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Home > Courses > Diploma of Financial Services
Designed for frontline or any client-facing staff, Australia’s only higher education Diploma of Financial Services provides the foundational knowledge and skills in client engagement and ethics. This eight-subject course can be tailored by selecting technical, leadership or administrative subjects to suit individual career goals, across superannuation, financial advice, banking and insurance roles. This course allows individuals to receive credit for or meet various Tier 1 requirements under ASIC’s Regulatory Guide 146, then follow a pathway into Kaplan Professional’s postgraduate qualifications.
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STUDY MODE
100% online
NUMBER OF SUBJECTS
8
NEXT INTAKE
25 Aug 2025
COURSE FEE
$5,760.00
AVAILABLE LOANS
FEE-HELP
AQF LEVEL
5
COURSE DURATION
1.25 years full-time2.5 years part-time7.5 months accelerated full-time
ACCREDITATION
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
PROVIDER ID
PRV12030
Kaplan Professional’s Diploma of Financial Services (DFS) is a higher education diploma designed to provide frontline and other client administrative staff across Australia’s financial services sector the skills and knowledge to be job‑ready. It is best suited for roles in the superannuation, financial advice, banking and insurance industries.
Developed in collaboration with industry experts and aligned with current market demands, the DFS provides a foundational understanding of financial services, covering client engagement, regulatory and ethical responsibilities. Individuals can then tailor their development by adding technical, leadership or administrative skills to align with their specific role and career aspirations in Australia’s dynamic and highly regulated financial sector.
This course serves as the pathway for career development by offering Tier 1 RG 146 general advice accreditation in specified technical areas (or credit for specified RG 146 studies). In addition to meeting entry requirements for Kaplan Professional’s postgraduate financial services, financial planning or applied finance qualifications on completion. Study pathways are available to guide individuals in superannuation, financial advice and insurance in their subject selection, as well as individuals seeking a broader focus.
Choose five (5) subjects from the following:
Note: Available in or after Study Period 5, 2025
*Pre-requisites required
Individuals who have studied the following may be eligible for credit into subjects within the Diploma of Financial Services:
Once enrolled in the qualification, individuals may choose to follow Kaplan Professional’s recommended study pathways below to select their subjects.
On completion of the Diploma of Financial Services, individuals can enrol into Kaplan Professional’s postgraduate qualifications in financial planning, financial services or applied finance.
CORE SUBJECTS
DFSC101 Financial service fundamentals
DFSC102 Ethics in financial services
DFSC103 Client engagement skills
Plus one (1) additional subject from the pool of electives
Choose five (5) electives:
• DFSE201 Superannuation fundamentals
• DFSE202 General insurance fundamentals
• DFSE203 Life insurance fundamentals
• DFSE204 Investment fundamentals
• DFSE205 Foundations of data analytics
• DFSE206 Records management
• DFSE207 Emerging leadership skills
• DFSE208 Complaints handling and dispute resolution
• DFSE209 Introduction to financial advice
• DFSE210 Advanced financial advice*
• DFSE211 Advanced client engagement skills*
Complete three (3) electives:
DFSE201 Superannuation fundamentals
Available in or after Study Period 5, 2025:
• DFSE209 Introduction to financial advice• DFSE210 Advanced financial advice
Plus two (2) additional subjects from the pool of electives:
*prerequisites required
• DFSE203 Life insurance fundamentals
• DFSE208 Complaints handling and dispute resolutions
Plus one (1) additional subject from the pool of electives:
Complete four (4) electives:
Available in or after Study Period 5, 2025
• DFSE204 Investment fundamentals
• DFSE209 Introduction to financial advice
• DFSE210 Advanced financial advice
On completion of this qualification, individuals will be able to:
Kaplan Professional defines the philosophy underpinning our qualifications through the graduate attributes. These are the qualities we would like individuals to develop as they progress through their academic studies; they reflect what individuals will know (knowledge) or be able to do (capabilities), when they finish their qualifications.
The attributes are built into Kaplan Professional course learning outcomes, content and assessments:
Please click here to learn more about our graduate attributes.
With six intakes every year, you can plan ahead and study when it suits you. A new study period commences every two months, overlapping slightly from the previous, so you can pace your studies to achieve your goals within your desired timeframe.
Take advantage of our complimentary early access period to make a head start on your next subject. Gain an extra four weeks of access to your online subject room, learning materials, support resources and assessments in advance of the study period commencement date to give you more time to prepare yourself and balance your learning.
25 Aug 2025 - 14 Nov 2025
✓ Enrolments open now
Early access opens N/A
Early access to assessments N/A
Study period commences 25 August 2025
Enrolments close/census 10 September 2025
Study period ends 14 November 2025
Assessment dates See assessment information
For a full list of annual study period dates, click here >
Below are the minimum education requirements for entry into this course.
