first regional university in Victoria, Deakin University has consistently raised the bar in delivering quality tertiary education with a focus on excellent teaching and research.
The multi-award winning education provider teaches over 53,000 students a year, offering renowned courses that integrate real-world expertise and practical skills. Get recognised with Deakin in a range of industries, including nutrition, sports management, property management, law, business and more. Plus, they’ve have ranked in the top 2% by the acclaimed Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
As a student of Deakin, you’ll get support every step of the way along your learning journey!
They’ve got a range of on-campus facilities and online features to help ease the pressure of study, including on-campus childcare services, a medical centre with qualified nurses and doctors, free and confidential counselling (face-to-face or via phone) and more.
Deakin also offer advisers and resources to help develop your academic skills. Advisers are available on campus and online to help guide you in your research, assignment and study practices.
Campus locations
This course can be delivered on campus to provide you with practical training in a face-to-face learning environment. It is available to study at the following locations: