Study Resources, Requirements and Support
This page contains:
Study Information
Learning Materials
Upon enrolment, all students will receive their learning materials by courier to the address nominated at the time of enrolment. Students will receive a student ID and password giving them access to online information and resources.
Learning materials contain:
- clearly defined learning outcomes
- comprehensive coverage of content
- practical examples taken from the financial services industry.
Learning materials can be delivered to a post office box (within Australia only) or street address and must be signed for. They will be delivered within 10 working days of enrolment (but no earlier than 4 weeks before trimester commencement for trimester-based courses).
Study Periods
For Postgraduate subjects and Diploma of Financial Services (Lending Pathway) and Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Markets Pathway).
Trimester Based Study
For Postgraduate subjects and Diploma of Financial Services (Lending Pathway) and Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Markets Pathway).
Consists of three study periods per year. A variety of subjects are offered in each trimester.
Students are encouraged to plan their study by reviewing the subject offering and availability for the full year, detailed in the course outlines (accessible via Financial Services, Real Estate and Tax & Accounting pages).
Non-Trimester Based Study
For vocational education subjects and compliance subjects
The non-trimester based study mode allows students the flexibility of enrolling at any time based upon their learning needs and availability to allocate time to study.
Refer to the subject offerings on the Financial Services, Real Estate and Tax & Accounting pages.
Course Completion Timeframes
Courses are required to be completed within a prescribed time frame. Please refer to the Progression Policy to confirm the minimum and maximum timeframes for completion.
Tips for Study Success
Students should take time to map out a path to success. Kaplan recommends the following:
- Plan your study schedule carefully to ensure you cover all units, especially if you enrol in more than one subject.
- Stay informed about your assessment dates for each of your subjects by regularly visiting your online Subject Room.
- Pace your study evenly by planning your time from the start of the trimester. Scheduling your study will allow you to participate in discussion groups and other activities designed to support your learning.
- Cross reference your course materials. If you study your subjects in a logical sequence, you can apply your new knowledge and skills to other areas.
- Prepare for your assessments early. Most subjects require two pieces of assessment. As a guide, Kaplan Professional recommends spending at least 25-30 hours in assignment preparation, including your reading, research and writing time. Kaplan Professional recommends at least 20 hours for exam preparation.
Study Support
Website
In addition to specific learning and study resources, the Kaplan Professional website contains relevant information for students, such as details of careers seminars and information sessions. Technical requirements are mentioned below or students can contact Kaplan Professional's webmaster with technical queries.
Student Advisers
If you require support or information on your course or subject, refer to contact us page.
Higher Education
Subject Rooms - Postgraduate Education
Subject Rooms are accessed via the My Kaplan login (select "My Studies") and provide a suite of services to help develop, apply and reinforce student learning.
Online resources available in a Subject Room may include:
- Announcements, updates and FAQ's:
- These provide students with up-to-date changes in policies or material.
- Self directed learning activities such as sample exam questions, interactive online case studies/scenarios and worksheets:
- These activities assist in ongoing learning and feedback throughout the trimester and provide opportunities to test knowledge and skills
- Personal assessment dates and details
- Discussion forums:
- These provide students with an opportunity to interact and network with other students and practitioners about subject content, assessment items and activities within learning materials.
- General resources such as lecture outlines, learning materials, links to important industry websites, additional readings and resources:
- These provide students with additional learning materials and suggested texts/readings to may support their learning
- Multimedia files (video and audio):
- In some subjects students may have access to audio and video files to further promote and supplement their learning on key issues or topics
Assessment
Most subjects have at least 2 pieces of assessment which may take the form of an exam or assignment.
1. Assignments
- Where assignments are part of the formal assessment process, they are released in the Subject Rooms and are available to download. Students are responsible for accessing and downloading their assignments from the Subject Room. For some Kaplan subjects, students are required to upload completed assignments to the Subject Room for submission.
- Official Kaplan handouts may also be published from time to time in the relevant Subject Rooms.
2. Exam information is also available in the subject room.
Criteria Based Marking Guides
For some postgraduate subjects a Criteria Based Marking Guide is published with the Assignment. They:
- provide guidance on what constitutes an excellent, satisfactory and unsatisfactory answer
- provide clarity on the effort required to obtain a pass, or higher grade, such as a distinction, for a piece of assessment.
