The online Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning is an eight-subject postgraduate qualification set at AQF level 8. It’s a nested qualification embedded within the Kaplan Professional FPEC/FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning and enables you to satisfy the eight-unit requirement proposed by FASEA for existing financial advisers.
The course 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 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.
Note: Once the FASEA curriculum is confirmed, Kaplan Professional will ensure the required elements are addressed within the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning. Depending on the timing of your studies, you may be required to undertake an additional subject covering the FASEA Code of Ethics.
Prefer to attend face-to-face classes?
Take advantage of the benefits of blended learning by attending weekly face-to-face lectures or a series of three intensive workshops.*
Weekly lectures
A series of lectures will be conducted over the study period for subjects FPC001 Economic, Legal and Ethical Context for Financial Planning, FPC002 Applied Financial Planning, FPC003 Superannuation and Retirement Advice and FPC004 Insurance Advice. Face-to-face lectures will be progressively rolled out for further subjects throughout 2018. Each two-hour lecture will focus on specific topics, giving you the flexibility to pick and choose which lectures to attend. Weekly lectures will be held at a central Sydney CBD location and will also be live streamed online via webinar if you are located in another city or unable to attend in person. Recorded versions of each webinar will also be made available.
Intensive workshops
A series of three intensive workshops will be offered throughout the study period for subjects FPC001 Economic, Legal and Ethical Context for Financial Planning, FPC002 Applied Financial Planning, FPC003 Superannuation and Retirement Advice and FPC004 Insurance Advice. Intensive workshops will be progressively rolled out for further subjects throughout 2018. Each full-day workshop will be offered from central Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane CBD locations and will cover multiple topics.
Lectures and workshops are hosted by a leading industry practitioner and will complement online study materials by focusing on key concepts using practical examples. Not only will this provide you with practical application of theory and knowledge, you’ll also have the opportunity to interact with other individuals in your cohort to discuss current and topical affairs.
Expect to benefit from:
You can register for lectures or intensive workshops at no additional charge, once successfully enrolled in subjects FPC001 Economic, Legal and Ethical Context for Financial Planning, FPC002 Applied Financial Planning, FPC003 Superannuation and Retirement Advice or FPC004 Insurance Advice.
* Face-to-face lectures and workshops are offered for subjects FPC001, FPC002, FPC003 and FPC004 only. Weekly face-to-face lectures are offered in Sydney CBD only. Lectures and workshops are offered for Study Period 3 2018 and are subject to change for the remainder of 2018. Attendance is not compulsory.
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.
Eight (8) core subjects:
Single subject study is also available. Click here for full subject availability.
Please download the transition table to find out more about subject equivalents in the existing and new course.
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning progression pathway
| Course | Number of subjects | Subjects required to complete | Maximum timeframe to complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning |
4 | 4 core subjects | 3 years (18 Study Periods) |
| Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning |
8 | 8 core subjects | 4 years (24 Study Periods) |
| Master of Financial Planning | 12 | 10 Core subjects + 2 Elective subjects. You may choose from the financial planning elective subject list or a subject from the Master of Applied Finance. |
5 years (30 Study Periods) |
Progress your qualification
If you have graduated with a Kaplan Professional or Finsia postgraduate qualification, you may wish to progress to a higher qualification. Learn more >
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 Higher Education provider (including the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition).
| Course | Minimum education requirement for entry |
|---|---|
| Master of Financial Planning | – A related* Undergraduate Degree or Graduate Diploma, or – An unrelated Undergraduate Degree or Graduate Diploma plus 2 years’ related industry experience |
| Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning | – An Undergraduate Degree or Graduate Certificate, or – A related* Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or – An unrelated Advanced Diploma or Diploma plus 2 years’ related industry experience, or – Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level |
| Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning | – An Undergraduate Degree, or – A related* Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or – An unrelated Advanced Diploma or Diploma plus 2 years’ related industry experience, or – Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level |
*Download examples of related degrees.
*You will be required to provide Kaplan Professional with documents supporting that you meet the requirements for entry into the course. Please review the Provision of Entry Requirement Documents PDF for more information.
Related industry experience
Related industry experience can include, but is not limited to:
Download the Related Industry Experience Form.
Non-degree entry
You may be able to enter any of our Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate postgraduate courses based on your industry expertise and/or if you hold an academic and/or professional qualification that is deemed appropriate. Download the Non-Degree Entry Form for more information.
Education requirements for financial advisers
We encourage you to book a consultation over the phone 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.
