Master of Financial Planning

The Master of Financial Planning at Adelaide University is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to work as financial advisers, paraplanners or wealth management professionals in Australia. You study the technical and regulatory side of financial planning: superannuation and retirement planning, investment and portfolio management, insurance and risk, taxation law and estate planning. The degree also covers the conduct and ethics rules that govern the profession, including the education standards financial advisers must meet to practise.

How the degree is structured

Like most Australian master's degrees, this one is built on units of study with credit points. You take core units that cover the financial planning body of knowledge, then choose electives or a specialisation to deepen your expertise. A full-time load is usually four units per semester, with semesters running across the year. The degree is two years full time and may be shorter if you receive credit for prior study, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Many master's programmes finish with a capstone unit or a research project where you apply what you have learned to a real financial planning problem. Check the official course page for the exact unit list and any placement requirements.

Skills you build

You learn to construct financial plans that hold up to scrutiny. That means analysing a client's position, modelling retirement outcomes, comparing investment options, and explaining complex rules in plain language. You also practise the compliance side: documenting advice, managing conflicts of interest, and keeping up with legislative change. Group work and case studies are common, so you finish with experience presenting advice and defending your recommendations.

Who it suits

This degree suits three groups. First, people already working in financial services, paraplanners, bank staff, accountants, who need the formal qualification to become a financial adviser. Second, career changers with a bachelor's degree in another field who want to move into financial planning. Third, international students who want an Australian qualification and post-study work rights. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets eligible graduates stay and work after completing the degree. While you study, your visa usually allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, which is enough to gain local experience. English proficiency is required for international applicants; the university publishes its accepted tests and scores, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate threshold for the student visa. Confirm all entry requirements, tuition and unit details on the official Adelaide University page or the CRICOS register.

• Financial adviser or planner, work with clients on superannuation, retirement, investments and insurance. Employers include boutique advice firms, AMP, IOOF, and the advice arms of the major banks.
• Paraplanner, prepare research and draft advice documents for senior advisers. Common entry point for new graduates in advice practices across Australia.
• Superannuation fund specialist, roles with industry and retail funds such as AustralianSuper, REST or Sunsuper, covering member advice, retirement income or compliance.
• Insurance and risk adviser, help clients with life, disability and income protection cover, often within larger advice or broking firms.
• Estate planning consultant, work with legal and financial teams on wills, trusts and intergenerational wealth transfer.
• Wealth management associate, support private banking or investment advisory teams in banks and wealth management companies.
• Compliance and advice quality officer, review financial advice against regulatory standards inside licensees and dealer groups.