Master of Financial Crime Investigation and Compliance

Master the high-demand field of financial regulation, risk and security. This degree equips you with advanced skills to detect, investigate and prevent financial crime while helping organisations meet complex global compliance requirements.

Financial crime costs the global economy trillions each year, driving strong demand for professionals who can manage risk, strengthen governance and protect financial systems from evolving threats.

You’ll develop the specialist skills to:

·Understand financial crime frameworks: explore regulation, governance and compliance systems across global markets.

·Investigate financial crime: apply forensic accounting and fraud detection techniques to identify suspicious activity.

·Assess and manage risk: identify vulnerabilities in financial systems and apply strategies to reduce exposure.

·Respond to cyber-enabled crime: understand digital fraud, cyber security risks and data protection challenges.

·Analyse complex criminal networks: examine transnational organised crime and its impact on financial systems.

Gain skills to detect and prevent financial crime

Develop advanced capability in financial crime investigation, compliance and regulatory practice. You’ll explore how financial systems are exploited for criminal activity, including money laundering, fraud and terrorism financing and learn how organisations can detect and prevent these threats.

You’ll also strengthen your understanding of global regulatory environments, including governance frameworks, reporting obligations and policy development across jurisdictions. With a focus on ethical decision-making and emerging technologies, you’ll be prepared to work in complex, data-driven environments.

Study online and build your expertise

Delivered 100% online, this program can be completed in as little as two years of full-time study, giving you the flexibility to balance work and study while developing advanced skills in financial crime investigation and compliance.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Financial Crime Regulation and Compliance
• Forensic Accounting, Fraud and Investigation
• Information Policy and Governance
• Fundamentals of Cyber Security

Plus there’s a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

Your program requirements are the set of academic requirements that are mandatory for the award associated with your program of study. If you do not adhere to your degree requirements, you may not be eligible to graduate.

For the award of Master of Financial Crime Investigation and Compliance (MFCIC), you must successfully

Complete 160 credit points for one of the following:

• 160 credit points for all Pathway 1 - duration 1 year , or
• 160 credit points for all Pathway 2 - duration 1.5 years , or
• 160 credit points for all Pathway 3 - duration 2 years

This degree may be awarded with Distinction where a student achieves a minimum program GPA of 6.5 with no failed courses. The words "This award was achieved with Distinction" will be recorded on the testamur.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $68,000

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia.

Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

Learn more about Griffith University

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

20

You can complete this program in 1 year, 1.5 years or 2 years depending on your prior study and work experience

To be eligible for this program, you must meet one of the following criteria:

1 year duration (80CP)

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) in a related discipline and two years relevant work experience

1.5 year duration (120CP)

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) in a related discipline

2 year duration (160CP)

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher)
• a combination of alternative admission criteria such as formal, informal and non-formal learning deemed to be equivalent to either of the above criteria

Related discipline includes business, commerce, economics, forensic accounting, financial crime, anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, criminology, psychology, criminal justice, social justice, justice, law, investigation, intelligence/counter-intelligence, global security, cyber security, cyber crime, information technology, computer science, information systems, data analytics, data science, blockchain technology, political science, politics, international relations, government, security, international studies, public policy, public administration, journalism/communications, development studies, human rights

Relevant work experience includes financial crime compliance, customer due diligence, KYC, anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing analysts, transaction monitoring, banking, accounting, finance, financial planning/advice, tax agent, economist, law, public service, investigation, compliance, risk assessment, risk/security analyst, insurance, cyber security, development and foreign aid, psychologist, criminology, criminal justice, fraud prevention, policing, forensics, military, international business, business-policy, researcher, data scientist, data analyst, systems analyst, information technology, information systems and business analysts

Commonwealth Bank of Australia cohort

Students wishing to complete this program under the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) corporate education scheme are required to complete a consent form providing Griffith University with permission to share their student information with the employer, CBA, in relation to the program

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including:

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE.
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training.
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.