Financial Planning
Bridging Units Non-award
The Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics
Authority (FASEA) has determined bridging
courses that are a legitimate part of the
Education standard for compliance with
s1546B(1)(b) of the Corporations Act 2001
(Cth) which requires an existing adviser
to have “completed one or more courses
determined by the standards body”. They are:
201041 Financial Advice Regulatory and Legal
Obligations (Corporations Act,
Anti-Money Laundering, Privacy and
Tax Practitioners Board)
2010337 Ethics for Professional Advisers
(including the FASEA Code of Ethics
and Code Monitoring Bodies)
201038 Behavioural Finance: Client and
Consumer Behaviour, Engagement
and Decision Making
Depending on the pathway, new or existing
financial advisers will be required to undertake
one or all of the above-named courses. The
HOW TO APPLY
courses will be at an AQF8 at a Post Graduate All Australian citizens, New Zealand
level standard and offered standalone during citizens and permanent residents can
the transition period and will be embedded apply by contacting the Customer
into relevant programs in the future by higher Liaison Officer on
education providers. Ph: 02 9685 9400 or email:
financialplanning@westernsydney.
Further details of these bridging courses are
edu.au
set out in the FASEA FPS002 – Program and
Provider Accreditation Policy. Go to:
fasea.gov.au/standards/
Note: Students who complete the three
bridge units and the additional FASEA
capstone unit, 200960-Statement of Financial
Advice Research Project, will be eligible for a
Graduate Certificate in Financial Advising.
Graduate Certificate
in Financial Planning
The Graduate Certificate
in Financial Planning
is a fully online course
designed to introduce you
to postgraduate study in the
financial planning sector
with the option to continue
into a fully accredited
(FASEA) Graduate Diploma
in Financial Planning and a
Master of Financial Planning.
THE CHALLENGE
ASSESSMENT
Advisers with existing knowledge and
experience can fast-track their path
to full qualifications without doing
the coursework of the unit. Challenge
Assessments are available for the
following six units: Communication and
Ethics in Financial Planning, Principles
of Financial Planning, Investment
Planning, Superannuation, Planning for
Retirement, and Funds Management
and Portfolio Selection.
You are able to undertake two
Challenge Assessment units in the
Graduate Certificate, two in the
Graduate Diploma and two in the
Masters, meaning you can complete
your Graduate Diploma in a reduced
amount of time, depending upon your
circumstances. You can discuss your
particular situation with the course
adviser.
Western Sydney University charges no
fees to formally assess your eligibility
for the Challenge units.
For more information about our course,
visit: westernsydney.edu.au/future/
study/courses/postgraduate/graduate-
certificate-in-financial-planning.html
Apply Direct Code
UAC Code
2795
950147
Mode
Study Mode
External
Six months full-time or
one year part-time
Location Online
Intakes January, April, June, September
You will learn the nature and process of COURSE STRUCTURE
financial planning and financial planning Qualification for this award requires the
participants within the Australian economic, successful completion of 40 credit points
legal, social, cultural and ethical environments. listed in the recommended sequence below.
The key influences affecting client
FULL-TIME
relationships are identified along with a
YEAR 1
focus on the use of verbal and non-verbal
communication skills to develop client
QUARTER 1 SESSION
rapport. This involves evaluating data 201008 Communication and Ethics in
collection and risk tolerance tools, and Financial Planning
identifying the impact of the regulatory and 200432 Commercial Law
economic environment on stakeholders.
Other topics involve budgetary analysis, QUARTER 2 SESSION
term structure, investment decisions, 200866 Principles of Financial Planning
ethics, client goal setting and statement of
200869 Principles of Taxation
advice compliance. This provides you with
the foundational knowledge essential to
develop and apply comprehensive knowledge
PART-TIME
across all financial planning areas.
YEAR 1
QUARTER 1 SESSION
You will also learn how to evaluate academic
literature in various business contexts so 201008 Communication and Ethics in
you can communicate effectively as an Financial Planning
individual, or within groups and apply ethical
practices in different business contexts. QUARTER 2 SESSION
Concepts of law, and its impact on business, 200432 Commercial Law
and the basic concepts of risk and return in
relation to financial planning are also covered. QUARTER 3 SESSION
200866 Principles of Financial Planning
ADMISSION
Applicants must have successfully completed
QUARTER 4 SESSION
an undergraduate degree, or higher, in any
discipline OR have an associate degree, 200869 Principles of Taxation
or higher, in a business discipline; OR
ADVANCED STANDING
Have an Advanced Diploma, or higher, The maximum credit you will be permitted
in a business discipline AND have a (including Challenge Assessments) is 50% of
minimum of five years’ general work the units in the course.
experience in a related field; OR
In the Graduate Certificate you can gain credit
Have a minimum of three years’ full-time for up to two units from the FASEA approved
equivalent managerial/professional
professional designation program 200866
work experience in a related field; OR Principles of Financial Planning, or 201008
Communication and Ethics for Financial
Submitted other evidence of general and
Planners, or 200868 Investment Planning.
professional qualifications that demonstrates
potential to pursue graduate studies.
Upon successful completion of the Graduate
Certificate, you can then go on to complete
Applicants seeking admission on the basis
a Graduate Diploma or Master of Financial
of work experience must support their
Planning and receive a full credit for the four
application with a Statement of Service for all
units of the Grad Certificate.
work experience listed on the application.
Graduate Diploma in Apply Direct Code
UAC Code
2794
950149

