Entry requirements The tabs below outline the minimum education requirements for entry into our postgraduate courses. Alternative entry pathways may be available to you if you don’t 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. Applied finance coursesFinancial planning coursesSMSF courseApplied finance courses CourseMinimum education requirements for entry (Study Period 1 2023 – Study Period 6 2023) Master of Applied Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a related discipline* - Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in an unrelated discipline with a minimum of two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least four years full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least three years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level Graduate Certificate in Corporate Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least three years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level * Related disciplines include: Finance; Accounting; Actuarial Studies; Banking; Business; Commerce; Investments; and Economics. **Related industry/work experience includes but is not limited to: Working in a finance-related role; or self-employed in a related area. Download the Related Industry Experience form. Financial planning courses CourseMinimum education requirements for entry (Study Period 1 2023 – Study Period 6 2023) Master of Financial Planning- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a related discipline* - Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in an unrelated discipline with a minimum of two years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of two years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least four years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) related work experience - At least three years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level * Download examples of a related qualification. **Related industry and/or work experience can include, but is not limited to: Working for financial institution(s) in position(s) with exposure to aspects of the industry Managing a business for at least 2 years Self-employed roles in trading or related areas. Download the Related Industry Experience form. SMSF course Graduate Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation Funds (Note: This course is closed to new enrolments) Applicants wishing to gain admission must meet one of the following entry criteria: Entry Criteria A A related* postgraduate degree, or A related* undergraduate degree, or A related* Advanced Diploma plus two (2) years related industry experience *A related qualification includes Accounting, Actuarial studies, Law, Commerce, Economics, Finance or Financial Management. Entry Criteria B An unrelated postgraduate degree plus two (2) years related industry experience, or An unrelated undergraduate degree plus two (2) years related industry experience, or An unrelated Advanced Diploma plus five (5) years related industry experience Criteria B applicants must also demonstrate that they have the necessary foundation knowledge for taxation, superannuation and SMSF. Evidence may include: RG146 in superannuation and SMSF. Noting RG146 may have been achieved via a program at either AQF Level 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. A relevant industry designation or qualification that addressed knowledge of taxation, superannuation and SMSF. Entry Criteria C Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level. Demonstrated ability to undertake study at this level may include: A professional designation and consistent record of continuing professional development Incomplete tertiary qualifications Criteria C applicants must also demonstrate that they have the necessary foundation knowledge for taxation, superannuation and SMSF. Evidence may include: RG146 in superannuation and SMSF. Noting RG146 may have been achieved via a program at either AQF Level 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. A relevant industry designation or qualification that addresses knowledge of taxation, superannuation and SMSF. For more information about RG 146 compliance, please refer to our courses: FNS50615 Diploma of Financial Planning Self Managed Super Funds Unsure if you meet the entry requirements? Contact us on 1300 135 798 (option 2) or studentadvice@kaplan.edu.au. You’ll be required to provide Kaplan Professional with supporting documentation as evidence that you meet the entry requirements for your course. Please send certified copies of your documents to enrolments@kaplan.edu.au. For more information, please review the Provision of Entry Requirement Documents. If you do not meet the entry requirements for your course, you may wish to consider enrolling into a lower AQF level nested qualification within the same stream and then progressing to a higher AQF. You may, for example, apply for admission into the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning with the objective of progressing through to the nested Master of Financial Planning Qualification upon completion of the Graduate Diploma. You may also be eligible for admission into one of our courses through one of the alternative entry pathways offered by Kaplan Professional. Access and Equity pathway Kaplan Professional recognises applicants may not meet the minimum entry requirements for a course due to experiencing significant educational disadvantages. The Access and Equity pathway has been established by Kaplan Professional to grant special consideration in the admission process to applicable applicants by allowing admission into a Kaplan Professional qualification on a provisional basis. Applied Finance Allows an applicant to enrol into up to two (2) x FIN100-level subjects on a provisional basis in the Graduate Certificate of Applied Finance only. Financial Planning Allows an applicant to enrol in up to two (2) subjects on a provisional basis in the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning only. The following categories of disadvantage may be considered when granting special consideration for admission: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Individuals with disabilities Areas of study where specific genders have been traditionally underrepresented Individuals from a non-English speaking background Individuals who are the first in their family to attend a higher education institution Individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds Individuals from remote, rural or isolated areas Any other groups of prospective students who may have experienced educational disadvantage Evidence required: To apply for admission through the Access and Equity pathway, you’ll need to submit a written statement explaining how the disadvantages you’ve experienced have impacted on your educational performance. Your statement will need to be accompanied by supporting evidence, such as a statutory declaration from an individual who’s not your direct relative or medical documentation where applicable. Any applications for special consideration not accompanied by supporting documentation will not be approved. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway Admission to Kaplan Professional through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway is exclusively for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage who may not otherwise qualify for admission to Kaplan Professional. An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is acknowledged as someone who: is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is accepted as such by the community in which the applicants live, or formerly lived. Evidence required Applicants applying for admission to Kaplan Professional under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway are required to either: Provide a letter of ‘Proof’ or ‘Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Heritage’; or Complete the ‘Heritage Declaration Form’ which can be downloaded from our website here. As the declaration requires you to state that you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, some, or all of your ancestors must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The declaration also requires you to state that you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and that you are recognised by your community as a person who is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. For further information regarding obtaining proof of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, please refer to the “Family History – Before you start” section of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website https://aiatsis.gov.au/ HEADSTART Program Kaplan Professional has designed the HEADSTART pathway for students who are in the final stages of completing a related undergraduate degree, or a Diploma / Advanced Diploma at Kaplan. Successful applicants under this pathway will receive a letter of offer which will allow them to start their postgraduate course either immediately after, or during, the final stages of their current studies To enrol in the HEADSTART pathway, you must be currently enrolled in either: the final semester of arelated undergraduate qualification,or enrolled in the final subject of a Kaplan Professional Diploma or Advanced Diploma and have 2 years of related industry experience. Applied Finance Allows applicant to enrol into two (2) FIN100-level subjects on a provisional basis in Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma only. Financial Planning Allows applicant to enrol in two (2) subjects on a provisional basis in Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma only. Evidence required: To apply for admission through the HEADSTART pathway, applicants must submit the following documents: For applicants completing a related undergraduate qualification: Certified copy of academic transcripts and/or a letter from the provider reflecting that you are enrolled in the final subjects of your related undergraduate qualification For applicants completing a Kaplan Professional Diploma or Advanced Diploma: A supporting statement providing evidence to support the HEADSTART application – it can include details such as the duties of your current role (if applicable), reasons for applying for postgraduate study, and any additional information that might support the application A letter from your employer to support the evidence presented in the application. Self-employed applicants may submit a statutory declaration in place of the employment letter English Language Proficiency If your undergraduate degree wasn’t completed in English, or your work in the finance industry wasn’t carried out in English, you must demonstrate English proficiency to the overall band score of 6.5 in the IELTS test, with a minimum score of 6.0 for each section of the test. A minimum score of 6.0 in each of the IELTS bands is needed due to the components of the courses, and the need to communicate in a verbal and written form that requires superior understanding of the English language. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a TWE rating of 5, or 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, will also be accepted. You must submit a certified copy of the IETLS or TEOFL results with your enrolment form and other entry requirement documentation as applicable. Please note English language tests have a currency of approximately two (2) years.
The tabs below outline the minimum education requirements for entry into our postgraduate courses. Alternative entry pathways may be available to you if you don’t 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.
Applied finance coursesFinancial planning coursesSMSF courseApplied finance courses CourseMinimum education requirements for entry (Study Period 1 2023 – Study Period 6 2023) Master of Applied Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a related discipline* - Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in an unrelated discipline with a minimum of two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least four years full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least three years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level Graduate Certificate in Corporate Finance- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least three years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level * Related disciplines include: Finance; Accounting; Actuarial Studies; Banking; Business; Commerce; Investments; and Economics. **Related industry/work experience includes but is not limited to: Working in a finance-related role; or self-employed in a related area. Download the Related Industry Experience form. Financial planning courses CourseMinimum education requirements for entry (Study Period 1 2023 – Study Period 6 2023) Master of Financial Planning- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a related discipline* - Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in an unrelated discipline with a minimum of two years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of two years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - At least four years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning- Completion of a Bachelor degree or higher qualification - Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in a related discipline* with a minimum of one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) related work experience - At least three years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant work experience - Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level * Download examples of a related qualification. **Related industry and/or work experience can include, but is not limited to: Working for financial institution(s) in position(s) with exposure to aspects of the industry Managing a business for at least 2 years Self-employed roles in trading or related areas. Download the Related Industry Experience form. SMSF course Graduate Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation Funds (Note: This course is closed to new enrolments) Applicants wishing to gain admission must meet one of the following entry criteria: Entry Criteria A A related* postgraduate degree, or A related* undergraduate degree, or A related* Advanced Diploma plus two (2) years related industry experience *A related qualification includes Accounting, Actuarial studies, Law, Commerce, Economics, Finance or Financial Management. Entry Criteria B An unrelated postgraduate degree plus two (2) years related industry experience, or An unrelated undergraduate degree plus two (2) years related industry experience, or An unrelated Advanced Diploma plus five (5) years related industry experience Criteria B applicants must also demonstrate that they have the necessary foundation knowledge for taxation, superannuation and SMSF. Evidence may include: RG146 in superannuation and SMSF. Noting RG146 may have been achieved via a program at either AQF Level 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. A relevant industry designation or qualification that addressed knowledge of taxation, superannuation and SMSF. Entry Criteria C Academic and/or professional qualifications demonstrating potential to undertake study at this level. Demonstrated ability to undertake study at this level may include: A professional designation and consistent record of continuing professional development Incomplete tertiary qualifications Criteria C applicants must also demonstrate that they have the necessary foundation knowledge for taxation, superannuation and SMSF. Evidence may include: RG146 in superannuation and SMSF. Noting RG146 may have been achieved via a program at either AQF Level 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. A relevant industry designation or qualification that addresses knowledge of taxation, superannuation and SMSF. For more information about RG 146 compliance, please refer to our courses: FNS50615 Diploma of Financial Planning Self Managed Super Funds Unsure if you meet the entry requirements? Contact us on 1300 135 798 (option 2) or studentadvice@kaplan.edu.au.