Alternatively, you can get in touch directly on 1300 320 760 or educationrequirements@kaplan.edu.au .
| Principal dates | Study Period 1 | Study Period 2 | Study Period 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrolments open | 30-Oct-17 | 18-Dec-17 | 26-Feb-18 |
| Study period commences | 8-Jan-18 | 12-Mar-18 | 7-May-18 |
| Census | 24-Jan-18 | 28-Mar-18 | 23-May-18 |
| Study period ends | 30-Mar-18 | 1-Jun-18 | 27-Jul-18 |
| Principal dates | Study Period 4 | Study Period 5 | Study Period 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrolments open | 30-Apr-18 | 25-Jun-1 | 3-Sep-18 |
| Study period commences | 9-Jul-18 | 3-Sep-18 | 12-Nov-18 |
| Census | 25-Jul-18 | 19-Sep-18 | 28-Nov-18 |
| Study period ends | 28-Sep-18 | 23-Nov-18 | 29-Jan-19 |
Each Kaplan Professional postgraduate qualification has minimum entry requirements. Please ensure you meet the eligibility requirements required to enrol.
In order to complete your studies with Kaplan Professional, you are assumed to have the following skills and access relating to technology. Please click here to view our minimum technology requirements.
You may be able to obtain advanced standing for a Kaplan Professional subject based on your previous study, professional membership status and work experience.
Not all subjects are available in every study period so make sure you check your preferred subject is offered. Refer to the subject outline to understand hours of commitment and prerequisites.
Make sure you check the assessment timetable to ensure you are available to sit the assessment pieces.
You only pay fees for subject(s) in which you enrol each study period. Check the fee schedule for more information about fees.
FEE-HELP is also available. Click here to find out if you’re eligible.
You can enrol now and supply documentation to support your application for enrolment at a later date, within three weeks of your initial enrolment into the qualification.
On enrolment, new postgraduate students will be required to post an original certified copy of their previous studies.
If you are paying by cheque, utilising a deferral or have a preferred client code, you will need to download a copy of our paper-based enrolment form below.
Download a new student enrolment form >
Download a continuing student enrolment form >
Talk to a Student Adviser on 1300 135 798.
When you study at Kaplan Professional, you pay as you go. So you only need to pay for the subjects you intend to study each study period.
The fees listed below apply to all postgraduate subjects:
Subject Fees
| Enrolment fees | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017/2018 | AUD $2,325 |
Click here for a full list of fees and allowances.
FEE-HELP is also available. Click here to find out if you’re eligible.
Throughout your studies, you’ll be able to count on the helping hand of our knowledgeable and experienced Student Advice team, who are always a phone call or email away.
The Student Advice team will be in regular contact to keep you up to date with important information, as well as being able to assist with decisions about subject enrolments, completion pathways and general study advice.
If you have a condition or special learning need which impacts on your ability to study or to complete assessments, the following application processes are available to you:
Please make us aware of your circumstances at the time of your enrolment, or as soon as possible thereafter. Refer to the Assessment Policy for further information on both of these processes.
KapLearn is your virtual classroom where you can access your learning resources and activities. This enables you to connect to your course materials, industry experts and your fellow students. Contained within KapLearn are the following resources:
E-books are advanced digital versions of traditional subject notes, and use some of the latest technology to give you greater interactivity and accessibility throughout your studies.
E-books allow you to search for key words, highlight important content and write comments or calculations on the pages which you can print out and use for study purposes. You also have instant access to online learning resources such as online lectures, required readings and discussion forums.
In order to enhance the learning experience, students can access a number of presentations within their subject rooms. Depending on the learning resources required, subjects may incorporate the following:
Delivered by industry experts from Australia’s leading financial institutions they can be viewed online or downloaded as an MP3 allowing you to listen anytime, anywhere.
Each subject has an interactive discussion forum which gives you the opportunity to stimulate conversation, debate issues and share knowledge with other students. Each forum is facilitated by an industry practitioner who is a subject matter specialist who will guide you with your learning.
The Kaplan Library and Resource Centre provides a range of information and learning support resources, and research services to assist you in your studies. This includes access to online databases which contain full-text journal, magazine and newspaper articles, Australian company information and e-books.
Our library catalogue contains descriptive information about our book and e-book collections. The Library and Resource Centre also contains learning support materials to assist you with referencing including e-tutorials and quizzes; guides to using the databases; library policies; contact details for our preferred bookshops; and other useful resources.
Subjects require approximately 120 hours of student effort (11-12 hours per week). This includes time spent on activities, such as reading and review of subject materials, participating in e-learning activities, and assessment preparation and review.
“I chose to study the Master of Financial Planning with Kaplan Professional due to its relevance to the industry and its online structure. Kaplan Professional were extremely flexible in working with me to complete my qualification. I am self-learner, so the online structure of this course was perfect for me to complete in my own time and at my own pace, knowing the lecturers and support staff were always there to lend a helping hand.”
– Felicity Thomas
“Kaplan Professional has provided me with the framework to learn, question, implement, and advise through the masters degree that has not only significantly expanded my knowledge, but has made me a far greater thinker and strategist, which has ultimately benefited my 1,800 or so clients.”
– Robert Dekkan
“Kaplan Professional appealed to me because the material is up to date and written in conjunction with industry-leading professionals, which make the webinars and lectures current. I gained a thorough understanding of financial markets, its participants, and the mechanics that drive daily outcomes. This breadth and depth of knowledge has help me be a better investment advocate, and the ability to instantly set a high level of credibility with my clients.”
– Ben Hollier
