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Home > Courses > Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
Our online, FAS-approved Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is an eight-subject higher education qualification set at AQF level 8, which comprises the first eight subjects of Kaplan Professional’s Master of Financial Planning.
Get detailed information about our 100% online Financial Planning courses instantly, including the benefits of studying with Kaplan Professional.
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STUDY MODE
100% online
NUMBER OF SUBJECTS
8
NEXT INTAKE
30 Jun 2025
COURSE FEE
$21,600.00
AVAILABLE LOANS
FEE-HELP
AQF LEVEL
COURSE DURATION
1.25 years full-time2.5 years part-time10 months accelerated full-time
ACCREDITATION
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
PROVIDER ID
PRV12030
The qualification is designed and developed in conjunction with leading advisers and industry experts to ensure what you learn is practical, relevant and immediately transferable to your professional practice. You’ll build on the skills you’ve already developed and broaden your technical knowledge in investment, taxation, estate and succession planning, and client engagement skills.
Single subject study is also available. Click here for full subject availability.
Kaplan Professional has been proactive in our approach to the development of the following FAS-approved bridging courses:
Each bridging course can be completed as a stand-alone subject or counted towards Kaplan Professional’s FAS-approved Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning and FAS-approved Master of Financial Planning.
Individuals who successfully complete the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning will meet the entry requirement for the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) designation offered by the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA).
Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
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’d 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 qualification.
The attributes are built into Kaplan Professional course learning outcomes, content and assessments.
Please click here to learn more about our graduate attributes.
Advance your career and open further avenues by learning new knowledge and skills. Read our financial planning guide to learn where completing the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning course can take you.
Kaplan Professional’s six study period model provides you the freedom to study all year round. It also enables you 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.
Extra time each study period
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.
Need to meet the FAS education deadline?
If you’re working toward the 31 December 2025 FAS education deadline, our limited Intensive Study Period offering can help you stay on track without compromising quality or support. Complete one subject (FPC001B–FPC008) in a condensed six-week timeline, with weekly drop-in sessions and tailored study plans to keep you focused.
Whether you are enrolled in our postgraduate financial planning courses or looking to complete a stand-alone bridging subject, this is a flexible option for those who may need it. Find out more ->
16 Dec 2024 - 4 Apr 2025
❌ Enrolments now closed
Early access opens 16 December 2024
Early access to assessments 30 December 2024
Study period commences 13 January 2025
Enrolments close/census 29 January 2025
Study period ends 4 April 2025
Assessment dates See assessment information
10 Feb 2025 - 30 May 2025
Early access opens 10 February 2025
Early access to assessments 24 February 2025
Study period commences 10 March 2025
Enrolments close/census 26 March 2025
Study period ends 30 May 2025
7 Apr 2025 - 25 Jul 2025
Early access opens 7 April 2025
Early access to assessments 21 April 2025
Study period commences 5 May 2025
Enrolments close/census 21 May 2025
Study period ends 25 July 2025
2 Jun 2025 - 19 Sep 2025
✓ Enrolments open now
Early access opens 2 June 2025
Early access to assessments 16 June 2025
Study period commences 30 June 2025
Enrolments close/census 16 July 2025
Study period ends 19 September 2025
25 Aug 2025 - 14 Nov 2025
Early access opens 28 July 2025
Early access to assessments 11 August 2025
Study period commences 25 August 2025
Enrolments close/census 10 September 2025
Study period ends 14 November 2025
27 Oct 2025 - 16 Jan 2026
Early access opens 29 September 2025
Early access to assessments 13 October 2025
Study period commences 27 October 2025
Enrolments close/census 12 November 2025
Study period ends 16 January 2026
For a full list of annual study period dates, click here >
Kaplan Professional is proud to partner with the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), enabling individuals to integrate our FAS-approved Master of Financial Planning with the CFP® Certification Program, a gold standard for financial planners for over 30 years.
This pathway requires individuals to successfully complete 10 core subjects and 1 elective subject from Kaplan Professional’s Master of Financial Planning. The final elective subject – CFP® certification unit – is completed with the FAAA.
Click here to find out more.
In a competitive landscape, financial advisers are seeking opportunities to differentiate themselves and specialise in their careers.
Kaplan Professional has proudly partnered with the SMSF Association to provide advisers the chance to enhance their credentials and specialise in the rapidly expanding superannuation sector.
Click here to learn more.
Kaplan Professional has partnered with the College for Financial Planning® – a Kaplan US company – to offer three globally-recognised designations in Australia.