Alternative entry pathways do may be available to you if you do not meet the minimum education requirements. In addition, other entry requirements, such as English language proficiency, may apply to you depending on your academic background.
You will be required to provide Kaplan Professional with certified documents supporting that you have met the requirements for entry into the course.
Related industry/work experience can include, but is not limited to:
Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements for a course may still be admitted through alternative entry pathways. Kaplan Professional will assess each application and notify the applicant of the outcome, providing guidance on the most suitable study pathway for their chosen course.
If admitted through an alternative entry pathway, inviduals may be eligible to enrol in up to two (2) subjects in the Diploma of Financial Services on a provisional basis, depending on the specific entry pathway requirements. On successful completion of these initial subjects ,individuals will then be eligible to enrol in the remaining subjects within the course.
Applicants who have completed their tertiary qualifications in a language other than English, or whose industry experience did not take place in an English-speaking environment, must demonstrate English proficiency. This requires an overall band score of 6.5 in the IELTS test, with a minimum score of 6.0 in each section. A minimum score of 6.0 in each IELTS band is essential due to the course requirements, which demand strong verbal and written communication skills for effective comprehension and participation.
Alternatively, applicants may meet the English language requirement with a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a TWE rating of 5, a minimum score of 233 on the computer-based TOEFL with an essay rating of 5, or a minimum score of 91 on the internet-based TOEFL with an essay rating of 5.
Applicants must submit a certified copy of their IELTS or TOEFL results along with their enrolment form and other entry requirement documentation, as applicable. It is important to note that English language test results are valid for approximately two years.
Advanced standing may be awarded in recognition of prior learning (RPL) for your prior studies that are directly related to the qualification.
Get detailed guidance on the application process here.
Each Kaplan Professional higher education course has minimum entry requirements that you must meet to qualify for admission.
In order to complete your studies with Kaplan Professional, you are assumed to have relevant technology access and skills.
You can apply to study with Kaplan Professional by completing our online application (enrolment) form.
Alternatively, you can submit a hard copy of the application (enrolment) form.
You can apply now and supply documentation later to support your application for admission (within three (3) weeks of your initial application to the qualification). Please click here for details on what documentation you may need to provide to support your application.
You may be able to obtain advanced standing or recognition of prior learning for a Kaplan Professional subject based on your previous study, professional membership status and/or work experience.
All subjects are offered online for each study period, providing you the flexibility of choosing when and where you wish study. You pay tuition fees for the subject(s) you’re enrolled in within an individual study period. Check the fee schedule for more information about fees.
FEE-HELP is available to eligible students. Click here to find out if you are eligible for FEE-HELP. A government FEE HELP loan fee applies for those students using FEE-HELP for DFS subjects. Click here to find out if you’re eligible for FEE-HELP and for further information about the additional government fee.
You should also check the individual subject outlines to understand the recommended study time commitments for the subject, along with any recommended assumed knowledge.
Make sure you also check the assessment timetable to ensure you are available to sit the assessment pieces.
Benefit from the knowledge and experience of respected finance practitioners currently working within the industry who bring current industry insights into every subject.
Study 100% online through Kaplearn, our interactive learning platform. Each higher education subject has six annual intakes with ongoing support from our dedicated Student Experience and Advice teams.
This convenience and flexibility empowers you to plan your study time around your schedule, instead of the other way around. Discussion forums, interactive notes, research journals, online journals, real-world case studies and diverse multimedia content are all easily accessible in one intuitive and user-friendly hub.
Kaplan Professional’s six study period model provides you the freedom to study all year round, but most importantly, every higher education subject is available in each study period. This ensures you’re able to plan ahead and choose study periods that accommodate your professional and personal commitments. With a new study period commencing approximately every two months, overlapping slightly from the previous, you can accelerate your study or ‘take a break’ depending on your circumstances.
To safeguard against any future price increases, you can lock in the price of your subject enrolment fees for the duration of your qualification. Many eligible students use FEE-HELP, which is a Commonwealth Government loan. This means you do not need to pay to study upfront, helping you to reduce some of your financial burden . Please note that government fees apply for the use of FEE-HELP for higher education diploma subjects. Click here for further information.
When you apply to study with Kaplan Professional, you pay for the subjects you have enrolled in for each study period.
The tuition fee listed below applies to all higher education subjects:
If you are paying by cheque, utilising a deferral, or have a preferred client code, you will need to download and submit a hard copy of the form below.
Download a new student application (enrolment) form>
Other fees
Further fees may apply. Click here for a full list of fees and allowances.
Further fees
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