Who is this programme for?
The Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning, awarded by University College Dublin (UCD), is a highly regarded postgraduate qualification (level 9), designed for those working in, or who would like to develop a career in, financial planning and wealth management. It is designed for those who wish to develop their financial planning knowledge and skills to the highest international standards.
The programme is specifically designed to provide financial planners with the knowledge and understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements, the mechanisms and purpose of the main investment products and the ability to satisfy their individual clients' financial planning and investment portfolio needs.
The Graduate Diploma also seeks to deepen your technical knowledge of areas such as asset, finance and risk management and provide the tools to develop effective mutually beneficial client relationships.
How you will benefit
This programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills required for a career as a professional financial planner. It will;
•Enhance your knowledge of the constituent disciplines underpinning financial planning including investments, pensions, taxation and estate planning.
•Develop your analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills to produce comprehensive financial planning solutions.
•Enable you to evaluate economic, financial and other relevant data to create integrated financial plans.
•Promote a deep understanding of professional values and ethical issues in financial planning execution.
•Prepare you for the Certified Financial Planner designation qualifying examination
Gateway to the prestigious international designation - Certified Financial Planner professional
Certified Financial Planner professional or CFP® certification is the world's most widely respected financial planning designation and it marks the Certified Financial Planner as being professional, competent, ethical and professional to the highest global standards.
At the end of 2018, there were 181,630 CFP professionals in 26 countries around the globe, including all of the main developed and developing economies. Global numbers have increased by almost 12% over the last two years.
The first cohort of candidates in Ireland were CFP certified (with the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning) in early June 2011. There are now 641 CFP professionals in Ireland.
Comment
Award
Those who successfully complete the course will be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning by UCD. This is a Level 9 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications and carries 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits.
Candidates who achieve a second class honours grade 2 award in this Graduate Diploma are eligible for the award MSc in Financial Services (level 9) on successful completion of an additional three modules, Risk-Based Financial Management, Behavioural Decision-Making and Winning Business Negotiation Strategies. The MSc in Financial Services is accredited and awarded by UCD (at postgraduate level 9).