Financial Planning
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Need to upgrade your financial qualifications in a hurry?
You've come to the perfect place.
With the new education standards and Code of Ethics introduced by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA), it’s imperative that financial advisers get up to date in order to keep practising. Charles Sturt University is here to help you get the qualification you need – as quickly and smoothly as possible. As one of Australia’s top online unis, we’re experts in helping working professionals fit study seamlessly into their busy schedules.
What’s the difference between the courses?

Graduate Certificate in Finance
Our Graduate Certificate in Finance provides formal knowledge, capabilities and competencies in finance and related areas. It is designed to ensure you are skilled and job-ready in your selected discipline or profession. This course provides training in finance for graduates of other disciplines, specifically providing operational competency in the application of analytical and decision-making techniques, and knowledge about the institutional environment within which such decisions are made.
The Graduate Certificate in Finance is an entry and exit point course within the Master of Applied Finance. The course includes four subjects, two of which are core subjects. Tailor your degree to suit your personal and career needs. The course also provides a pathway if you decide to progress to the Graduate Diploma of Finance, with credit for all subjects completed.

Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
Our flexible online Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is accredited with FASEA. This degree has also been mapped against the Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC) accreditation framework to meet all current financial planning requirements. If you complete this course, you’ll also be eligible for advanced standing in the CFP® Certification Program (leading to the Certified Financial Planner® designation).
Recently redesigned in collaboration with industry professionals, the course meets the current needs of industry and blends the latest finance theory with industry best practice. Our graduate diploma is delivered by industry and academic leaders who have a wide range of industry experience and are supported by well-researched curriculum and teaching methods.
This course is part of an articulated program of study. If you like, you can use the graduate diploma as a stepping stone to the Master of Applied Finance. You’ll be able to start the master’s with credit already in your back pocket for all the subjects you completed.

Graduate Diploma of Finance
Our Graduate Diploma of Finance is ideal if you have previously studied in another discipline and want to develop competency in analytical and decision-making techniques in finance.
Designed with input from industry professionals to ensure it meets the academic requirements for accreditation with key professional bodies including CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the the Financial Planning Association, this course is available online, so you can study while you work.
It also provides a pathway to the Master of Applied Finance. If you progress to the Master of Applied Finance, you'll receive credit for all completed subjects.

Master of Applied Finance
Gain a competitive edge in a critical function of business sustainability with our Master of Applied Finance. Globally recognised and accredited, our flexible online master’s course prepares you for senior leadership positions across the finance industry, equipping you to apply advanced knowledge to finance challenges.
The Master of Applied Finance offers you the formal knowledge, capabilities and competencies in finance with options to specialise in estate planning and financial planning.
The Financial Planning specialisation has been mapped against ASIC’s regulatory guide 146 (RG 146) and the FASEA and Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC) accreditation framework to meet all current financial planning requirements. If you complete this specialisation, you’ll also be eligible for advanced standing in the CFP® Certification Program (leading to the Certified Financial Planner® designation).
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If you plan to study on-campus in Australia, visit one of our international education recruitment agents who are trained to assist you with the Charles Sturt University admission process, applying for a student visa, and pre-departure information.
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Higher Degree by Research degrees are different to postgraduate degrees (including Honours and Master’s degrees).
You can find an explanation of the similarities and differences of these study options on our levels of study information page.
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