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Note: This course is expected to be offered in Semester 1 2020
The Master of Financial Planning is a two-year course designed to provide a comprehensive study program in all aspects of financial advising and planning relevant to the financial needs of individuals and business owners. The course includes the areas of knowledge required by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority for new entrants to the financial advising and planning profession who have a degree in an unrelated field, and for existing advisers without a degree qualification.
The course curriculum includes the key areas of financial advice regulation and legal obligations, ethics for professional advisers, client engagement and decision making within a behavioural finance context, business law and taxation for financial advisers. In addition, the course examines superannuation, retirement and estate planning, risk and insurance, investment analysis and advice, funds management and self-managed superannuation funds.
The course includes a financial advising and planning capstone unit focused on researching, preparing, presenting and negotiating a complete Statement of Advice within a complex client scenario. In the second year of the course, students can select four units from a range of postgraduate programs including the MBA, Master of Marketing, Master of International Business and Master of Accounting Practice (subject to meeting any applicable unit pre-requisites).
Completion of a three-year Australian bachelor’s degree in any field or a higher level qualification. International students with equivalent qualifications are eligible. Applicants holding a business-related Australian bachelor’s or master’s degree may be eligible for exemptions. Applicants with at least five years’ financial planning experience and no degree may be eligible for entry through the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.
IELTS Academic minimum overall score of 6.5 with no individual band less than 6.0.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is available and will be assessed in accordance with TOP's RPL Policy. Please refer to the Application for Recognition of Prior Learning and the RPL policy and procedure for further details.
The course structure consists of four semesters each of 12 weeks’ duration followed by an exam period. Four units each semester is a standard full-time workload. To qualify for the award of Master of Financial Planning, a candidate must complete 16 units (96 credit points).
Core Subjects
TPLA601 Financial Advice and Regulation TPLA602 Ethics, Professionalism and Client Engagement TPLA603 Investment Advice and Behavioural Finance TLAW601 Australian Commercial Law
Exit with a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
TPLA604 Superannuation and Retirement Planning TPLA605 Insurance and Estate Planning TLAW602 Australian Taxation TPLA606 Financial Planning Capstone
Exit with a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
TPLA607 Funds Management TSTA601 Business Research Methods
Electives* (select 2 from the elective units list)
Semester Four
TPLA608 SMSF Law, Strategies and Management TRES600 Business Research Project
Exit with a Master of Financial Planning