As the field of fintech grows, and methods of delivering financial services constantly evolve, it is becoming increasingly important for finance professionals to keep up. Proper education and understanding of financial principles are key to a successful career in finance.
If you’re wondering if Australia is a good study destination for a finance degree, we’re here to help. From the benefits of studying finance here to the best Australian universities in this subject and the costs of degrees, this article will cover everything you need to know.
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Benefits of Studying Finance in Australia
With an advanced financial services sector and conveniently positioned as a centre of the Asia-Pacific region, Australia is an ideal destination for aspiring finance professionals and students.
Apart from the steady financial sector, you’ll find that Australia is also known for its high-quality education, with nine Australian universities ranking among the best 100 global universities in the subject of accounting & finance. These universities offer some of the finest curricula, campuses, facilities, and student support services.
If you want to join the Australian labour market, post-graduate work opportunities for finance professionals in Australia are quite promising. According to Labour Market Insights, employment in the sector of financial and insurance services is predicted to grow by 33,200 jobs until November 2026.
Roles such as Financial Investment Advisers and Managers and Financial Brokers are expected to grow the most, by 10.7% and 14.2%, respectively. This indicates that jobs won’t be scarce; you can expect to find a role that suits you and pays well.
Careers with a Finance Degree
A university degree in finance prepares you for a variety of roles in the financial industry. With skills such as analytical thinking, good communication, accounting techniques, budgeting, and more, a finance degree paves the way for different roles in finance such as:
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Adviser
- Banker
- Accountant
- Budget Analyst
- Chief Financial Officer
- Portfolio Manager
- Investment Banker
- Stockbroker
- Insurance Agent
Entry Requirements for Finance Degrees in Australia
When you are ready to apply for a finance degree in Australia, you must meet general admission requirements and certain prerequisites that vary from one university to another, as well as from the level of studies. Before you apply to your chosen university and program, carefully check the requirements and prerequisites on their website or by contacting them directly.
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
General entry requirements and prerequisites for finance degrees in Australian universities include a good level of English proficiency and mathematics knowledge. For example, the University of Melbourne lists Units 3 & 4 English minimum 30 and Mathematical Methods/Specialist Mathematics (or equivalent) as their main prerequisites for the Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major) program.
When it comes to English proficiency, you can also submit scores from accepted tests such as the IELTS, with requirements typically being 6.5 to 7.0 overall scores with a minimum of 6.0 scores in each band. To apply to a bachelor’s degree program, you must also submit proof of completion of the Australian Year 12 or equivalent.
Postgraduate Degree Requirements
For finance master’s degree programs, English proficiency and mathematics knowledge requirements are similar, however, you should keep in mind that these programs are more competitive.
Most programs at the top Australian universities require you to have completed a recognised bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field, and a credit average ranging from 65 to 75% or higher.
Some universities also require or accept satisfactory GMAT scores (630+) in combination with work experience in finance if you hold a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field of study.
Cost of Finance Degrees in Australian Universities
As an international student, you can expect to pay more than domestic students in Australia. However, international student fees at Australian universities are relatively cheaper than universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.
How much you will pay for your finance degree depends on which university you attend and the type of program you choose.
- In general, fees for undergraduate finance degrees at the top Australian universities for finance can range between AUD 42,816 per year to AUD 49,500 per year.
- Finance master’s degree fees at these universities can range from AUD 44,144 per year to AUD 54,000 per year.
Here is the full list of 2023 fees for finance undergraduate programs at the best Australian universities for finance:
| University | Degree | Cost |
| The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major) | AUD 45,340 per year |
| The University of Melbourne | Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major) | AUD 46,000 per year |
| The University of Sydney | Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major) | AUD 49,500 per year |
| Monash University | Bachelor of Finance | AUD 49,200 per year |
| Australian National University (ANU) | Bachelor of Finance | AUD 46,680 per year |
| The University of Queensland | Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours) | AUD 45,968 per year |
| University of Technology Sydney | Bachelor of Business (Finance major) | AUD 42,816 per year |
These are the 2023 fees for finance master’s degree programs at the best Australian universities for finance:
| University | Degree | Cost |
| The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | Master of Finance | AUD 48,700 per year |
| The University of Melbourne | Master of Finance | AUD 50,432 per year |
| The University of Sydney | Master of Commerce (Finance specialisation) | AUD 54,000 per year |
| Monash University | Master of Advanced Finance | AUD 50,000 per year |
| Australian National University (ANU) | Master of Finance | AUD 46,680 per year |
| The University of Queensland | Master of International Economics and Finance | AUD 44,144 per year |
| University of Technology Sydney | Master of Finance | AUD 46,704 per year |
Finance Degree Program Structures and Duration
Planning ahead is crucial when deciding to enrol in a finance degree program in Australia. While the structure of a finance degree varies depending on the level of studies and the university you choose, there are several universal components that you’ll find in most programs.
