University of New South Wales
Master of Applied Finance
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Upskill and advance your career, or make a change by entering the finance industry.
Course overview
With the online Master of Applied Finance from UNSW, you will accrue a wealth of financial knowledge and real-world applications. Your studies will also be tailored to suit your career path – and can help build a strong foundation to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
This program is designed to ensure you can confidently apply, manage and lead financial functions at all business levels - both in Australia and around the world - and be an asset to any forward-thinking financial organisation.
Key facts
16th March, 2026
11th May, 2026
6th July, 2026
31st August, 2026
26th October, 2026
What you will study
To complete Master of Applied Finance, you must complete eight core courses and four electives.
Core subjects
- Portfolio Management
- International Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Private Equity and Venture Capital
- Equity Valuation
- Fixed Income
- Derivatives
- Ethics and Professional Standards
Electives
Choose four of the following:
- Financial Management
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Business Economics
- Law Regulation and Ethics
- Technical Tools for FinTech
- FinTech Ecosystems and Industry Insights
- Decentralised Finance
- Tech Disruption in Payments and Transfers
- Tech Disruption in Funding and Lending
- Data Management for FinTech
- Robo Advisory and Portfolio Optimisation
- Principles of Programming
- Introductory Data Analysis
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
Cognate entry
To be eligible for the Master of Applied Finance through cognate entry, you must have a recognised bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in business, banking or finance-related area with a credit average (65 per cent or higher) as determined by the UNSW Admissions Entry Calculator.
If you have completed similar courses in previous study, you can gain up to four courses of RPL/advanced standing.
Non-cognate entry
Students with a recognised bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) and no finance knowledge should apply for the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance. Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance with a credit average (65 per cent or higher), students will be eligible to articulate into the master’s with full credit for the courses completed as part of the graduate certificate.
An articulation pathway also exists into this master’s program for students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance with a credit average (65 per cent or higher).
English language requirements
You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency to study at UNSW, depending on your educational background and citizenship. UNSW requires a minimum level of English language competency for enrolment. English language skills are essential for webinar comprehension and the completion of coursework, assignments and examinations.
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you will be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses.
- Prior study in the medium of English.
- Other qualifications.
- English waivers.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Your previous studies can be acknowledged as credit towards your online postgraduate studies provided that they meet relevant course requirements. If you are eligible for admission and you have undertaken previous studies at another institution, you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Students can apply for RPL during the program application process and must ensure all relevant supporting documents are submitted for assessment if requested by Admissions, including course outlines from the same year they completed the relevant course/s as content may change over time. Courses successfully completed within the past ten years can be used for credit transfer within a program as provided within the program rules and the University rules on credit.
On completion of similar courses in previous study, Master of Applied Finance students can gain up to four courses (24 units of credit) of RPL advanced standing.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
- Chief financial officer
- Finance manager
- Finance analyst
- Director of finance
- Financial planner
- Portfolio risk analyst
- Financial investment analyst
- Hedge fund manager
- Private banker
- Commercial manager
- Financial controller
- Investment banking analyst
Fees and FEE-HELP
Total indicative fee in 2025: $61,500 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year.
The indicative fee is based on an estimated average and is subject to the choice of elective course. The fee is for tuition only. Other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (eight courses per year).
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying students. This Australian Government loan scheme can support payment for all or part of the tuition.