Financial Planning Mode

Study Mode
External
Domestic 1F/2P
Location Online
Intakes January, April, June, September

The Graduate Diploma in ACCREDITATION

Financial Planning is a fully
online course designed to meet the
requirements of existing financial
advisers’ and those seeking a
PART TIME
The Graduate Diploma in Financial
YEAR 1
Planning is accredited by the Financial
Planning Education Council (FPEC)
QUARTER 1 SESSION
and the Financial Adviser Standards 201008.1 Communication and Ethics for
and Ethics Authority (FASEA). Financial Planners

career as a financial adviser. The

Graduate Diploma is awarded ADMISSION QUARTER 2 SESSION
on successful completion of 80 Applicants must have successfully 200432.4 Commercial Law
completed an undergraduate degree, or
credit points of units. Students higher, in any discipline; OR
have the option to transfer to 2793 QUARTER 3 SESSION
Master of Financial Planning on Have successfully completed an advanced 200866.1 Principles of Financial Planning
successful completion of 40 credit diploma, or higher, in a business discipline
QUARTER 4 SESSION
points. AND have a minimum of three (3) years full-
time equivalent managerial/professional 200869.4 Principles of Taxation
Students may be eligible for work experience in a related field.
advanced standing based on their Applicants seeking admission on
YEAR 2
previous qualifications and work the basis of work experience MUST
QUARTER 1 SESSION
experience. support their application with a 200868.1 Investment Planning
Statement of Service for all work
experience listed on the application. QUARTER 2 SESSION
THE CHALLENGE
ASSESSMENT COURSE STRUCTURE
200867.1 Superannuation

Qualification for this award requires the

Advisers with existing knowledge and
successful completion of 80 credit points QUARTER 3 SESSION
experience can fast-track their path
as follows. 200871.1 Planning for Retirement
to the qualifications without doing
the coursework of the unit. Challenge
Assessments are available for the FULL-TIME QUARTER 4 SESSION
following six units: Communication and QUARTER 1 SESSION 200870.2 Insurance and Risk Management
Ethics in Financial Planning, Principles 201008.1 Communication and Ethics for
of Financial Planning, Investment Financial Planners ADVANCED STANDING
Planning, Superannuation, Planning for
200866.1 Principles of Financial Planning The maximum credit you will be permitted
Retirement, and Funds Management and
(including Challenge Assessments) is for 50%
Portfolio Selection.
of the units in the course.
QUARTER 2 SESSION
You are able to undertake two Challenge
Assessment units in the Graduate 200432.4 Commercial Law Students who have undertaken FASEA
Certificate, two in the Graduate Diploma 200868.1 Investment Planning
approved professional designation program
and two in the Masters, meaning you will receive two academic credits against
can complete your Graduate Diploma in identified units.
QUARTER 3 SESSION
a reduced amount of time, depending
200867.1 Superannuation Students who complete units 201008
upon your circumstances. You can discuss
Communication and Ethics for Financial
your particular situation with the course 200869.4 Principles of Taxation Planners and 200871 Planning for Retirement
adviser.
in this course will receive exemption for
Western Sydney University charges no QUARTER 4 SESSION the Association of Financial Advisers’
fees to formally assess your eligibility for 200870.2 Insurance and Risk Management
FChFP AFA3 and AFA4. Students who have
the Challenge units. completed the Association of Financial
200871.1 Planning for Retirement Advisers’ FChFP will receive up to two
ACCELERATED PATHWAYS credits.