The duration of your studies can range between three to four years if you’re enrolled full-time in a bachelor’s degree program and one and a half to two years in a master’s degree program.
A common curriculum structure for finance degrees includes foundation knowledge courses, specialist discipline knowledge courses, a capstone or internship section, and a portion of elective courses.
Here are some sample courses that can be part of your finance bachelor’s degree program:
- Introductory Econometrics
- Introductory Microeconomics
- Introductory Macroeconomics
- Modelling in Finance
- Finance and Society
- Quantitative Methods
- Principles of Finance
- Corporate Finance
- International Finance
- Debt Markets and Fixed Income Securities
- Investments
If you enrol in a finance master’s degree program, these are some of the courses that you may expect to take:
- Financial Theory and Policy
- Quantitative Analysis of Finance
- Financial Markets and Instruments
- Foundations and Applications of Fintech
- Applied Risk Management
- Financial Technology
- Financial Statements and Reporting
- Advanced Corporate Finance
- Advanced Investments
- Financial Mathematics
Best Universities to Study Finance in Australia
Just like they do in many other fields of study, a good number of Australian universities rank among the best 100 global universities for finance and accounting. If you plan to study finance in Australia, these are the universities that are renowned for their choices and quality of finance degrees:
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
Ranked first in Australia for accounting and finance, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) offers a large number of undergraduate and graduate programs in finance. Here are some of your choices at UNSW Sydney:
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) (Finance major)
- Bachelor of Economics (Finance major)
- Graduate Certificate in Commerce (Finance electives)
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance
- Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
- Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
- Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance
- MBAX (Finance)
- Master of Finance
- Master of Financial Analysis
- Master of Applied Finance
- Master of Commerce (Finance specialisation)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Banking & Finance
The University of Melbourne
Constantly ranking among the top global universities in numerous subjects, the University of Melbourne is also renowned for its excellent Faculty of Business and Economics and its high-quality finance programs:
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major)
- Graduate Diploma in Tax
- Graduate Certificate in Business
- Master of Finance
- Master of Finance (Enhanced)
- Master of Management (Accounting and Finance)
- Master of Management (Finance)
- Master of Tax
- Doctoral Program in Decision, Risk and Financial Sciences
- Doctoral Program in Finance
The University of Sydney
Spanning 170 years since its founding, the University of Sydney is another globally-recognized Australian university with a wide range of programs in the field of finance:
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Economics major)
- Bachelor of Economics (Finance major)
- Bachelor of Economics (Financial Economics major)
- Bachelor of Project Management (Finance major)
- Graduate Diploma in Commerce
- Graduate Certificate in Commerce
- Master of Commerce (Finance specialisation)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Business)
- Master of Philosophy (Business)
Monash University
Monash University is constantly focused on addressing local and global challenges through its research and education efforts. As such, it ranks among the best universities in Australia in finance, among other study fields. Some of the undergraduate and postgraduate finance degrees at Monash include:
- Bachelor of Finance
- Bachelor of Banking and Finance
- Bachelor of Commerce (Banking and Finance major)
- Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance major)
- Master of Advanced Finance
- Master of Banking and Finance
- Master of Commerce
- Doctor of Philosophy (Banking and Finance)
Australian National University (ANU)
Located in Australia’s vibrant capital, Canberra, the Australian National University (ANU) offers an exceptional student experience through its top-notch facilities and its extensive list of programs. At ANU, you can choose from a wide range of finance degrees, diplomas, and certificates:
- Bachelor of Finance
- Bachelor of Finance (Honours)
- Bachelor of Finance, Economics and Statistics (Honours)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major)
- Graduate Certificate of Finance and Actuarial Statistics
- Graduate Diploma of Business
- Master of Finance
- Master of Applied Finance
- Master of Financial Management
- Master of Financial Economics
The University of Queensland
Home to 12,000 current students and 80,000 alumni, the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Business, Economics & Law offers outstanding finance programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels:
- Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major)
- Bachelor of Advanced Business (Finance major)
- Graduate Diploma in Financial Mathematics
- Graduate Certificate in Commerce
- Master of Commerce (Applied Finance)
- Master of International Economics and Finance
- Master of Global Management (International Economics and Finance specialisation)
- Master of Philosophy
- Doctor of Philosophy
University of Technology Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a young and modern university with a great Business School and Finance department. This institution currently offers a comprehensive list of undergraduate and postgraduate finance study programs:
- Bachelor of Business (Finance major)
- Graduate Diploma in Finance
- Graduate Diploma in Financial Analysis
- Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
- Graduate Certificate in Finance
- Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis
- Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
- Master of Finance
- Master of Finance (Extension)
- Master of Financial Analysis
- Master of Financial Planning
- Master of Business (Research)
- Doctor of Philosophy
Deciding to study abroad in Australia to complete your finance degree will broaden your horizons and give you a new perspective on how the country operates from a financial aspect. Apart from that, you’ll get the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world and develop valuable friendships that can last a lifetime.