- outline the criteria upon which your answers will be assessed
Helpline, Discussion Forums and Technical Content email support
Kaplan Professional provides support to students studying through a variety of methods.
The 'Helpline' and 'Technical Content Email Service' supports enrolled students who need clarification of study notes and assessment material. Experienced practitioners respond to enquiries generally within two working days. Students can access Helpline for the subject/s they are currently enrolled via the subject rooms.
Discussion forums are also accessed through the subject rooms and enable students to interact with each other, the practitioner and subject editor for technical support and assistance.
Vocational Education
You can find answers to frequently asked questions about subject materials on the ‘My Kaplan’ section of the website. Should students require additional assistance in understanding subject material, they should send an email detailing their questions to the relevant email address as follows:
| Subject |
Email address |
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Estate Planning: |
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Finance Broking, Mortgage Broking, Commercial Finance and Business Planning |
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Financial Plan Construction and Review |
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General Knowledge and Entry Level Competencies: |
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Managed Investments, Investment Planning1 and Investment Planning 2 |
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Real Estate |
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Risk Management: |
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Superannuation and Retirement Planning |
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Self Managed Superannuation Funds: |
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Tax Planning |
Resource Requirements
Below are the resource requirements for studying at Kaplan Professional:
Internet access
Students studying at Kaplan Professional require ready access to the internet. To use the website students must have JavaScript and Cookies enabled in their browser. Students are also required to have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view printable material on the website.
Upon enrolment, all new students receive a personal ID number and password. Both are required to access My Kaplan (and My Studies), a restricted content area on the Kaplan Professional website, in order to download assignments and assessment information, and to access learning materials and resources from the Subject Rooms.
Some of Kaplan Professional's examinations are delivered online through Kaplan Professional's Online Learning Centre. To take an online examination, you must have access to a PC that has both JavaScript and Java enabled in the browser, and an Internet connection. You will be issued with detailed information regarding the examination at the time of your enrolment and in your Subject Room. If you do not have access to the necessary technology, you will need to make an application to your Regional Office for alternative arrangements to be made for you to take the examination.
Email addresses
It is important that students provide Kaplan Professional with an email address. Students are encouraged to establish email accounts that are not limited by size.
Calculators and Financial Calculators
Students will require a calculator that has, as a minimum, the ability to raise numbers to a power (a yx or xy button). Some subjects also require processing of numbers to eight decimal places.
A financial calculator is required for some subjects, and is likely to meet your long-term requirements in the financial services industry. Please check the requirements of your subject before purchasing a financial calculator.
Recommended, commonly used financial calculators are:
- Hewlett-Packard 12C or 17BII
- Casio FC200V
Note that calculators or other electronic devices (e.g. Hand-held computers devices, MP3 players and mobile phones) which have the ability to store and display text are not permitted in examinations.
Additional resources
Access to some additional resources may be required for some subjects and may incur minimal additional expense.
Due to the applied nature of Kaplan Professional's courses, it is recommended that students read the financial press to gain a broader understanding of the domestic and international issues within the finance sector. Assignment and examination questions often assume daily reading of the financial press. Suggested texts, as well as journals and Internet sites, may be listed in the Subject Rooms or in the subject notes.
Access to Financial Planning Guide and the Quick Reference Guide is provided to students studying the following subjects:
- Entry Level Competencies
- Risk Management
- Investment Planning 1
- Superannuation and Retirement Planning
- Taxation Planning
- Estate Planning
- Investment Planning 2
- Financial Plan Construction & Review
- SMSF
Technical requirements
To study at Kaplan Professional, you will need the following technical requirements:
Screen resolution and browser version
This site is best viewed in 1024 x 768 resolution via the settings on your computer and using Internet Explorer 5 and above or Forefox 1.0. You will be able to view the site using other settings and browsers, however some features and formats may appear smaller or larger than optimal.
Any problems accessing the site should be directed to your regional student services advisor.
Font size
The font size thoughout the Kaplan Professional website is adjustable. To resize the font, got to View > Text Size on your browser toolbar and select a suitable size. You can also use the Ctrl Key + the Mouse Scroll Wheel. We recommend using 'Medium'.
Javascript and Cookies
In order to use this site you must have Javascript and Cookies enabled in your browser. If you are unsure how to enable these features, visit your browser's help menu.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Please ensure that you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view printable material throughout this website.