BCMB20005 Techniques in Molecular Science
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- Final exam 45%
- 15% group work
Is BCMB20005 hard?
BCMB20005: Harder. #29 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
Hands-on lab techniques for studying proteins, DNA and cells in biochemistry and molecular biology.
After it you can
- Run standard lab protocols with proteins and DNA
- Do biochemical calculations for lab work
- Write up experiments in scientific style
What you need first
(BIOL10002 or BIOL10008 or BIOL10009) and (CHEM10003 or CHEM10004 or CHEM10006 or CHEM10009)
- BIOL10002 Biomolecules and Cells
- BIOL10008 Foundational Biology: Life's Machinery
- CHEM10003 Chemistry 1
- CHEM10004 Chemistry 2
- CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine
What it leads to
- BCMB30010 Advanced Techniques in Molecular Science
- GENE30004 Genetic Analysis
- GEOL30004 Geochemistry
- MIIM30015 Techniques in Immunology
- PATH30002 Techniques for Investigation of Disease
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 5%, Assignments 10%, Final exam 45%, Reports and essays 25%, Presentations 15%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2022–2026)
- Very high workload with many small assessments (weekly quizzes, lab reports, practical and theory exams); some suggest treating it like 1.5 subjects.
- Lab reports are marked to a high standard. Start early, attend tutorials and apply the detailed feedback to later reports.
- The theory exam is calculation-heavy and hard to finish in time; practise every calculation type and use the mock exam.
- Because marks are spread over many tasks, you can recover from one bad result. The hands-on lab work is widely praised.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate BCMB20005
Quick answers
- When is BCMB20005 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking BCMB20005?
- Needs (BIOL10002 or BIOL10008 or BIOL10009) and (CHEM10003 or CHEM10004 or CHEM10006 or CHEM10009).
- Does BCMB20005 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 45% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 5%, Assignments 10%, Final exam 45%, Reports and essays 25%, Presentations 15%.
- Is BCMB20005 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Very high workload with many small assessments (weekly quizzes, lab reports, practical and theory exams); some suggest treating it like 1.5 subjects.
- What do students say about BCMB20005?
- Very high workload with many small assessments (weekly quizzes, lab reports, practical and theory exams); some suggest treating it like 1.5 subjects. Lab reports are marked to a high standard. Start early, attend tutorials and apply the detailed feedback to later reports. The theory exam is calculation-heavy and hard to finish in time; practise every calculation type and use the mock exam.
- Can I take BCMB20005 as breadth?
- No, it isn’t listed as breadth for any course.
- What can I take after BCMB20005?
- 5 subjects need it first, for example BCMB30010, GENE30004, GEOL30004, MIIM30015.
- Can I rate BCMB20005?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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