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Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning

Change more than your clients’ money habits. Change their lives.

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Icon Qualification

Undergraduate

Qualification

Icon Duration

3 years full-time

Duration

Icon Start Dates

Mar, Jul, Nov

Start Date

Icon Units

24

Units

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100% Online

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Icon Fees

$16,323*

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‘The benefit of studying online with Swinburne Online has allowed me to schedule my time efficiently and effectively around [my life]. I have been provided with a world-class education led by industry leaders and professionals.’

Kate, Swinburne Online graduate

8.2%▴

The future is bright for Financial Planners, with a predicted increase in job openings of 8.2% over the next 5 years.

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We’re in the QS ‘Top 50 Under 50’ rankings for 2021

‘The benefit of studying online with Swinburne Online has allowed me to schedule my time efficiently and effectively around [my life]. I have been provided with a world-class education led by industry leaders and professionals.’

Kate, Swinburne Online graduate

8.2%▴

The future is bright for Financial Planners, with a predicted increase in job openings of 8.2% over the next 5 years.

We’re in the QS ‘Top 50 Under 50’ rankings for 2021

QS-Top-Universities-Black
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With a degree in Financial Planning, you’ll become the trusted expert people turn to for important advice throughout their lives.

By sharing your expertise, you’ll enable your clients to reach their financial goals and make a real difference by doing so.

Taught by experienced professionals, you’ll use the latest financial software and collaborate with your peers on a consulting project for a live client, meaning you’ll be able to step into the workplace with confidence.

This course meets the educational requirements of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA). It is approved by the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS), ensuring you’ll learn the skills necessary to enter the financial planning industry with confidence.

What will you learn?

  • Taxation: Understand the major principles of tax planning issues and concepts.
  • Principles of Financial Planning: Examines the management of financial planning practices and develop a Statement of Advice based on the unique characteristics and requirements of clients.
  • Ethical Client Relationships: Learn about the fundamental ethical principles, the main ethical issues encountered, and the ethical behaviour support resources available, in professional financial planning services practice.
  • Investment Planning: Gain knowledge of the financial system, various regulatory bodies, key participants and potential risks in the financial markets.
  • Retirement and Estate Planning: Learn about retirement planning with a particular focus on the superannuation industry and estate planning.
  • Management of Personal Financial Risk: Gain understanding of the pervasive nature of pure risk on individual and society.

The Swinburne Online-SEEK connection

The suite of Swinburne Online Business degrees provides students with the opportunity to forge connections with industry. Students hear from guest speakers and live clients with demonstrated experience within their respective fields.

Learn more about our industry connections. Download a course guide.

Flexible study

What does flexible study mean for me?

Studying at Swinburne Online gives you the freedom to study how it suits you. Decide when and where it fits in with your life and tailor your study journey to your own needs. Get a world-class degree without giving up what’s important.

Flexible study at Swinburne Online

Set a study pace that work with what’s going on in your life. If you’re unsure about how much you can commit to, we can offer part-time options and the option of increasing your unit load as your progress. Interested in fast-tracking your studies? You also have the opportunity to complete up to 12 units per year.

You don’t have to put your life on hold to study. Prioritise what matters to you and fit study around family, work and personal commitments through a course that is flexibly designed for online learners.

Start when it suits. Swinburne Online offers multiple intake dates and flexible unit availability, so you can choose when you begin your studies or if you need to take a break.

Flexible study requires flexible support. As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, 7 days a week, with Student Advisors available to help with anything from tech support to research advice and dedicated online tutors in each of your units.

Structure

Your course structure

This is an example of a full-time study load. Whether you’re looking to fast-track your studies or prefer a part-time study option, Swinburne Online degrees flexibly fit around your study needs.

Undergraduate timeline

The Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning consists of 24 units, including five foundational business core units, three business practice core units, eight financial planning major units and eight electives.

In the business practice units you combine the skills you’ll learn throughout your degree and apply them to practical scenarios to solidify your knowledge. You’ll collaborate with your peers and solve real business problems, giving you the confidence to step into the workforce with practical experience.

Course highlight

Why study a degree in Financial Planning with Swinburne Online? Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to success come graduation. Get a taste through the course highlight below or view all units in this bachelor’s degree.

View All Units

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning is accredited by the following professional bodies:

From January 2022, the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS), which forms part of the Treasury Department of the Australian Government, sets the education and training standards and the Code of Ethics for licensed financial advisers in Australia. Prior to FAS, this was managed by the Financial Advisers Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA).

FAS has approved Swinburne Online’s undergraduate and post graduate courses in Financial Planning. This includes the Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning and the Bachelor of Business – Accounting and Financial Planning. It also includes the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.

Graduates of a FAS approved Swinburne course will satisfy the education standards and requirements prescribed by FAS to provide financial advice in Australia.

Graduates are eligible for entry into the Financial Planning Association of Australia’s CFP (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER) certified program. Students who hold a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning from Swinburne Online will receive recognised prior learning for CFP1 – 4, and will only need to complete the CFP Capstone unit to become a CFP.

