The Graduate Certificate in Finance is a versatile course. Consisting of four subjects, you may be introduced to business finance, upgrade your existing financial skills, or test out a masters program.
Are you interested in a postgraduate education in finance? That usually starts with a Graduate Certificate of Finance. The qualification is equivalent to the first stage of a masters degree. Completed units count as credit towards graduate diplomas and masters.
In Australia, Graduate Certificate in Finance online courses are designed for working professionals. Accelerated, 100% online courses allow you to study finance part-time while working full-time.
What Is a Graduate Certificate in Finance?
A Graduate Certificate in Finance is a flexible finance course for people who: (a) already have a degree of some kind; or (b) lack a degree but have professional experience in business, banking or finance. A graduate certificate essentially samples a master's program.
You can use the course to gain an introduction to finance or learn specialist skills. You can also think of a Grad Cert in Finance as the start of a finance degree. The course consists of just four subjects, and takes eight months of part-time study. Keep studying for a graduate diploma (8 subjects total) or finance masters (12 subjects).
Although the course is relatively short, you earn a postgraduate university qualification. A grad cert is Level 8 in the Australian Qualifications Framework, making it equal with a graduate diploma and ranking higher than a bachelor degree at Level 7.
A Grad Cert in Finance may be introductory and suitable for candidates without a strong finance background. Entry standards are often more relaxed than for a master's program, making the course a pathway to a master's degree. Alternatively, some courses are designed to be flexible, allowing business professionals to build skills in specialist financial areas.
Applied Finance
If you're intent on building job-ready financial skills, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance may be the ideal postgraduate course. The emphasis in applied finance courses is on being industry relevant. You learn knowledge, skills and tools that professionals apply, combined with hands-on training tasks.
Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance at UNSW Online
The 100% online Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance from UNSW is an introductory course that forms part of an applied finance master's program. You don't need a business degree to join. Students learn core concepts and principles to do with the financial management of organisations. You apply knowledge to real-world examples, helping you to appreciate how financial concepts can be used to shape business decisions. The 4-subject course can be completed in as little as 8 months of accelerated study, with students moving onto a new subject every 2 months. Topics include corporate finance, investing, and international finance.
Financial Technology
Gain skills to capture technology opportunities in the finance sector with a Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology. The unmet demand for FinTech skills is enormous, making this education investment one with high potential payoffs. You can use the 4-subject course to build specific skills and knowledge and as a platform for further learning.
Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology at UNSW Online
For working professionals interested in FinTech, the Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology from UNSW is the ideal development course. You can use the grad cert to gain advanced skills in certain areas or as a foundation for further training. Students are able to choose 4 subjects out of a selection of 10 from the masters program. Topics include technical tools for FinTech, data management, tech disruption, and robo-advisory and portfolio optimisation. After completing the course, you have the option to continue studying for a graduate diploma (8 units in total) or masters degree (12 units).
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
The four subjects you do are usually some combination of core subjects and elective units. At UNSW Online, every finance postgraduate student takes Corporate Finance, International Finance, and Investments. Elective choices include Derivatives, Equity Valuation, Ethics and Professional Standards, and Private Equity and Venture Capital.
You'll learn how modern investments work in this course. Students explore how to evaluate investment strategies, the risk-return relationship, and the changing landscape of investment management. You'll also survey different financial markets and review instruments to allocate funds and hedge against risk.
Specific topics include quantifying risk and returns, pricing risk, designing portfolios, valuing equities and fixed-income assets, and hedging using derivatives. The main goal is to prepare you for the challenges markets present.
Multinational firms, both with Australian and overseas roots, account for large shares of employment and economic activity in Australia. The financial activities in these companies extend beyond those of local-only businesses. In this course, students build a detailed understanding of international finance concepts. You'll also learn how to apply theory with practical data analysis and scenario-based studies.
Data exercises and real-world examples feature in course materials, including weekly activities and assessments.
The program explores international monetary policy, foreign exchange markets, and exchange rate determinants. Students adopt a transaction-level perspective to develop hedging strategies that account for movements in exchange and interest rates. You'll also examine decision-making and methods of finance and investment in international markets.
