Why Bachelor of Business (Financial Planning)?
Do you like numbers and working with people? Want a stable career with consistent demand? You might be made for financial planning.
With this flexible, 100% online degree, you can help people achieve financial independence, retire comfortably, and save for major milestones.
Our courses are relevant, practical, and informed by leading industry experts. You’ll get access to cutting-edge research in the field and learn from practising financial advisers. Grow your professional networks and build a formidable business portfolio. Be someone your clients can rely on.
You’ll graduate with in-demand knowledge and skills the financial planning industry is telling us they need
Overview
This flexible degree prepares you for today’s complex financial planning landscape. Developed specifically for online audiences, it sets you up to tackle real-world challenges and support clients of all kinds.
You'll study financial planning focused on the Australian environment, covering everything from tax and risk management to superannuation and estate planning. Learn how to meet client-specific needs despite complex regulatory requirements. Explore business intelligence and data analytics.
Develop crucial interpersonal skills. Understand how to help your clients reach short and long-term financial goals. Gain the essential educational requirements to practise as a financial planner.
Already employed? Apply your new insights immediately to elevate your current role and deliver better outcomes.
You’ll graduate with sought-after business knowledge and financial planning skills. Your expertise will be impactful, transferable and in demand. You’ll be ready for lucrative roles in financial planning, investment, insurance and estate planning.
Key features
Use this degree as a path into the Financial Advice Association of Australia’s (FAAA) CFP® Certification Program. - Practise developing financial and legal documentation in line with regulatory requirements.
- Study personal budgeting, investment, financial risk management, estate planning, superannuation and retirement planning.
- Get familiar with Australia’s most widely used financial planning software, Xplan.
- Gain the skills to prepare detailed financial plans and graduate as a qualified financial planner.
What you'll learn
Adelaide University’s 100% online Bachelor of Business (Financial Planning) is future-focused and industry-engaged, building digital literacy and adaptability. The first year focuses on core courses in business theory. Through discussions, case studies and assignments, you’ll get to grips with business fundamentals, including:
- Economics
- Accounting
- Business intelligence
- International business.
The Financial Planning specialisation focuses on practical, real-world learning, preparing you to stand out in the industry. You’ll build crucial skills in areas like:
- Personal budgeting
- Superannuation and retirement planning
- Investment management
- Financial risk management
- Insurance planning
- Tax planning.
You’ll learn how to use Xplan, Australia’s most widely used financial planning software – and prepare a client Statement of Advice.
You’ll get familiar with databases like Morningstar to research financial products. Analyse real-world case studies from major superannuation and investment firms, such as UniSuper, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds.
You’ll develop practical career planning strategies to boost your job prospects and help you reach your goals. Connect with professionals in the field, including the leading industry body, Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA).
Because we’ve designed this degree for online learning, you can plan your study to fit around your other responsibilities and progress at your own pace. You’ll have access to our interactive online environment and learning resources 24/7 and support will be available seven days a week.
Majors
The online Bachelor of Business is also available with majors in the following:
- Economics, Finance and Trade
- Human Resource Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Tourism, Events and Hospitality Management.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 132 units for Core courses, and
- 12 units for Electives
Complete 132 units comprising:
- 126 units from Core courses, and
- 6 units from Core selective courses
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
UO Accounting for Business
|
Course code
ACCT1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Financial Markets and Institutions
|
Course code
BAFI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Personal Finance
|
Course code
BAFI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Introduction to Financial Planning
|
Course code
BAFI2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Applied Financial Planning
|
Course code
BAFI3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Estate Planning
|
Course code
BAFI3009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Portfolio and Fund Management
|
Course code
BAFI3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Risk Management and Insurance
|
Course code
BAFI3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Superannuation
|
Course code
BAFI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Career Development in Business
|
Course code
BUSI1030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Management and Organisation
|
Course code
BUSI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Entrepreneurship for Social and Market Impact
|
Course code
BUSI2021
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Principles of Economics
|
Course code
ECON1010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Macroeconomics
|
Course code
ECON1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO International Business Environments
|
Course code
IBUS3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Business Intelligence
|
Course code
INFO2022
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Business Law
|
Course code
LAWS1018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Companies and Partnership Law
|
Course code
LAWS2012
|
Units
6
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Course name
UO Taxation Law 1
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Course code
LAWS3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Marketing Principles: Trading and Exchange
|
Course code
MARK1013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Quantitative Methods for Business
|
Course code
MATH1028
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
UO Strategic Management
|
Course code
BUSI3033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Strategic Financial Analysis
|
Course code
BUSI3034
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Units |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | |
|
Course name
Or program elective |
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