How you'll learn

Learning designed for online

Your study journey with Swinburne Online is tailored to the digital space. You’ll study in a dynamic virtual classroom environment, interact with your peers in the custom-built social platform, and receive support at the times you need it from advisors who understand studying online.

Your online study journey

You’ll complete each of your units in Canvas, your online classroom, and be guided through coursework by an online tutor with real-world experience in your field of study. Canvas is where you’ll access classes, assignments and discussion boards with your peers.

The Student Hub is your online campus, where you’ll access the support and resources to assist you throughout your study journey. From managing your course to technical support and library resources, you’ll find it all in one easy location.

Swinburne Online will be there for you each step of the way. From enrolment through to graduation, we offer extended, flexible support in each of your units and advisors to assist with anything from technical support to referencing and assignment tips.

Entry requirements

Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

Read our Applying and Enrolling FAQs.

The University may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

2022 Guaranteed Entry ATAR: 60

Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL).

Read our Applying and Enrolling FAQs.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for credit.

Applicants who have completed a Diploma in a related discipline may be eligible for credit of up to 8 units; the equivalent of a third of the course. Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and provides advanced standing to the second.

Credit available may vary depending on the major selected within any given degree but in most instances you may receive up to 8 unit credits.

Our Course Consultants will step you through the process of entry and credit using previous study.

Fees

The estimated annual fee for this course is $16,323*. This is based on completing eight 12.5 credit point units in one calendar year.

Commonwealth provided loans are available to assist eligible students to pay their course fees and there are a range of university, government and privately funded scholarships and prizes.

Discover more information about HELP loans.

Course fees will be affected by a student’s unit selection and any credit awarded in recognition of previous academic experience.

This course is offered to domestic and offshore international students. Depending on your citizenship, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place.

Domestic students also contribute to student services and amenities via an annual fee.

Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. You may be eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.

Career Outcomes

Your pathway to industry

The Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning prioritises your readiness to succeed come graduation through industry connections embedded in your degree:

  • Projects: Work on an industry consulting project, solidifying your knowledge and giving you highly employable skills.
  • Software: You’ll get to use industry standard financial software, such as Xplan.
  • Teaching: Your learning advisors work in the industry themselves, helping you to stay connected to your career goals.
  • Guest Speakers: You’ll hear from a range of industry experts, giving you the opportunity to collaborate with professionals in your field.

Assist individuals and companies to reach their long-term financial goals. Provide expert advice on investing, retirement planning, superannuation and other key financial aspects of people’s lives.

Create tailored advice and education to help individuals reach their financial goals. Use your expert knowledge to help develop plans for investments as well as savings, budget, insurance, and tax strategies.

Work with financial planners to prepare documents and data for clients. You’ll use financial management software, such as Xplan, to keep track and play an important role in the financial planning process.

In this dynamic role, you’ll use data analytics to assess processes, determine requirements and deliver data-driven recommendations and reports to key stakeholders.

Your role is all about the future – new customers, new markets, new products and new processes. You’ll plan and strategise development, helping your company to reach their business goals.

Working within the finance team of a company, you’ll prepare budgets, forecasts and use financial data to guide decision making.

Help clients manage their finances and give expert advice on financial reporting, forecasting and analysis.

Play a crucial role in supporting organisations to make informed financial decisions. You’ll be able to find ways to improve profitability, a key aspect of financial leadership.

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International

Swinburne business degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, and are a part of the five per cent of business schools worldwide accredited by AACSB. The alumni of AACSB accredited business schools are among the world’s most influential leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs impacting business, government, and non-profit sectors.

Learn more about our professional accreditations. Download a Course Guide.

Testimonial

‘Learning with Swinburne Online has been great as the technology they use is so fantastic and easy to navigate. You’re not just listening to someone showing a PowerPoint slide. There’s constant interaction between students and staff members. A key thing for me was being able to ask for help so that I could learn in the way that suited me.’

Genevieve

Swinburne Online graduate

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FAQs
What are other students asking?
A.
For students undertaking a degree, most of your learning materials are included with a free license provided to you by Swinburne Online. However, in some cases, you will be notified via your student email that you will need to buy specific software or eTexts. For TAFE Business students, all of your learning materials will be available online and are covered by your course fees. You won’t need to purchase any further materials.
A.
When you enrol to study a degree with us, you will nominate how many units you would like to select per teaching period, based on a recommendation from one of our Course Consultants. From here, our enrolments team will allocate you automatically to the units they feel will be best suited to your needs, so you don’t need to worry about choosing units. If you want to choose something different than what you are allocated to, that is no problem, just get in touch with our Student Advisors and they will take care of it for you.
A.
You won’t normally have to be online at a specific time. Your course material is available for you from the beginning of each teaching period and you can work through it in the hours that suit you. There are some live webinar sessions that run approximately once a month. These are a special opportunity for students to sign in at the same time as their tutors, normally before an assessment deadline. It gives you the chance to ask any questions relating to the assignment in real time and hear other student’s questions and thoughts. We understand that students won’t always be able to make these sessions, so they can be replayed the next day.

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