In this subject, you'll learn concepts and tools for solving the real-world financial problems that companies face. Students examine financing, valuing businesses, optimising the capital structure, and payout policies among other topics.
Career Opportunities
Although it's just four subjects, a finance grad cert opens up job opportunities. Earning a postgraduate qualification in finance demonstrates a level of financial expertise and looks good on your resume.
Even without further study, you can build on this education foundation through work experience and self-learning. Entry-level through to specialist and high-level roles are potentially available.
Finance is core business skill that makes you potentially valuable in any organisation. Firms need to make decisions around borrowing, lending, investing, remunerating employees, capital allocation, etc. Some of the main employers of finance graduates include:
- Accounting companies
- Banks and financial institutions
- Financial technology firms
- Investment and financial advisory firms
- Public service agencies
- Wealth management companies.
Graduates may work in as financial specialists or use finance skills as part of their job. Managers and executives often find value in having strong financial literacy. Here are examples of the career opportunities.
Advisory professional
Banker
Broker
Compliance manager
Corporate finance manager
Credit manager
Credit risk analyst
Economist
Finance dealer
Finance director
Finance manager
Financial analyst
Financial controller
Financier
Fintech manager
Fund manager
General Manager
Head of Finance
Hospital Administrator
Investment adviser
Mortgage broker
Office Manager
Portfolio manager
Practice Manager
Risk management specialist
Risk manager
Senior Payroll Officer
Stockbroker
Treasurer
Working capital specialist
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements vary by university. A relevant degree is generally a sufficient qualification. In some cases, any degree will suffice. Without a degree, you need to provide evidence of relevant professional experience. Here are examples of course admission requirements.
To be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance, you need a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline OR at least 3 years of work experience related to business, banking or finance.
Fully online courses are unsuitable for international students wishing to study in Australia on a student visa.
FEE-HELP loans are automatically available for eligible Australian students. Study now and pay back tuition fees gradually based on your annual taxable income.
At the time of publishing, the indicative fee for this course in 2023 is $18,600 for both domestic students and international students.
To be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology, you need a bachelor degree (any discipline) OR at least 5 years of work experience related to banking, finance or technology.
If your first language is not English, you'll need proof of English proficiency in order to receive a study offer. You may provide evidence that you meet one or more of the following entry criteria: English language tests and university English courses, Prior study in the medium of English, Other qualifications, or English waivers.
Articulation pathways exist to the Graduate Diploma and Masters program if you complete this course with a minimum WAM of 65.
The indicative fee for this course in 2023 is $18,600 for both domestic and international students.
FAQs
A Master of Applied Finance is a high-value degree that can pay for itself quickly by increasing your earning potential. A grad cert is a stepping stone to this qualification.
A great advantage of postgraduate studies is that you often get to decide how much study to do. Most postgrad students already have a university degree, so they have nothing to prove in terms of slogging it out to earn a degree.
By doing a four-subject grad cert in finance, you gain a university-level qualification in the field. That may be all you want and worth it by itself.
But you may want to go further, both for professional development and to gain a higher qualification. A Master of Applied Finance provides a tremendous skills and knowledge platform for people who want to specialise in business finances, financial management and organisational leadership.
Hopefully, you'll know if you want to convert your grad cert into a master's degree by the time you finish the short course. Students who adapt well to online study often find it relatively easy to keep going. With good study habits in place, there's no reason why you can't build on the four subjects already completed and finish a 12-subject masters.
For information about Master of Applied Finance programs, see this masters course page.
If your intention is to continue in the finance industry, unsurprisingly we'd recommend that you look at doing a grad cert. The reality is that an undergraduate degree in finance, while providing a foundation for a career in the sector, is far from comprehensive training. You can consolidate on your previous studies and branch out into areas such as FinTech with a grad cert. And you have the option to continue on to complete a masters.
Beyond university education, self-learning and short courses are other options for professional development. Every career in the financial sector is different and you'll inevitably discover knowledge gaps as you progress.
If you're confident in your technical skills but are looking to move into management ranks, then a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a good option as well. You can usually start with a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration or similar short postgraduate business course. The program will provide general management training to help you become a better manager, in part by improving your fluency in talking about management issues.
