Major overview
Are you ready to make a positive impact on people’s lives?
Through their expert knowledge in budgeting, risk management and investing, financial planners set businesses up for success. They also improve the financial wellbeing of individuals – helping them plan for their future and achieve their life goals.
This accredited course focuses on financial principles and markets. You'll also study tax law, corporate finance, portfolio management, estate planning, ethics and compliance.
A career as a financial advisor is an excellent opportunity to use your natural flair for analysis and planning to help others. You could also explore career opportunities in fintech, with an increasing market for apps and AI tools that offer quality financial advice.
How to study this major
A major is a set of eight or more units you complete as part of a degree, including at least two in your final year. To study this major, you’ll need to apply for one of the degrees listed below.
Degrees
Career outcomes
Financial advisors gain significant satisfaction helping people gain financial security. The trust-based and enduring relationships that they enjoy with clients are meaningful qualities of financial planning roles.
Overall, roles for financial brokers and investment advisors are expected to grow by more than 12% by 2035.¹ Australia's ageing population is highlighting the need for financial planning that helps people maintain financial security in retirement. Fintech is also a particular growth area.
Careers
- Financial advisor/planner
- Corporate finance/budget analyst
- Financial manager
Industries
- Banking
- Brokerage
- Corporate business
- Equity markets
- Financial planning
- Government and non-profit
¹ Source: Jobs and Skills Australia – Employment Projections.
Professional accreditation and recognition
To practise as a financial adviser in Australia, you must complete an approved degree, sit ASIC’s Financial Adviser Exam, and undertake one year of professional work and training. Curtin’s accredited course is the only undergraduate program in Western Australia recognised by ASIC as meeting the educational requirements to practise as a financial planner.
Students may be eligible for free student membership of the Financial Advice Association Australia.
Why study at Curtin?
Professional recognition
One of the first programs in Australia to be accredited by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) and is an approved degree allowing graduates to enter training to be a financial adviser.
Access to professional software
Experience financial planning industry and Wall Street at Curtin, with access to XPLAN, LSEG Workspace software, StockTrack simulations, and leading industry data platforms Capital IQ and DatAnalysis pro.
Engage with industry
Gain 120 hours of work experience to add to your CV, through a final-year internship in a financial planning practice.
Hear from our students
"Studying Finance and Financial Planning at Curtin has been an enriching experience that perfectly balances the study of investing, financial instruments, and markets with a human-centric approach. The course has allowed me to deepen my skills in numerical analysis while also empathising with the human story behind every financial decision."
Nena-Rae Sutton
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Financial Planning)
Major structure
What you’ll learn
You’ll delve into behavioural finance, understanding the psychology behind people’s financial decisions and behaviours. Through this holistic approach, you’ll gain the ability to provide insightful financial advice tailored to the goals of your individual clients.
This is an industry-aligned course that enables opportunities to engage with finance experts through guest lectures, and gives you access to industry software such as XPLAN and LSEG Workspace.
In your final year, you’ll apply your skills through a 120-hour internship with a licensed financial planner.
To practise as a financial advisor in Australia, you’ll need to sit ASIC’S financial advisor exam and complete one year of professional work and training. Curtin's accredited course is the only direct undergraduate pathway in Western Australia to qualify you to sit the financial advisor exam.
Detailed course structure and unit information
For detailed information and course structure, visit our Handbook.
How to apply
This major is part of a degree. To apply, choose the degree you want to study and review its entry requirements. Then, prepare any required documents and submit your application before the deadline for your chosen intake.
After you receive and accept your offer, you can enrol in this major either at the start of your degree or later in your studies, depending on your course structure.
Choose your degree
To study this major, you'll need to apply one of the degrees listed below.Degrees
Explore more
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