|
Units
6
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|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Or program elective - Business |
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
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|
Course name
|
Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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| Year 3 | |
|
Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Complete 12 units comprising:
- 6 units from Program electives, and
- 6 units from Program electives - Business
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
UO Critical Approaches to Online Learning
|
Course code
SOCI3014
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
UO Accounting for Business
|
Course code
ACCT1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Financial Accounting 1
|
Course code
ACCT1006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Financial Accounting 2
|
Course code
ACCT2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Management Accounting
|
Course code
ACCT2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Auditing Theory and Practice
|
Course code
ACCT3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Contemporary Issues in Accounting
|
Course code
ACCT3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Financial Accounting 3
|
Course code
ACCT3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Sustainability Accounting and Reporting
|
Course code
ACCT3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Financial Markets and Institutions
|
Course code
BAFI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Personal Finance
|
Course code
BAFI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Introduction to Financial Planning
|
Course code
BAFI2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Business Finance
|
Course code
BAFI2025
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Applied Financial Planning
|
Course code
BAFI3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Estate Planning
|
Course code
BAFI3009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Portfolio and Fund Management
|
Course code
BAFI3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Risk Management and Insurance
|
Course code
BAFI3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Superannuation
|
Course code
BAFI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO International Currency and Banking Markets
|
Course code
BAFI3013
|
Units
6
|
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|
Course name
UO Business and Society
|
Course code
BUSI1018
|
Units
6
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|
Course name
UO Exploring Digital Technology in Business
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Course code
BUSI1019
|
Units
6
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Course name
UO Introduction to Digital Disruption in Business
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Course code
BUSI1020
|
Units
6
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Course name
UO Career Development in Business
|
Course code
BUSI1030
|
Units
6
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Course name
UO Designing Digital Solutions
|
Course code
BUSI2014
|
Units
6
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Course name
Business International Study Tour
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Course code
BUSI2016
|
Units
6
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|
Course name
UO Organisational Behaviour
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Course code
BUSI2017
|
Units
6
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Course name
UO Management and Organisation
|
Course code
BUSI2019
|
Units
6
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|
Course name
UO Project Management: Principles and Strategies
|
Course code
BUSI2020
|
Units
6
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|
Course name
UO Entrepreneurship for Social and Market Impact
|
Course code
BUSI2021
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Digital Solution Methodologies
|
Course code
BUSI2023
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Digital Business Solutions
|
Course code
BUSI3025
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Digital Business Value
|
Course code
BUSI3026
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Managing the Employment Relationship
|
Course code
BUSI3028
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Strategic Human Resource Management
|
Course code
BUSI3029
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO International Management Ethics and Values
|
Course code
BUSI3030
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Managing Decision Making
|
Course code
BUSI3031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Organisational Leadership
|
Course code
BUSI3032
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Strategic Management
|
Course code
BUSI3033
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Strategic Financial Analysis
|
Course code
BUSI3034
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Organisational Entrepreneurship
|
Course code
BUSI3035
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Business Internship 30 Days
|
Course code
BUSI3036
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
UO Business Practicum
|
Course code
BUSI3037
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Solving Business Challenges
|
Course code
BUSI3040
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Virtual Industry Internship
|
Course code
BUSI3041
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Applying Digital Technologies in Business
|
Course code
BUSI5065
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Delivering Digital Transformation
|
Course code
BUSI5066
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Leading Digital Innovation
|
Course code
BUSI5067
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Prototyping a Digital Solution
|
Course code
BUSI5068
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Principles of Economics
|
Course code
ECON1010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Macroeconomics
|
Course code
ECON1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Economic Analysis of Business Decisions
|
Course code
ECON2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Empirical Business Analysis
|
Course code
ECON2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Growth Development and the Macroeconomy
|
Course code
ECON2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Economics of Public Policy
|
Course code
ECON3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO International Economics
|
Course code
ECON3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Fundamentals of Global Tourism & Hospitality
|
Course code
HOSP1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Eventful Cities and Event Leveraging
|
Course code
