Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning

What is this course about?

CSU's Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning course prepares students to operate efficiently in a variety of relevant positions and develop the skills necessary for their role as financial planning professionals.

Why study this course?

The Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning provides students with the opportunities to obtain the educational and competency skills necessary to operate as leading financial planning professionals for the 21st Century. As this industry expands rapidly the knowledge and skill levels required to be successful financial planners is expected to expand significantly.

Students completing the course can elect to continue their studies by enrolling in the Master of Applied Finance.

More reasons to study this degree

Career opportunities

CSU's Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning provides graduates with many exciting career opportunities in the financial services sector. Financial planners provide advice on investments, insurance retirement and life planning.

Employment opportunities include:

• banks
• credit unions
• mutual banks
• insurance companies
• financial planning firms

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning consists of four subjects, including one core subject and three restricted electives.

More information about the course structure

Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 32 points (four subjects).

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject outlines and in course materials.

More reasons to study this degree

This course is available by distance education offering you the flexibility you need to suit your work or lifestyle commitments.

Professional recognition

Completion of subjects in the Graduate Certificate allow students eligibility for RG146 compliance with Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Credit / pathways

No special arrangements apply.

Students who have studied and successfully completed relevant subjects at other universities or educational institutions may apply for credit for those subjects when applying to CSU courses. Credit will be granted for subjects that are equivalent in content and standard, at the discretion of the Course Director.

More information about credit and pathways.

Admission requirements

Applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree from a recognised Australian tertiary institution, or a qualification deemed to be equivalent. Applicants with other academic and/or professional qualifications and/or work experience acceptable to the University will be considered.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

• have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
• were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
• have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
  or
• have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

• an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
• a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
• a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
• a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
• a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
• a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
• completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
• a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
• completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
• completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
• successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
• a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
• a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
• IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

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