What is applied finance? Applied finance includes areas such as financial institutions, markets and instruments and financial practices such as banking, investment and risk management. It teaches methods of identifying and solving finance-related issues encompassing many different areas of finance including corporate finance, managerial finance, statistics, corporate governance and more. Applied finance graduates go on to provide financial services to businesses and high net worth individuals, and are often employed in fields such as investment and commercial banking, financial planning and venture capital, project finance, brokerage and risk management firms. The highest qualification in applied finance is a Master of Applied Finance, which is the industry’s premier graduate degree. Along with key economic principles and concepts, it teaches the use of analytical techniques, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address a variety of finance-related issues and challenges. It provides the skill set needed to help companies create value, invest wisely and manage risk, and allows graduates to pursue a career in finance anywhere in the world. Kaplan Professional offers a range of applied finance courses including; Master of Applied Finance Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance Graduate Certificate In Corporate Finance Business Valuation Specialisation NZX Limited Diploma What is a Master of Applied Finance? A Master of Applied Finance is the highest finance degree, delivering a qualification recognised throughout the finance sector in Australia and around the world. Delivered by expert industry practitioners, it focuses on real-world finance, while also providing a thorough grounding in economic theory. Along with the core subjects, the Master of Applied Finance can be studied with a choice of electives, depending on your career plans. If you’re already working in finance, it offers practical knowledge that can be directly applied to your own particular workplace. The Master of Applied Finance Course is an advanced level course for experienced professionals currently in finance or wanting to switch to the finance sector from another career. Appropriate prior learning and experience can help to reduce your overall study time. Successful completion of the Master of Applied Finance is a pathway to senior positions in finance. Kaplan Professional’s Master of Applied Finance is an online qualification regularly updated and refined in consultation with leading finance experts to ensure it includes the most up-to-date content. It teaches the specialist knowledge and skills needed to operate effectively in constantly changing financial markets, including quantitative analysis; a skill highly regarded in senior management positions. Kaplan Professional, a leading online education provider, offers high-quality education to more than 45,000 business professionals every year; including around 1,500 clients from banking and financial services. Individuals enjoy a user-friendly learning environment, supported by a dedicated Student Advice team. Kaplan Professional provides a flexible learning environment. Our unique six study period calendar allows individuals to study any subject at any time of the year, thanks to a choice of six separate intakes each year. To find out more about our Master of Applied Finance, contact us today at Kaplan Professional and talk to a Student Adviser. What is a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance? A Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance is an abbreviated version of the Master of Applied Finance. It provides an opportunity to specialise in a particular area of finance and can be a stepping stone towards completing the Master of Applied Finance if so desired. A course for experienced finance professionals wanting to further their skills and knowledge, it can be a pathway into some senior positions in a range of sectors including banking, corporate finance, stockbroking, venture capital and project finance. The graduate diploma provides participants with a solid grounding in the principles and practices of finance and introduces them to a range of new skills and analytical tools used in financial decision making. Kaplan Professional’s Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance gives you a choice of how you wish to study finance. Choose to follow a generalist pathway and study subjects that interest you most, or specialise in a particular area of financial practice. Kaplan Professional is a leading provider of online education in Australia, providing education solutions to over 45,000 students each year, including 1,500 corporate clients from the major banks and financial services sector. We offer a seamless study experience that utilises the latest interactive learning technologies and provides an extensive support network to all individuals, which includes a dedicated Student Advice team. We’re able to attract leading industry experts and finance professionals to curate and deliver our courses, which ensures individuals receive only current, practical and relevant learning that can be applied in their professional workplace. We offer a unique six study period calendar, which gives individuals the option to study any subject at any time of year, with a choice of six different intakes each year. If you’d like to learn more about our Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance, contact Kaplan Professional and speak to one of our Student Advisers. What is a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance? A Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance is an industry-relevant course for professionals who wish to further their careers by gaining a deeper understanding of financial principles and concepts. It offers a solid foundation in finance and business management. On graduating, individuals can choose to go on and study the Master of Applied Finance if they wish. Among other things, the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance teaches students how to: Apply finance theory to real-world issues Develop innovative solutions to financial problems Evaluate financial information and make valid judgments Explain key economic principles, financial markets and risk concepts Apply international standards and practices in a global context Comply with finance protocols by employing the codes of conduct and legislation used in the financial services industry Apply ethical considerations to a range of situations in financial services Kaplan Professional’s Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance gives you the essential knowledge and skills to: Launch your career, if you’re a graduate wanting to work in finance Get a foot in the door, if you’re a professional considering a career change Fill in your knowledge gaps, if you’re already working in finance and need to obtain specialist skills. At Kaplan Professional, we give over 45,000 professionals a year the online learning solutions they need. This includes approximately 1,500 clients from leading banks and financial service providers. They value our service because of the streamlined study experience we provide, which takes full advantage of the latest digital technologies. They also appreciate our extensive support network for individuals, which includes a dedicated Student Advice team who are a phone call or email away. Another thing that sets us apart is our ability to secure top industry experts to develop and deliver Kaplan Professional courses. We teach current, practical, relevant, real-world skills and knowledge that individuals can apply directly to their own workplaces. Kaplan Professional is a leading Australian provider of online study and we’re always thinking outside the box. This is why we offer our students a unique six study period calendar that allows them to study any subject all year round, with a choice of six different intakes. If you’d like to learn more about our Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance, feel free to get in touch with us at Kaplan Professional and talk to our Student Advice team. What is a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Finance? The Graduate Certificate in Corporate Finance provides individuals with a solid foundation in corporate financial theory and teaches the skills required to understand the processes behind corporate finance decisions. Indnviduals will learn the