You’ll be required to provide Kaplan Professional with supporting documentation as evidence that you meet the entry requirements for your course. Please send certified copies of your documents to enrolments@kaplan.edu.au. For more information, please review the Provision of Entry Requirement Documents. If you do not meet the entry requirements for your course, you may wish to consider enrolling into a lower AQF level nested qualification within the same stream and then progressing to a higher AQF. You may, for example, apply for admission into the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning with the objective of progressing through to the nested Master of Financial Planning Qualification upon completion of the Graduate Diploma. You may also be eligible for admission into one of our courses through one of the alternative entry pathways offered by Kaplan Professional.
Access and Equity pathway Kaplan Professional recognises applicants may not meet the minimum entry requirements for a course due to experiencing significant educational disadvantages. The Access and Equity pathway has been established by Kaplan Professional to grant special consideration in the admission process to applicable applicants by allowing admission into a Kaplan Professional qualification on a provisional basis. Applied Finance Allows an applicant to enrol into up to two (2) x FIN100-level subjects on a provisional basis in the Graduate Certificate of Applied Finance only. Financial Planning Allows an applicant to enrol in up to two (2) subjects on a provisional basis in the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning only. The following categories of disadvantage may be considered when granting special consideration for admission: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Individuals with disabilities Areas of study where specific genders have been traditionally underrepresented Individuals from a non-English speaking background Individuals who are the first in their family to attend a higher education institution Individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds Individuals from remote, rural or isolated areas Any other groups of prospective students who may have experienced educational disadvantage Evidence required: To apply for admission through the Access and Equity pathway, you’ll need to submit a written statement explaining how the disadvantages you’ve experienced have impacted on your educational performance. Your statement will need to be accompanied by supporting evidence, such as a statutory declaration from an individual who’s not your direct relative or medical documentation where applicable. Any applications for special consideration not accompanied by supporting documentation will not be approved. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway Admission to Kaplan Professional through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway is exclusively for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage who may not otherwise qualify for admission to Kaplan Professional. An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is acknowledged as someone who: is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is accepted as such by the community in which the applicants live, or formerly lived. Evidence required Applicants applying for admission to Kaplan Professional under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway are required to either: Provide a letter of ‘Proof’ or ‘Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Heritage’; or Complete the ‘Heritage Declaration Form’ which can be downloaded from our website here. As the declaration requires you to state that you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, some, or all of your ancestors must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The declaration also requires you to state that you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and that you are recognised by your community as a person who is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. For further information regarding obtaining proof of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, please refer to the “Family History – Before you start” section of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website https://aiatsis.gov.au/ HEADSTART Program Kaplan Professional has designed the HEADSTART pathway for students who are in the final stages of completing a related undergraduate degree, or a Diploma / Advanced Diploma at Kaplan. Successful applicants under this pathway will receive a letter of offer which will allow them to start their postgraduate course either immediately after, or during, the final stages of their current studies To enrol in the HEADSTART pathway, you must be currently enrolled in either: the final semester of arelated undergraduate qualification,or enrolled in the final subject of a Kaplan Professional Diploma or Advanced Diploma and have 2 years of related industry experience. Applied Finance Allows applicant to enrol into two (2) FIN100-level subjects on a provisional basis in Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma only. Financial Planning Allows applicant to enrol in two (2) subjects on a provisional basis in Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma only. Evidence required: To apply for admission through the HEADSTART pathway, applicants must submit the following documents: For applicants completing a related undergraduate qualification: Certified copy of academic transcripts and/or a letter from the provider reflecting that you are enrolled in the final subjects of your related undergraduate qualification For applicants completing a Kaplan Professional Diploma or Advanced Diploma: A supporting statement providing evidence to support the HEADSTART application – it can include details such as the duties of your current role (if applicable), reasons for applying for postgraduate study, and any additional information that might support the application A letter from your employer to support the evidence presented in the application. Self-employed applicants may submit a statutory declaration in place of the employment letter English Language Proficiency If your undergraduate degree wasn’t completed in English, or your work in the finance industry wasn’t carried out in English, you must demonstrate English proficiency to the overall band score of 6.5 in the IELTS test, with a minimum score of 6.0 for each section of the test. A minimum score of 6.0 in each of the IELTS bands is needed due to the components of the courses, and the need to communicate in a verbal and written form that requires superior understanding of the English language. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a TWE rating of 5, or 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, will also be accepted. You must submit a certified copy of the IETLS or TEOFL results with your enrolment form and other entry requirement documentation as applicable. Please note English language tests have a currency of approximately two (2) years.
