Why specialise? In the dynamic world of finance, specialising helps you deepen expertise, differentiate your professional profile and align your studies with your career goals. Kaplan Professional’s Master of Applied Finance offers four distinct specialisations, each tailored to high-demand areas in the sector. To obtain at least one specialisation and a postgraduate qualification, you must complete either the Master of Applied Finance or Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance. Not ready to commit to a full postgraduate course? You can still build your expertise and earn industry recognition through Kaplan Professional’s digital badges. By completing a defined set of three subjects in either the Project Management or Business Intelligence disciplines, you’ll earn a verified digital badge, which is a shareable credential that highlights your capability, even before graduation. Note: Only those who complete the full Graduate Diploma or Master of Applied Finance can use the title “Applied Finance Specialist” in conjunction with one of the four disciplines this article covers. What are the four applied finance discipline/specialisation options available through Kaplan Professional? 1. Project Management Focus: Gain the capability to manage complex projects from initiation to completion, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives. Completing these three subjects equips finance professionals with the tools and methodologies to effectively plan, execute and control projects – balancing scope, time, cost and risk to deliver measurable outcomes within defined constraints. Ideal for: Professionals seeking a career or already working as Adviser, Financial Manager, Financial Controller, Operations Manager, Compliance Manager, Analysts and Strategists. Required Subjects: FIN360 Project Management Fundamentals FIN361 Applied Project Management FIN362 Project Risk, Finance and Monitoring Showcase your skills with a verified digital badge: Successfully complete the three required Project Management subjects and you’ll receive a verified digital badge. This digital badge is a sharable, verifiable credential that demonstrates your capability as an Applied Finance, Project Management Professional. Add it to LinkedIn, your resume or email signature to stand out before you graduate. 2. Business Intelligence Focus: Strengthen your ability to extract insights from complex financial and operational data by applying foundational and advanced data analytics techniques. This specialisation equips finance professionals with the skills to interpret, visualise and leverage data to inform strategic decision-making, optimise performance and contribute to data-driven initiatives across cross-functional teams. Ideal for: Professionals seeking a career or already working as an Associate, Corporate Finance Adviser, Corporate Finance Relationship Manager, Risk Manager, Operations Manager, Operational Research Analyst, Market Researcher, Compliance Office. Required Subjects: FIN280 Financial Modelling FIN372 Data-driven Design Thinking FIN373 Data Analytics for Decision Making Successfully complete the three required Business Intelligence subjects and you’ll receive a verified digital badge. This digital badge is a sharable, verifiable credential that demonstrates your capability as an Applied Finance, Business Intelligence Professional. Add it to LinkedIn, your resume or email signature to stand out before you graduate. Showcase your skills with a verified digital badge: 3. Corporate Finance Focus: Build advanced capabilities in investment analysis, including the evaluation of asset classes such as equities, fixed income and alternative investments. You’ll develop the analytical frameworks and quantitative tools required to assess expected returns, risk exposures and portfolio alignment with investor objectives and market conditions. Ideal for: Professionals seeking or already working as Associate, Analyst, Corporate Finance Adviser, Corporate Finance Researcher and Corporate Finance Relationship Manager roles in investment banking, treasury, or financial consulting. Required Subjects: FIN330 Mergers and Acquistions FIN338 Project Finance FIN342 Applied Corporate Finance Note: This specialisation doesn’t currently include a digital badge. 4. Investment Analysis Focus: Develop core capabilities in evaluating a wide range of investment opportunities from equities and bonds to real estate using techniques to assess profitability, risk and alignment with investor objectives. You’ll have the opportunity to gain specific skills to analyse a broad range of investment options, evaluating the profitability and risk of an investment. Ideal for: Professionals seeking or already working as Investment Analyst, Investment Consultant, Portfolio Manager, Operations Manager, Compliance Officer, Investment Risk Manager, Property Portfolio Manager and Strategist. Required Subjects: FIN206 Investment Management FIN330 Mergers and Acquisitions FIN351 The Derivatives Market Note: This specialisation doesn’t currently include a digital badge. To be awarded an applied finance specialisation, you must complete the required three elective subjects for that specific discipline as part of your Master of Applied Finance or Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance. This achievement will be formally recognised on both your academic transcript and testamur. To identify which specialisation fits with your career goals, consider the following: What are the core skills and knowledge areas your role demands today?Are you regularly working with data, managing projects, advising on investments or leading financial strategy? Choosing a discipline aligned with your current responsibilities can deepen your impact and elevate your day-to-day performance. Alternatively, you may want to specialise in an area adjacent to your current role to expand your value within your team or organisation. Where do you want to be in three to five years?Are you aiming to transition into a more senior position, move into a new sector or specialise in a niche area of finance?Your specialisation should support your medium-term career trajectory. For example, if you aspire to lead strategic projects, Project Management may be ideal. If you’re targeting roles in investment strategy or asset management, Investment Analysis could be a better fit. Visualise your future and build toward it with purpose. What are the emerging skill gaps or growth areas in your business or industry?Speak with your manager, mentor or HR team about upcoming projects or transformation initiatives. If your organisation is investing in digital transformation, Business Intelligence might give you an edge. If it’s pursuing expansion or capital projects, Corporate Finance could align well with future needs. Choosing a specialisation that responds to predicted industry demand makes you more future-ready and indispensable. Ready to take the next steps? Review the Applied Finance Specialisations guide Decide whether single subject subject or full qualification fits best for you Contact us your way: Book a call at your convenience Call on 1300 135 798 (option 2) Email at courseadvice@kaplan.edu.au