tools needed for corporate financial analysis and capital budgeting along with the ability to: Analyse financial statements and financial models Understand investment rules and make capital investment decisions Use econometric methods to analyse financial data Analyse industry trends and regulations. Students who successfully complete this graduate certificate will be prepared for corporate finance roles such as budgeting, project evaluation, international financing and short-term corporate funds investment. Kaplan Professional’s Graduate Certificate in Corporate Finance teaches individuals the advanced technical and specialist skills to commence or progress their career in the corporate finance industry. Along with key economic principles and financial market concepts, individuals will learn how to evaluate corporate financial management strategies and how to apply valuation techniques to a range of financial and business situations. As a leading provider of online education, Kaplan Professional provides high- quality learning solutions to more than 45,000 professionals a year; this includes some 1,500 corporate clients from banking and financial services. Our online study experience is very user-friendly and supported by a dedicated Student Advice team. Our academic reputation allows us to attract the industry’s leading experts to develop and present our course content, which allows individuals to be taught practical performance-based skills they can apply directly to their own workplace. Our unique six study period calendar provides complete study flexibility. Individuals can study any subject at almost any time, thanks to a choice of six intakes each year. To find out more about our Graduate Certificate in Corporate Finance, contact us at Kaplan Professional and have a chat with a member of our Student Advice team. What are the different specialisations of applied finance? Individuals completing an applied finance qualification can choose to specialise in a number of areas leading to a variety of roles such as: Risk advisor – works with companies to help reduce, manage and mitigate risk by improving processes in areas like audit, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, cyber security, and technology. Business analyst – analyses an organisation’s processes, systems and business model with the aim of helping them to implement innovations such as new technology in a cost-effective manner. Stockbroker – an investment broker who provides financial and investment management advice and services such as buying or selling stocks and other investments in exchange for a commission or fee. CFO (chief financial officer) – presents accurate and timely historical financial information on a company, oversees and addresses issues surrounding the capital structure of a company, and identifies efficiencies a company can capitalise on. Finance manager – produces financial reports regarding budgets, accounts and expenses, and develops long-term business plans based on these reports and strategies that will help to minimise financial risk. What is the difference between applied finance and financial planning? Applied finance and financial planning are different study streams serving different sectors of the finance market. Qualifications in applied finance teach methods of identifying and solving finance-related issues to those providing financial services to companies and high net worth individuals in areas such as banking, financial planning, project finance, brokerage and risk management. Kaplan Professional offers a number of Applied Finance courses, including: Master of Applied Finance – sought-after finance qualification with graduates going on to careers in banking, corporate finance, stockbroking, investment management and risk management. Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance – shortened version of the Master of Applied Finance offering the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of finance. Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance – offers a solid foundation in financial principles for professionals wishing to further their career or go on to the Master of Applied Finance. Graduate Certificate In Corporate Finance – a solid grounding in corporate financial theory and the skills needed to understand corporate financial decision-making. Qualifications in financial planning teach individuals how to advise people and families on matters such as superannuation, managed funds, insurance and investment, helping them to understand their circumstances and to achieve their financial goals. Following the recent Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) recommendations, financial planners in Australia now need to possess a higher education qualification. Kaplan Professional offers several higher degree programs, including: FAS-approved bridging courses – existing financial advisers may need to complete one or all of these to comply with FAS educational requirements. Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning – a qualification that can be used as a stepping stone to the Graduate Diploma or Master of Financial Planning pathway. Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning – a FAS-approved qualification comprising the first eight subjects of the Master of Financial Planning. Master of Financial Planning – the penultimate FAS-approved degree developed in consultation with industry experts. What is the difference between the Master of Applied Finance and completing the CFA® designation? A question many young professionals dreaming of a top finance role ask themselves is whether to do a Master of Applied Finance (MAppFin) or the CFA Institute’s Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) program. Both are highly desirable qualifications and have their strong points, so let’s take a look at each of them in more detail. The CFA Designation This is the world’s most recognised and highly-respected investment management designation, and is regarded as the key certification for investment professionals. However, it does require you to pass three rigorous six-hour exams over a space of several years, to have at least four years of professional work experience in the finance industry under your belt, and to join the CFA Institute and commit to their Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Master of Applied Finance This is the most highly sought-after finance degree, with graduates going on to take up senior roles in banking, corporate finance, stockbroking, investment management and risk management. Unlike the CFA designation, it provides a flexible career pathway for time-strapped professionals. That means you can study a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance to begin with, and then go on to complete your Master of Applied Finance at a later date. CFA-MAF Pathways A third option is to complete Kaplan Professional’s Master of Applied Finance and your CFA designation at the same time. If you’re able to do so, you’ll enjoy the following benefits: Up to six subject exemptions from Kaplan Professional’s Master of Applied Finance Maximum use of your study time, with many of Kaplan Professional’s subjects designed to encapsulate CFA learning outcomes The ability to plan your Master of Applied Finance study around your CFA exams, thanks to Kaplan Professional’s flexible online study and choice of six different study periods throughout the year. Learn more about the Master of Applied of Finance and CFA pathway here. Are there any entry requirements for Kaplan Professional applied finance qualifications? Each Kaplan Professional applied finance postgraduate qualification has individual entry requirements. Please refer to the relevant course pages for specific entry requirements. Alternatively, you can view a list of postgraduate course minimum entry requirements here. I am not sure what qualification is right for me. Can you help? Our experienced and knowledgeable Course Advice team is available to answer all your questions, whether they’re about available qualifications, enrolment dates, completion pathways or just general study advice. To get in touch, simply call 1300 135 798 (option 2) or email courseadvice@kaplan.edu.au. Once you’ve enrolled, our Student Advice team will be in regular contact with you throughout your studies. They’ll keep you up to date with important information and will be ready to help you with advice whenever you need it.