Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning, while broadly similar in its objectives and course content to the Master of Taxation and Financial Planning, is less onerous in its entry requirements and does not require sustained writing in some courses for completion. It concentrates on advanced specialist professional training in taxation. The Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning is based on four courses and can be studied over one part-time year with two courses per semester.

The Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning offers many of the same courses as the Master of Taxation and Financial Planning. Taking the lesser number of courses into account, the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning has a practical emphasis and involves somewhere in excess of half the work-load of the Master of Taxation and Financial Planning.

Courses for the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning, though similar in content to Master of Taxation and Financial Planning courses, are separately designated and are assessed in a different way. Typically Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning courses involve two written assignments and an examination.
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Admission Requirements

Direct entry to the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning is normally open to graduates in taxation, law or commerce of equivalent standing and content to corresponding UNSW qualifications.

Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning with Commerce or Law qualifications which are not at the required level, standard or content, must complete each postgraduate qualifying courses as the Australian School of Taxation determines. The Postgraduate Qualifying program is designed to deal particularly with Commerce graduates who have not completed basic commercial law and company law and Law graduates without basic accounting and economics as part of their undergraduate training. The Australian School of Taxation shall determine whether candidates with lower level academic qualifications and/or professional experience in taxation may be admitted directly or with such prerequisites as the School determines.

All candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning shall have completed a university level program in the basic elements of income taxation or demonstrate equivalent academic and/or practical experience.

Exemptions or credit may be granted for up to 12 units of credit (two courses). Refer to 'Exemptions policy' below.

Specialist Professional Accreditation

Students who are members of CPA Australia, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), and qualified lawyers may have both Award and Non-Award study with Atax recognised towards their Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) membership requirements respectively.

A number of individual courses offered in the program should be RG146 certified, in accordance with ASIC regulations governing the licensing of financial planners.

Complete the following four core courses:

Assessment Policy

To pass a course candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning must obtain:

Exemption Policy

Admission with Advanced Standing:

Students accepted for enrolment into the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning, may apply for advanced standing by applying to the Atax Student Services Office. The policy is located at www.atax.unsw.edu.au/study/pgradexemptions.htm Click on the relevant program to locate the appropriate policy statement.
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Articulation of Studies from the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning to the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or Master of Taxation and Financial Planning

1. Students who have commenced but not completed the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning and wish to convert to the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or Master of Taxation and Financial Planning, are required to:

(a) complete a minimum of two courses in Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning mode;

(b) have achieved an acceptable academic standard as determined by the Australian School of Taxation; this will normally be a mark of at least 65% (Credit) on average in the courses completed but this may vary to suit individual circumstances.

(c) complete the balance of the courses (less those for which Advanced Standing has already been granted) for the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or the Master of Taxation and Financial Planning as appropriate, including a minimum of four courses at the Masters level of assessment for the Masters program.

Students must not select courses for the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or Master of Taxation and Financial Planning that they have already completed as Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning courses or as courses in another Atax program.

2. A student wishing to apply to articulate from the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning to the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or the Master of Taxation and Financial Planning must submit a written application to Atax by the start of the semester in which they would like the transfer to be effective. An 'Articulation of Studies in Atax Program' form must be used.

3. Students who have completed and been awarded the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning must apply for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or Master of Taxation and Financial Planning and will be eligible for exemption for up to two courses, each worth six units of credit. Students must not select courses for the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning or Master of Taxation and Financial Planning that have already been completed and credited to the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning. Information for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Taxation and Financial Planning and Master of Taxation and Financial Planning is available at www.atax.unsw.edu.au.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Delivery modes
Courses in the Graduate Certificate in Taxation and Financial Planning program can be studied via flexible distance study, in face to face classes or intensive classes. Assessment remains the same for all modes of delivery. You will be able to choose the delivery mode that suits you best. All Atax students will receive a set of Study Materials for each course you are enrolled in and access to My eLearning Vista, a web-based site to complement Atax's teaching resources - your Study Materials, past examination papers, feedback, discussion forums and online links are available from this site.

Flexible Distance Study mode
This mode of study utilises a combination of Audio Conferences, Regional Classes and My eLearning Vista, allowing you to study from anywhere in Australia or overseas. For each course there are usually four Audio Conferences per semester and students are encouraged to attend. There is also a one-day Regional Class for most courses and these are usually held in metropolitan centres during Weeks 8 or 9 of the semester.

Face to face weekly mode
Several courses have classes in the face to face mode of delivery at UNSW CBD Campus, 1 O'Connell Street, Sydney, NSW. These classes are usually held Monday to Thursday, from 6:00 - 8:00pm. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 40 students, so students can be assured of a quality educational experience. For more information about the courses offered in this mode and location, visit http://www.atax.unsw.edu.au/students/facetoface.htm.

Intensive mode
Some Atax courses can also be studied face to face via Intensive mode. Intensive classes enable students to complete the required coursework for the course in four days. These classes are held on UNSW Kensington campus in Sydney. Classes will normally run from 9.30 - 5.00 pm. For information on courses offered and dates, visit http://www.atax.unsw.edu.au/students/facetoface.htm.