Bachelor of Business Professional Practice(Financial Planning)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

RMIT University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Business Professional Practice (Financial Planning) at RMIT University is a four-year degree designed for students who want to build expertise in financial advice while gaining substantial professional industry experience. Delivered at RMIT's Melbourne City Campus, the program combines business fundamentals, accredited financial planning studies, and a dedicated year of professional practice to prepare graduates for careers in wealth management, retirement planning, investment advisory, and financial consulting.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish a strong business foundation through subjects such as Understanding the Business Environment, Business Decision Making, and Business in Society. Alongside these core business studies, students begin developing financial literacy through Personal Wealth Management and Financial Markets and Institutions, gaining insight into investment markets and personal finance.

Year 2: The second year focuses on specialised financial planning knowledge. Through subjects including Taxation 1, Managerial Advisory Finance, Superannuation and Retirement, and Risk, Insurance and Social Security, students learn how financial advisers help clients manage wealth, retirement savings, taxation obligations, and risk management strategies.

Year 3: Students advance into complex financial planning areas through courses such as Company and Finance Law, Wealth Creation and Estate Planning, and Equity Investment and Portfolio Management. They also complete Financial Advisory Practice, where they apply technical knowledge to realistic client scenarios and professional financial advice situations.

Year 4: The Professional Practice year allows students to integrate academic learning with workplace experience through industry placements and professional development activities. This immersive experience strengthens industry connections, develops practical consulting and advisory skills, and enhances graduate employability before entering the workforce.

Focus Areas: Personal financial planning, wealth management, taxation planning, estate planning, superannuation, retirement planning, investment management, portfolio analysis, insurance planning, financial advisory practice, business law, and client relationship management.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates develop the ability to assess client financial goals, analyse investment opportunities, construct wealth creation strategies, provide retirement and superannuation advice, evaluate financial risks, apply relevant legal and regulatory requirements, and deliver professional financial recommendations that support long-term financial wellbeing.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The Financial Planning major is a recognised and accredited pathway aligned with Australian financial adviser education requirements. Students who complete the Financial Planning major together with the Financial Planning and Tax minor meet the approved degree requirements for aspiring financial advisers and can work towards membership with the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA).

Reputation (Employability Rankings): RMIT is internationally recognised for industry-connected education and practical learning. The Professional Practice model provides students with extensive workplace experience before graduation, while RMIT consistently ranks among Australia's leading universities for employer reputation and graduate employability in global university rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Business Professional Practice (Financial Planning) at RMIT University is built around real-world industry engagement, ensuring students graduate with both academic knowledge and professional experience. Throughout the degree, students apply financial planning concepts to authentic business challenges, participate in industry-connected projects, complete professional practice experiences, and develop practical skills in client advisory services, investment planning, taxation, superannuation, estate planning, and risk management. The program's distinctive Professional Practice component allows students to gain extensive workplace experience while building industry networks and professional confidence:

Professional Practice Year: Students complete up to 96 credit points of Professional Practice between Years 2 and 4, which may include internships, professional apprenticeships, industry placements, and workplace-based learning experiences with industry partners.
Virtual Internship Experience: The program includes an introductory virtual internship through Impact Academy, allowing students to experience professional business environments and workplace projects before undertaking advanced industry engagement.
Industry Projects: Students participate in RMIT's award-winning industry project program, working directly with organisations to solve genuine business problems and provide consulting-style recommendations.
Financial Planning Practice: Through the Financial Planning major, students develop practical skills in personal financial planning, taxation-effective investment planning, superannuation strategies, retirement planning, insurance advice, estate planning, and risk-profile analysis using industry-relevant case studies and client scenarios.
Industry Engagement Opportunities: Learning activities regularly involve interaction with businesses, government organisations, community groups, and industry professionals through projects, placements, and professional networking opportunities.
Collaborative Group Projects: Many business subjects incorporate team-based projects where students work together to analyse business issues, develop financial strategies, and present recommendations to industry stakeholders.
Digital Learning Tools: Students utilise contemporary business technologies, online collaboration platforms, professional presentation tools, financial analysis resources, and digital business systems that reflect current workplace practices.
RMIT Library Resources: Students have access to extensive business databases, financial market information, research journals, industry reports, digital collections, and academic support services through RMIT's library network.
Industry Mentoring and Career Development: Professional development subjects focus on career planning, workplace wellbeing, professional identity building, networking, communication, leadership, and employability skills sought by financial services employers.
Melbourne City Campus Business Environment: Located in the heart of Melbourne's financial and business district, students benefit from close proximity to financial institutions, professional services firms, industry events, and networking opportunities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Business Professional Practice (Financial Planning) at RMIT University are equipped with specialised financial planning expertise alongside extensive industry experience gained through professional practice opportunities. This combination prepares graduates for careers as Financial Planner, Wealth Management Adviser, Retirement Planning Consultant, Investment Adviser, and Financial Services Consultant across banking, wealth management, superannuation, and advisory organisations. The program's strong industry engagement and accredited curriculum provide a solid foundation for long-term professional success:

University Services for Employability: RMIT's Professional Practice model integrates industry projects, virtual internships, professional apprenticeships, work placements, and direct engagement with industry, government, community organisations, research centres, and start-up networks. Students also complete an award-winning industry consulting project where they work directly with organisations to solve real business challenges, helping them develop practical experience and professional networks before graduation.
Employment Statistics & Salary: RMIT reports that business graduates are prepared for a broad range of professional roles across finance, consulting, and business sectors. Entry-level business and finance-related positions typically commence with salaries ranging from AUD $70,000–$85,000 per year, with experienced financial planning and wealth management professionals often progressing to significantly higher earnings as they build expertise and client portfolios.
University–Industry Partnerships: The Bachelor of Business Professional Practice is built around meaningful industry engagement. Students work with industry partners, government agencies, community organisations, research centres, and start-up support networks through projects, placements, apprenticeships, and experiential learning activities integrated throughout the degree.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The Financial Planning major is a recognised and accredited program aligned with Australia's financial adviser education requirements. Students work towards meeting the educational standards required for professional financial planning practice and Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) membership, providing long-term professional recognition and career mobility within the financial services sector.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop expertise in personal financial planning, taxation-effective investment strategies, estate planning, superannuation, retirement planning, insurance advice, risk profiling, and investment planning. Combined with professional practice experience, graduates leave with highly transferable skills in communication, leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, adaptability, and professional decision-making.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this degree, graduates can continue their studies through postgraduate programs such as the Master of Finance, Master of Financial Planning, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Commerce, or other specialised business and financial services qualifications. These advanced studies can support progression into senior advisory, wealth management, executive leadership, and specialist financial consulting roles while strengthening professional credentials within the financial services industry.