HOSP2006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Experiential Product Design for Tourism, Events and Hospitality
|
Course code
HOSP2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Foundations of Event Management
|
Course code
HOSP2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Managing Hospitality Operations
|
Course code
HOSP2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Digital Technologies in Tourism, Events and Hospitality
|
Course code
HOSP3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Sustainable Tourism Destination Management
|
Course code
HOSP3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Tourism, Events and Hospitality Industry Research Project
|
Course code
HOSP3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Consumer Behaviour
|
Course code
MARK1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Professional Development in Marketing
|
Course code
MARK1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Marketing Principles: Trading and Exchange
|
Course code
MARK1013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Public Relations: Theory and Practice
|
Course code
MARK1014
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Advertising
|
Course code
MARK2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Marketing Analytics
|
Course code
MARK2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Market Research
|
Course code
MARK2010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Retailing
|
Course code
MARK2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Marketing for Health and Wellbeing
|
Course code
MARK2012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Branding
|
Course code
MARK3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Essentials of Marketing Planning
|
Course code
MARK3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Integrated Marketing
|
Course code
MARK3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Digital Marketing
|
Course code
MARK3013
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Units |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | |
|
Course name
Or program elective |
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Or program elective - Business |
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
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Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
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Units
6
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Course name
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Units
6
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Career outcomes
Financial planners do so much more than manage investments. It’s a rewarding profession that helps people make smart money choices for their families and achieve financial independence.
As a financial planner, you’ll have plenty of career options. You could work at financial institutions, insurance funds, investment banks or financial advisory firms. You might choose self-employment and set up your own practice, using your new business insights to get off the ground. Perhaps you’ll specialise in tax planning, risk management or retirement planning.
You could also be a:
- Qualified financial planner or financial adviser
- Investment manager
- Insurance broker
- Estate planner
- Superannuation consultant
- Wealth manager
- Client relationship manager.
Or, continue to a master’s degree in business to broaden your career prospects.
Since January 2019, new national rules have required anyone wanting to become a financial planner to complete an accredited degree that includes approved study of ethics. The new rules also introduced extra professional requirements. As well as an approved degree, financial planners must complete a professional year including undertaking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and pass a national exam.
Industry trends
In 2021, the Australian financial services market was valued at over A$10.9 trillion, growing at a rate of 13.2% (Roy Morgan, 2023). The financial and insurance services industry is expected to employ more than 600,000 people by May 2033, with increasing demand for managers and skilled professionals (Job and Skills Australia, 2023).
According to Gartner’s Top 5 Priorities for CFOs (2024), 40% of finance roles will either be newly created or significantly changed by 2025 due to advancements in finance technology. This will drive demand for finance professionals with expertise in modern digital tools and technologies – a major focus in Adelaide University’s financial planning courses.
Accreditation
Adelaide University is working through relevant approvals for program accreditation.
Your study experience and support
Studying 100% online with Adelaide University means joining a dynamic community of learners – all supported by dedicated teams committed to your success. From day one to graduation, you’ll have access to comprehensive academic, student and technical support teams to ensure you get the most out of your online learning journey.
Student support services
Need help with enrolments, managing your study load, or setting your academic goals? Our student support team is here to assist. They’re your first point of contact for advice and are available seven days a week, including out-of-hours and on weekends. Get the help you need – when it suits you.
As an online student, you’ll also have access to our specialised on-campus student support services. Whether you’re looking for career advice, health and wellbeing support, international student assistance, accessibility services, or something else, we’ve got you covered. Visit the Support webpage to explore the services available.
Online academic support
From understanding course content to tackling assignments, writing, and referencing, our expert academics are here to guide you. Available seven days a week, they’ll provide personalised support to help you progress through your studies.
Tech support
We’ve got your back when it comes to technology. Our IT support team is available 24/7 to resolve any tech challenges you might face. With fast response times and tailored solutions, we’ll ensure nothing stands in your way. You’ll also enjoy free access to software downloads required for your program.
Study hours
Adelaide University’s 100% online programs offer the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. You can engage with course materials at any time that works for you – there’s no need to log in at set times. To stay on track, we recommend setting aside 10 to 15 hours per week for each course, but you can adapt your schedule and your study load to suit your needs.
Assessment
All assessments, including exams (if required) are conducted 100% online – so you’ll never need to travel to submit an assignment or sit an exam. Depending on your program, your assessments might include:
- An industry-relevant project or case study
- An online presentation
- Essays and reports.
