Course

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Master of Financial Planning

Approved Abbreviation: MFinPlan

Western Sydney University Course Code: 2793.5

AQF Level: 9

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is Quarter 2, 2018 or later.

Commencement Year 2018 (Quarter 1) - 2793.4 Master of Financial Planning

Commencement Year 2017 (Quarter 1) - 2793.3 Master of Financial Planning

Commencement Year 2016 (Quarter 4) - 2793.2 Master of Financial Planning

Commencement Year 2016 (Quarters 1 to 3) - 2793.1 Master of Financial Planning

The Master of Financial Planning is a fully online course designed to provide the educational basis to enable students to increase competence as professional financial advisers and gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of the financial planning industry. With the increasing complexity of taxation laws, the ageing population and the focus on self-reliance in retirement, the financial planning industry has evolved as a distinct profession in Australia. Individuals and organisations require the skills of professionally equipped financial planners to assist them in effective investment and risk management and also with complex retirement planning strategies. The curriculum reflects the Australian environment and laws. Students may exit, on completion of 40 credit points of units of the course, with a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning or on completion of 80 credit points with a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.

Students may be eligible for advanced standing based on their previous qualifications and work experience.

This course is accredited by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) as outlined under the heading 'Accreditation’ below.

The University has approval from the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to deliver courses in Australia taxation law for tax (financial) advisers and commercial law for tax (financial) advisers. Completion of the Master of Financial Planning satisfies the tertiary qualifications requirements to register as a Tax (Financial) Adviser. Details of which units must be completed to meet these requirements can be found via the link below.

TPB Tax (Financial) Adviser Registration Requirements

Study Mode
One and a half years full-time or three years part-time.

Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA). The course satisfies eligibility requirements for Financial Planner AFP® membership and educational requirements for entry into the Certified Financial Planner CFP® Certification Program of FPA (students will also receive exemption for CFP 2, 3 and 4 therefore must complete CFP 1 to be eligible to sit the CFP Certification Assessment). This course also meets the RG146 generic knowledge requirements, specialist knowledge requirements and skills requirements as they currently stand. In addition, by completing the Master of Financial Planning, students satisfy the tertiary qualifications requirements to register as a Tax (Financial) Adviser with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). The Master of Financial Planning is accredited by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) having met the FASEA Curriculum and standards requirements for the award.

Admission

Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, or higher, in a business discipline;

Successfully completed an undergraduate degree, or higher, in any discipline and have a minimum of two years full-time equivalent managerial/professional work experience in a related field;

Successfully completed an undergraduate degree, or higher, in any discipline and have a minimum of five years general work experience in a related field.

Applicants seeking admission on the basis of work experience must support their application with a current CV for all work experience listed on their application and a Confirmation of Employment for all work experience listed on the application. Only applicants seeking admission through an established industry partnership agreement can provide an agreed alternative to the Confirmation of Employment. The confirmation of employment can be either be a letter on employer letterhead specifying their role and length of service or the industry declaration form.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Association of Financial Advisers and Western Sydney University Articulation Agreement

Students who complete units 201008 Communication and Ethics for Financial Planners and 200871 Planning for Retirement in this course will receive exemption for the Association of Financial Advisers’ FChFP AFA3 and AFA4. Students who have completed the Association of Financial Advisers’ FChFP AFA 3 and 4 will receive exemptions for units 201008 Communication and Ethics for Financial Planners and 200871 Planning for Retirement.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 120 credit points which includes twelve core units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Quarter 1 session

201008

Communication and Ethics for Financial Planners

200432

Commercial Law

Quarter 2 session

200866

Principles of Financial Planning

200869