Master of Applied Finance

Covering a wide range of applied finance topics, this specialized master’s course leads to careers in corporate banking and finance, stock market trading, insurance, investment management and other areas of applied finance.

You will study under the guidance of experienced Finance professionals, including professors who have served on the Commonwealth Government Superannuation Roundtable, acted as expert witnesses in court cases, and developed an Equity Preference Index in partnership with Colonial First State.

About The Course

The Master of Applied Finance is a practical course designed both for graduates already working in the finance sector, as well as those with a non-finance background who wish to move into the finance area.

The curriculum complements the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program, with topics including risk management, capital markets, and international finance. Candidates preparing for the CFA qualification are encouraged to enroll in the Master of Applied Finance as a preparatory course.

Course Structure

Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units.

Conversion

Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent as recognized by the Faculty must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group, as advised by the Faculty. Graduate Certificate in Finance graduates that have not completed a Bachelor of Commerce but have completed ACCT5432 Introductory Financial Accounting (or equivalent) will be required to complete three (3) conversion units, as advised by the Faculty.

• ACCT5432 Introductory Financial Accounting (6)
• ECON5541 Economics for Business: Applications and Policy (6)
• MGMT5504 Data Analysis and Decision Making (6)
• MGMT5610 Applied Professional Business Communications (6)

Core

Take all units (48 points):

• ECON5506 The Economics of Financial Markets (6)
• FINA5520 Risk Management and Financial Instruments (6)
• FINA5521 Quantitative Methods in Finance (6)
• FINA5524 Trading and Markets (6)
• FINA5525 Capital Markets (6)
• FINA5526 Funds Management (6)
• FINA5527 Private Wealth Management and Venture Capital (6)
• LAWS5176 Australian Financial Transactions Law and Regulation (6)

Option - Finance major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:

• FINA5529 Topics in Finance (6)
• FINA5531 Fixed Income Securities (6)
• FINA5532 Behavioural Finance (6)
• FINA5888 Financial Planning (6)

Option - Non-Finance major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:

• FINA5523 Financial Statement Analysis and Business Valuation (6)
• FINA5533 Finance Essentials (6)
• FINA5631 International Financial Analysis (6)
• FINA5632 Investments (6)

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a)(i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognized by UWA; and either

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 percent; or

(iii) a valid Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score of at least 5501; or

(iv) at least five years of relevant documented professional experience considered by UWA to be sufficient to permit satisfactory completion of the course;

or

(b) a UWA graduate certificate which articulates with this course with a weighted average mark of at least 65 percent;

or

(c) a graduate certificate or equivalent from an equivalent and accredited course from another institution with a weighted average mark of at least 70 percent;

or

(d) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognized by UWA; and

(i) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 percent; and

(ii) successful completion of the UWA Pre-Master's Program in Business with a weighted average mark of at least 60 percent (for applicants with an overall IELTS score of at least 6 with no band less than 5.5); or

(iii) successful completion of the UWA Pre-Master's Program in Business with a weighted average mark of at least 60 percent; and

(iv) successful completion of a ten-week CELT course (minimum B+) (for applicants with an overall IELTS score of at least.5 with no band less than 5.0);

or

(e) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognized by UWA; and

(i) successful completion of the UWA Pre-Master's Program in Business with a weighted average mark of at least 60 percent; and

(ii) successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Commerce with a weighted average mark of at least 65 percent (for applicants with an overall IELTS score of at least 6 with no band less than 5.5); or

(iii) successful completion of the UWA Pre-Master's Program in Business with a weighted average mark of at least 60 percent; and

(iv) successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Commerce with a weighted average mark of at least 65 percent; and

(v) successful completion of a ten-week CELT course (minimum B+) (for applicants with an overall IELTS score of at least 5.5 with no band less than 5.0);

1 GMAT is valid for 5 years

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Career Pathways

Applied Finance graduates are in demand across a range of industries such as consulting, corporate finance, financial planning, financial risk management, funds management, insurance, and investment banking.

