Question 1

Why should I study finance?

Accepted Answer

A finance degree opens a lot of doors. It will give you a broad perspective and it’s a good option if you’re not quite sure what kind of financial role you’d like to end up in, as the skills you’ll gain are quite transferable. And studying a finance course online gives you the freedom to learn how you want. Whether that’s between work shifts, after the kids go to bed, or on weekends.

Finance jobs also tend to pay well, with senior roles attracting an average salary of over $100,000 a year according to the Hays Salary Guide.

It can also be a great career choice if you’d like to travel, too. Finance professionals are in demand the world over—meaning you could one day end up working in a major finance centre like London, New York or Zurich.

Question 2

What’s the difference between a finance course and an accounting course?

Accepted Answer

Finance and accounting courses both focus on managing money, but they differ in scope and purpose.

Finance courses:

Focus on the management of funds, investments, financial markets, and financial strategies.
Emphasise topics like financial planning, investment analysis, corporate finance, and risk management.
Prepare you to work in areas such as financial analysis, financial planning, investment banking, and financial management. The goal is to help individuals or organisations grow and manage their wealth.

Accounting courses:

Focus on recording, classifying, and interpreting financial transactions.
Teach you how to prepare financial statements, manage ledgers, and follow tax laws.
Prepare you for roles in areas like accounting, auditing, and tax advice. The main goal is to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.

In short, finance is more focused on strategy and growth, while accounting is about tracking and reporting financial data. Both disciplines complement each other but serve different roles in the business world.

Question 3

What will I learn in a finance course?

Accepted Answer

A finance course teaches you how to manage money, make investments, and understand financial markets. Key topics include:

Financial management: How businesses manage their money through budgeting and financial decision making.
Investment strategies: The different types of investments, risk, and portfolio management.
Corporate finance: How companies raise money and manage financial risks.
Financial markets: How stock markets, banks, and other financial institutions work.
Global finance: Looking at the global economy and how money flows between countries.
Financial planning: How to help individuals plan for retirement, taxes, and investments.

Question 4

How long is a finance course?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide:

Course	Duration
Single subject	10-18 weeks
Short course	10-18 weeks
Undergraduate certificate	6 months (if full time)
Diploma	1 year (if full time)
Associate degree	2 years (if full time)
Bachelor degree	3 years (if full time)
Graduate certificate	6 months (if full time)
Graduate diploma	1 year (if full time)
Masters degree	2 years (if full time)

If you study a degree through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

Question 5

What are the entry requirements for finance?

Accepted Answer

The entry requirements for finance courses can vary depending on the university and course. Typically, you will need:

An ATAR or equivalent, such as a completed Year 12 education.
An approved undergraduate degree, or relevant work experience, if it’s a postgraduate course.

However, there are some undergraduate finance courses available through us without entry requirements. To study these courses, you simply start with single subjects and transition into the full degree once they’re completed.

Explore the no ATAR finance courses that are available or ask us more about how this works.

It’s best to check the entry requirements for the finance degree you’re interested in to see which suits you best.

Question 6

What career opportunities can I explore after studying finance?

Accepted Answer

When you graduate with a finance degree you can explore a range of rewarding career roles, including:

Financial analyst
Financial planner/advisor
Investment banker
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Risk manager
Insurance analyst

These roles are available in areas like banking, investment, insurance, and government.

If none of these careers sound like the right fit, you might like to explore other areas of finance like financial planning, taxation, business law or management.

Question 7

How do I enrol?

Accepted Answer

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Finance courses

Introduction to Finance