A stepping stone
Use this qualification to change the direction of your career.
The Graduate Diploma in Business Studies endorsed Personal Financial Planning provides a university-level education in financial planning. This satisfies the education requirements for becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM Professional.
The Graduate Diploma in Business Studies is useful if you wish to keep up with professional developments in your field. Or you may have found yourself working in a different field of business to that in which you hold a qualification.
This is an undergraduate diploma, designed for those who do not have a degree in the subject you wish to pursue. The graduate diploma is a bridging tool to gain the equivalent of an undergraduate major in a specific area. You can then go on to postgraduate study.
You need to be a university graduate to enrol in this programme.
It is a flexible qualification, with no core or compulsory subjects. You can tailor your study to your interests or needs.
CFPCM and its logo are registered certification marks and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM is a common law certification mark owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Financial Advice New Zealand is the marks licensing authority for the CFP Marks in New Zealand, through agreement with FPSB.
For those already working in the field, the diploma will give you additional skills and bring you up-to-date on theory and practice. It may also be useful if you have found yourself in a role outside of your key area of specialty and wish to upskill.
Brokerage firms
The graduate diploma is a bridging tool. You can gain the equivalent of an undergraduate major in a specific area so you can go on to postgraduate study in that area if you wish. Massey offers a wide range of postgraduate qualifications, from master’s to postgraduate diplomas. Find out more about our programmes in the programme list.
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
To enter the Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Personal Financial Planning) you will:
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
From the Schedule to the Graduate Diploma including:
EITHER: No Endorsement
At 200 level
At 300 level
From one endorsement
Electives from the Graduate Diploma Schedule
Ensure that overall you also have:
Attend contact workshops, block courses, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 110380 | Estate and Tax Planning | 15 |
| 125211 | The Financial Planning Process | 15 |
| 125220 | Financial Institutions and Markets | 15 |
| 125241 | Introduction to Investments | 15 |
| 125310 | Financial Advice Implementation | 15 |
| 125312 | Applied Personal Financial Management | 15 |
| 125340 | Investment Analysis | 15 |
| 125351 | Personal Risk Management | 15 |
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
All courses are offered via distance learning in either the first or second semester, or in Summer School. 125.211 The Financial Planning Process should be studied first as it is the introductory course.
No 100-level credits can be included in the Graduate Diploma.
You will be eligible to become a CFPCM CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM1after successfully completing the diploma and completing the following professional requirements:
All of these professional requirements may be concurrent with study towards the diploma.
1CFPCMand 
are registered certification marks and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM is a common law certification mark owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Financial Advice New Zealand Inc is the marks licensing authority for the CFP Marks in New Zealand, through agreement with FPSB.
Note: If you are studying in financial service and not currently an adviser in the sector you may apply for free Student Associate status with Financial Advice New Zealand at https://financialadvice.nz/apply-now/
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.
This qualification satisfies the education requirements for becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM professional.
Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 200 universities for accounting and finance.
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 300 universities for business and management.
Massey University is ranked #1 in New Zealand and in the top 150 universities globally for business administration and finance by ShanghaiRanking.
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.