Graduate Careers Australia lists the financial services industry as the fourth largest sector of the Australian economy, accounting for more than eight percent of GDP and employing nearly 400,000 people.

Major employers include firms such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, investment banks such UBS and Macquarie Group, private equity firms, and superannuation fund managers.

Course Accreditation

UWA Business School is accredited internationally by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. AACSB is a worldwide, not-for-profit membership organization of educational institutions, businesses and other entities devoted to the advancement of management education.

Quick Details

Status

• Available 2018

Locations

• Perth

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Delivery

• On-campus

Starting dates

• Semester 1, Semester 2

Weekly contact time

• The estimated time commitment is 12 hours per unit which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.

Level of study

• Postgraduate

Course Code

• 42560

CRICOS code

• 083270B

Full time/part time duration

• 2 years

Degrees course is available in

• Master of Applied Finance - Coursework

Why choose UWA

Explore our campuses and facilities, get to know the history of our State’s oldest university and discover why a UWA degree can set you up for the careers of the future, not just the jobs of tomorrow.

We're proud to rank first in Western Australia and place in the Top 100 of universities globally.

No1 - Equal first overall for student demand and research

7 - Seven of our subjects are ranked in the world's Top 50

Top 100 - Ranked 96th in the Top 100 of universities around the world

Five reasons to study at UWA

Find out what inspires people to pursue their goals with us.

Vibrant student experience

Adjacent to the Swan River, our Perth campus is among the most picturesque in Australia with iconic sandstone buildings sitting among heritage-listed gardens. We’re just 10 minutes from Perth’s main shopping and business district and close to many of the city’s stunning beaches.

On campus, you’ll have an array of essential amenities to enjoy, including cafés, libraries, bookshops, a vibrant cultural precinct and tonnes of clubs and societies to join and experience student life to its fullest. Our supportive Student Guild means you can try your hand at volunteering, get independent advice on a range of matters or attend one of the many varied events on and off campus.

Innovative course structure

Whatever goals you may have, a UWA degree creates a world of possibilities. About 40 percent of today’s jobs won’t exist in 20 years’ time (CEDA, 2015), so we believe in better preparation for the careers of the future.

Our innovative course structure is the only one of its kind in WA and is based on a global model. It means you can pursue your interests and maximise your career opportunities at the same time. This flexibility sets you apart from the crowd and is key to future-proofing your career.

Rankings and ratings

We place equal first overall in Australia for student demand, graduate starting salaries, research intensity and research grants based on key measures in the Good Universities Guide 2016. The QS World Rankings has given us its highest rating possible – 5 Stars+ – and we rank in the top one percent of universities worldwide. Seven of our subject areas are ranked in the world’s Top 50, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Graduate outcomes

Your UWA degree is an investment in your future. Our graduates consistently exceed the national average starting salaries and State graduate employment rates. We celebrate strong industry partnerships, offering you practical, real-world experiences in addition to valuable professional networking opportunities. This hands-on learning approach is highly valued by employers and ensures you’re career-ready. Our alumni continue to inspire and bring about a positive impact on society.

Changing the world through research

As a research-intensive university, we’re part of the Group of Eight (a coalition of top research universities in the country) and one of only two Australian members of the Worldwide Universities Network. We’re also a foundation member of the Matariki Network of high-quality, research-intensive universities with a particular focus on student experience.

Over the years, we’ve continued to attract high-calibre, globally recognised staff, researchers and students, including our Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall, and we receive about 80 percent of all research funding to WA universities annually.

Industry connections

At UWA you'll not only study towards a degree but have the opportunity to gain valuable experience towards your future career.

Mentoring

Connect with an industry professional for one-on-one advice and develop your skills.

Not-for-credit experience

Our network of industry placements allows you to find uncredited placements.

Placement for credit

For-credit placements or practicums are arranged as part of your degree.