Holders of an Advanced Diploma in

FinancialServices (ADFS) or equivalent,
which must consist of eight units, may
apply for accelerated pathway to
obtain recognition on completion of an
oral assessment task against the unit For more information about our
Principles of Financial Planning and course, visit:westernsydney.edu.au/
Investment Planning resulting in two future/study/courses/postgraduate/
academic credits. This assessment is at graduate-diploma-in-financial-
no cost. planning.html
Master of
Financial Planning
This fully online course
is designed to provide
the educational basis to
enable students to increase
competence as professional
financial advisers and
enable them to gain an
advanced knowledge and
understanding of the
financial planning industry.
THE CHALLENGE
ASSESSMENT
Financial Advisers with existing
knowledge and experience can
fast-track their path to full qualifications
without doing the coursework of
the unit. Challenge Assessments
are available for the following six
units: Communication and Ethics
in Financial Planning, Principles
of Financial Planning, Investment
Planning, Superannuation, Planning for
Retirement, and Funds Management
and Portfolio Selection.
You are able to undertake two
Challenge Assessment units in the
Graduate Certificate, two in the
Graduate Diploma and two in the
Masters, meaning you can complete
your Graduate Diploma in a reduced
amount of time, depending upon your
circumstances. You can discuss your
particular situation with the course
adviser.
Western Sydney University charges no
fees to formally assess your eligibility
for the Challenge units.
ACCELERATED
PATHWAYS
An Advanced Diploma in Financial
Services (ADFS) or equivalent, which
must consist of eight units, may apply
for an accelerated pathway to obtain
recognition on completion of an oral
assessment task against the unit
Principles of Financial Planning and
Investment Planning resulting in
two academic credits. This assessment
is at no cost.
Apply Direct Code
UAC Code
2793
950146
Mode
Study Mode
External
Domestic 1.5F/3P
Location Online
Intakes January, April, June, September
ACCREDITATION COURSE STRUCTURE
The Master of Financial Planning is Qualification for this award requires
accredited by the Financial Adviser the successful completion of 120 credit
Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) points which includes 12 core units listed
having met the FASEA Curriculum and below.
standards requirements for the award. The
course is also accredited by the Financial
FULL-TIME
Planning Education Council (FPEC) and
YEAR 1
the Financial Planning Association (FPA).
QUARTER 1 SESSION
The Master of Financial Planning gives 201008 Communication and Ethics in
you the specialised qualifications you Financial Planning
need without having to pause your 200432 Commercial Law
career. Offered online, the degree
is designed to give you advanced
knowledge of financial planning and QUARTER 2 SESSION
increase your competencies in financial 200866 Principles of Financial Planning
advice strategy and theory, financial
200869 Principles of Taxation
markets and products, risk management,
tax law, compliance and ethics.
QUARTER 3 SESSION
This course also meets the RG146 generic 200867 Superannuation
knowledge requirements, specialist
200868 Investment Planning
knowledge requirements and skills
requirements as they currently stand. Details
re the coverage of RG146 requirements are QUARTER 4 SESSION
available via the handbook for this course.
200870 Insurance and Risk Management
In addition, by completing the Master of
Financial Planning, students satisfy the 200871 Planning for Retirement
tertiary qualifications requirements to
YEAR 2
register as a Tax (Financial) Adviser with
QUARTER 1 SESSION
the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Details
regarding these requirements are available 51168 Funds Management and
Portfolio Selection
via the handbook for this course.
200959 Financial Planning Research Project
ADMISSION
Applicants must have successfully QUARTER 2 SESSION
completed an undergraduate degree,
or higher, in a business discipline; OR 200872 Contemporary Issues in Taxation
200960 Statement of Advice Research Project
Successfully completed an undergraduate
degree, or higher, in any discipline AND
ADVANCED STANDING
have a minimum of two years full-time
The maximum credit you will be permitted
equivalent managerial/professional
(including Challenge Assessments) is for 50%
work experience in a related field; OR
of the units in the course.
Successfully completed an undergraduate
Students who have undertaken the FASEA
degree, or higher, in any discipline AND
approved professional designation program
have a minimum of five years general
will receive four academic credits against
work experience in a related field.
identified units.
Students can also choose to exit early by
undertaking eight of the Master of Financial
Planning units as per those specified in the
Graduate Diploma.
For more information about our course,
visit: westernsydney.edu.au/future/
study/courses/postgraduate/master-
of-financial-planning.html
HOW TO APPLY
All Australian citizens, New Zealand
citizens and permanent residents
can apply through the Universities
Admissions Centre (UAC). Apply
online at uac.edu.au or direct to
Western Sydney University via
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws
Direct applications do not have
an application fee.
CONTACT US
Phone: 1300 366 290
Direct line: 02 9685 9400
Email: financialplanning@
westernsydney.edu.au
Western Sydney University
Locked Bag 1797
Penrith NSW 2751 Australia
westernsydney.edu.au/sgsm
Western Sydney University reserves the
right at all times to withdraw or vary
courses listed within this publication.
 CONTACT US
financialplanning@westernsydney.edu.au

Within Australia
1300 366 290

Western Sydney University

Locked Bag 1797
Penrith NSW 2751 Australia

CRICOS Provider Code: 00917K

060519

WESTERNSYDNEY.EDU.AU/SGSM