You can apply to earn these designations based on studies completed with Kaplan Professional, whether that be specific subjects or a full qualification.
Below are the minimum education requirements for entry into our postgraduate courses.
Alternative entry pathways 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.
The qualifications listed as minimum education requirements must be from a recognised Institute of Higher Education. Overseas qualifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis using the Country Education Profiles (CEPs) qualification recognition tool provided by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
You’ll be required to provide Kaplan Professional with certified documents supporting that you have met the requirements for entry into the course.
You may be eligible to pathway into the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning by enrolling in the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning. Please visit the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning page and refer to the ‘Entry requirements’ tab. Alternatively, feel free to contact 1300 135 798 or studentadvice@kaplan.edu.au to discuss your options.
You may also be eligible for entry into this course based on your work expertise and/or if you hold an academic and/or professional qualification that is deemed appropriate to Kaplan Professional. Please refer to our alternative entry pathways for further information
Related industry/work experience can include, but is not limited to:
Download the Related Industry Experience Form >
We encourage you to book a phone consultation to discuss the options and study pathways available to you in more detail. These consultations allow our experienced and knowledgeable team to understand your needs, identify the qualification most appropriate for you, and address your questions thoroughly.
Advanced standing may be awarded in recognition of prior learning (RPL) for your prior studies that are directly related to the qualification.
We recognise various types of prior learning towards this qualification:
Recognition of prior learning for the following Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) subjects will only be granted if your prior studies are listed within Schedule 2 – Courses and units of study of the Corporations (Relevant Providers Degrees, Qualifications and Courses Standard) Determination 2021. Industry experience is not eligible for recognition of prior learning for these subjects.
Find out more about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), review the advanced standing ‘Precedent list,’ and get detailed guidance on the application process here.
Each Kaplan Professional postgraduate qualification has minimum entry requirements that you must meet to qualify for admission.
In order to complete your studies with Kaplan Professional, you’re assumed to have the recommended technology requirements 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 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, giving 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’re eligible.
You should also check the individual subject outlines to understand the recommended study time commitments for the subject, along with any recommended assumed knowledge.
Click here to view a list of financial planning subjects.
Make sure you also check the assessment timetable to ensure you are available to sit the assessment pieces.
Kaplan Professional is a leading provider of education in Australia, providing learning solutions to over 45,000 professionals annually – this includes 1,500 corporate clients, incorporating all the major banks and leading financial services providers in the country.
You can count on diligent and prompt support from a dedicated Student Advice team who are always a phone call or email away. The team is experienced, knowledgeable and specifically in place to support financial advisers who are studying at the postgraduate level. You’ll work together with the team to create a tailored pathway that will help you map out your studies and plan ahead to ensure you’re able to achieve your goals within your desired timeframe.
Kaplan Professional has always prided itself on its ability to engage industry experts and leading financial advisers to curate and deliver our subject content. This ensures you’ll be provided with practical, relevant and performance-focused outcomes, directly applicable to your professional practice. These industry practitioners deliver online lectures, respond to questions in the discussion forum, and provide assessment feedback.
Kaplan Professional’s six study period model provides you the freedom to study all year round, but most importantly, every postgraduate financial planning 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.
You have access to KapLearn – your innovative online learning hub – anytime and anywhere. This convenience and flexibility empowers you to plan your study time around the rest of your day, instead of the other way around. This is particularly beneficial for busy financial advisers who already have significant professional and personal commitments. 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.
You’ll have direct access to the industry practitioners and subject matter experts in an online discussion forum, where you can seek clarification on subject content and discuss any study issues you may have. By participating in online discussion forums in a supportive peer-to-peer environment, you have the unique ability to discover the viewpoints of like-minded individuals from different areas of the industry. This creates a richer, more immersive learning experience, while providing you further opportunities to extend your professional network.
You’ll also have the option of being assigned a study group. This enables you to form new perspectives; understand and absorb information more efficiently; improve and develop new study skills; and benefit from a cooperative, rather than competitive, learning environment.
When you apply to study with Kaplan Professional, you pay for the subjects you’ve enrolled in for each study period.
The tuition fee listed below applies to all postgraduate subjects:
If you’re paying by cheque, utilising a deferral, or have a preferred client code, you’ll need to download and submit a hard copy of the form below.
Download a new student application (enrolment) form >
Further fees
Click here for a full list of fees and allowances.
Click here to find out if you’re eligible for FEE-HELP.
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