Adelaide University
Master of Financial Planning
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Gain foundational knowledge across economics, accounting and finance before tackling specialised topics on advanced investment management, risk management and insurance and estate planning.
Course overview
Adelaide University's Master of Financial Planning will give you the educational requirements needed to progress into a career as a financial planner. By completing this program, you’ll widen your career prospects and join an in-demand industry.
Learn the basics of business, covering quantitative methods, economic principles, accounting concepts and methods and principles of finance. Then, you’ll get into more advanced topics such as commercial and business law, advanced investment management, risk management and insurance, estate planning, taxation law and applied financial planning. Tailor your studies with elective courses so you can go deeper into topics that interest you.
Emerge as a confident professional, ready to take the next step towards becoming a financial planner. You might find work in financial institutions, investment banks, superannuation and insurance funds or financial advisory firms.
Key features
- Build foundational knowledge in economics, accounting and finance.
- Learn from top financial planning academics.
- Study a degree developed in consultation with industry.
- Graduate with the educational requirements to progress into a career in financial planning.
- Upskill and widen your job prospects by developing expertise in financial planning.
- Study specialised topics on advanced investment management, risk management and insurance and estate planning.
Key facts
July, 2026
What you will study
Students must complete 96 units comprising:
- 24 units for all core courses.
- 60 units for all discipline courses.
- 12 units for electives.
Each course is worth six units.
Complete 24 units for all of the following:
- Accounting Concepts and Methods
- Principles of Finance
- Business Statistics
- Economic Principles
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive, with ranks based on the entry criteria.
- A completed bachelor's (AQF level 7) or bachelor's honours (AQF level 8) degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution; OR
- A completed nested or related graduate certificate (AQF level 8) or higher or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Adelaide University is committed to recognising the contribution of students’ prior learning towards their program requirements.
Credit may be granted for formal, informal and non-formal learning, with guidance on eligibility provided to prospective students in a clear, transparent and publicly available credit framework.
Credit determinations will be:
- Evidence-based, equitable and transparent.
- Academically sound.
- Applied consistently, fairly and subject to review.
Credit will be granted for prior learning that is relevant and equivalent to the learning required for the courses for which credit is sought.
Credit will only be granted if it:
- Maintains the credibility and integrity of the program for which credit is sought.
- Does not contravene the conditions of the program’s professional accreditation.
- Does not disadvantage the student’s ability to achieve the expected course or program learning outcomes.
For more information, contact the university or visit its website.
Outcomes
- Sharpen your foundational business knowledge, with topics on quantitative methods, economic principles, accounting concepts and methods and principles of finance.
- You’ll also be introduced to key concepts in financial planning, ethics and professionalism and superannuation.
- Analyse financial decisions and limitations in personal finance, including areas such as personal spending, saving, income tax, insurance cover, credit and debt management and investments.
- Explore the legal and ethical requirements of giving financial advice to clients.
- Gain an understanding of the importance of professional ethics and conduct, including legislative and regulatory requirements.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of superannuation, focusing on how it can be used as a tool for saving and creating wealth, along with specific investment strategies.
- Build an awareness of commercial, business and taxation laws and regulations.
- Explore investment portfolios and apply theoretical knowledge to manage mutual funds in the Australian and US markets.
- Learn the role of insurance to protect income and wealth for individuals, households or small businesses during catastrophic events.
- Understand estate planning legislation and policy, including its implications in managing retirement funds, estate management and succession.
- Investigate key issues and factors that can impact selecting financial and investment strategies when developing a comprehensive Statement of Advice (SOA).
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $31,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Fee-paying programs require the full tuition fees for your study, which can be deferred partly or in full to a FEE-HELP loan. Where the duration of the program is less than one year, the total cost of the program is displayed.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of courses studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.