Postgraduate Diploma in Finance (PGDF)

Course Overview Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Finance should have the capacity to work in professional practice by applying the specialist financial knowledge that this course aims to provide. The course is designed for students with a pre-existing Bachelor of Commerce (or equivalent) to undertake a broader and more comprehensive training in finance than is feasible within an undergraduate degree.
Graduate Category Postgraduate
Graduate Attributes
Objectives In particular this course aims to provide graduates with:
  • Extensive applications of finance theory;
  • Detailed knowledge of the operations and activities of financial markets;
  • A practical and career-oriented program;
  • An understanding of financial management principles and their application to corporate financial policy;
  • A comprehensive understanding of Australian and international financial markets;
  • A comprehensive knowledge of derivative assets and the operation of the markets in these assets; and
  • An applied knowledge of various specialised aspects of the finance industry.

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • Identify and apply fundamental principles of finance;
  • Identify, critically evaluate and interpret financial decision problems;
  • Analyse new and ever changing financial issues;
  • Analyse and synthesise financial data within a constantly evolving financial environment;
  • Describe the significance and value of their knowledge gained to the wider community (including business and the financial industry); and
  • Apply a knowledge of computer systems and software where appropriate to the study of finance.

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate the following attributes and skills:

  • Oral and written communication;
  • Time management, particularly in relation to competing deadlines;
  • Team work, which should be fostered through self-directed project work;
  • Using computer systems and software;
  • Problem solving; and
  • Analysis and synthesis of information.
Generic Skills
Career Options
Subjects
Stream Description The Diploma consists of eight semester length subjects comprising five core finance subjects and three elective subjects.
Stream Structure Five core subjects:

Select ONE of the following two subjects:

Course Stream Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
316-806  Quantitative Analysis of Finance IThis course is concerned with the application of quantitative tools to model, estimate and forecast financial variables. Topics considered include: the analysis of the properties of financial data (such as non-normality and non-stationarity); the app... 1 12.500
316-449  Financial EconometricsThis subject presents an econometric treatment of topics in finance. Normally the finance topics will include portfolio theory, capital asset pricing models, arbitrage pricing theory, efficient markets hypothesis, covered interest parity, term struct... 2 12.500

Select ONE of the following two subjects:
Course Stream Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
306-660  Accounting for Decision MakingThis subject is designed to enable students to be informed users of accounting information of all types. It is divided into three parts. The first part of the subject covers the basic concepts in accounting and the terminology used by accountants. Th... Summer, 1, 2 12.500
306-610  Financial Statement AnalysisAn examination of the role of financial statement information and analysis in the evaluation of the current profitability, liquidity and riskiness of public companies, and the prediction of their future condition by parties external to the firm. Topi... 1 12.500

Select ONE of the following two subjects:

Course Stream Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
333-810  Financial SpreadsheetingThe following topics will be covered: Financial Applications using Excel: basic spreadsheeting skills, functions and the function wizard, worksheet formatting and graphics. Financial problem solving tools: Solver, Goalseek and the Analysis Toolpak. D... Semester 2 12.50
333-403  Numerical Techniques in FinanceNumerical techniques focuses on the theory and application of numerical methods for solving financial problems. The applications may include option valuation, value at risk, term structure modelling, portfolio simulation and optimisation and capital ... 2 12.500

Select BOTH of the following subjects:

Course Stream Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
333-816  Financial Markets and InstrumentsThe structure of the financial system; terminology, trading and pricing of money and capital market instruments; duration, value at risk, financial market volatility; term structure of interest rates; inflation, interest rates and indexed securities;... 1 12.500
316-807  Economics of FinanceThis subject examines important features of financial markets, illustrating how economic analysis can aid understanding of those features. Topics considered may include: payments systems (drawing on network economics); security issuance techniques (d... 2 12.500


Three elective subjects chosen from:
Course Stream Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
333-811  Treasury ManagementThis subject consists of a structured reading program and assignments and a series of seminars presented by practitioners on various aspects of Treasury Management and related themes. Topics covered include issues such as treasury functions, internat... 2 12.500
333-815  Fundamentals of Portfolio Management 2 12.500
333-635  Public Sector Financial ManagementThe structure of public sector finances; public sector financial accounting; the budget process; cash management and loan raising; public trading enterprises efficiency and accountability; pricing policies; revenue raising; investment appraisal. 2 12.500
333-819  Project FinanceDefinitions and examples of project financing; analysis of the risks and potential returns associated with major projects; participants involved in projects financing deals - financing techniques used in project finance; case studies of specific proj... 1 12.500
333-820  Property Investment, Development FinanceThis subject presents the principles, concepts and methods needed to analyse an investment in an existing property, to analyse a potential property development and to raise private and public debt or capital for property investment. Discounted cash f... 1 12.500

Other fourth year (level four), Masters (level six) or Postgraduate Diploma (level eight) subjects as approved by the Academic Director of the program.
Duration A full-time candidate should complete the course in two consecutive semesters (one year), taking four subjects in each semester. A part-time candidate should complete the course in four consecutive semesters (two years), taking two subjects in each semester.
Further Study
Admission Requirements The minimum entry requirement is an undergraduate degree of good academic standard with some studies in finance (or its equivalent).
Faculty Economics and Commerce
Notes If 333-301 Investments and 333-302 Corporate Finance or equivalent subjects have not previously been taken, these must be included in the course of study (and taken in the first semester).

No more than 25 points (usually two subjects of 12.5 points each) can be chosen from subjects at third year (level three) and are subject to the approval of the Academic Director of the program.

A maximum of two Master of Commerce (Finance) subjects (level six) can be included as part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Finance.

Students wishing to progress to the Master of Financial Management must apply for progression in writing (addressed to the Faculty Professional Programs Office) towards the end of their last semester of enrolment in the Postgraduate Diploma in Finance.

Students must pass all eight subjects to qualify for the Postgraduate Diploma in Finance

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