BCMB30010 Advanced Techniques in Molecular Science
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- Final exam 15%: mostly coursework
Is BCMB30010 hard?
BCMB30010: About average. Makes it easier: Final exam only 15%. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, 1 other hurdle task. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.
What you learn
Advanced lab training in DNA, protein and cell culture work, from designing experiments to writing papers.
After it you can
- Keep a proper lab notebook
- Analyse DNA and protein data with bioinformatics
- Write up findings as a scientific report
What you need first
BCMB20005 and (BCMB20002 or BIOM20001)
- BCMB20005 Techniques in Molecular Science
- BCMB20002 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- BIOM20001 Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine
What it leads to
Careers
Helps toward: Biochemist, Microbiologist, Chemical engineer, Laboratory scientist, Zoologist, Veterinarian, Biotechnologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 50%, Reports and essays 35%, Final exam 15%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 7 students on StudentVIP (2016–2026)
- Extremely time-consuming: weekly lab notebooks alone can take hours. Many advise underloading or pairing it with an easy subject.
- Runs like a semester-long research project with fun practicals; ideal for anyone heading to honours or lab research.
- The major report is marked strictly, but draft feedback lets you improve the final version significantly.
- The exam is only worth a small share, but views on its difficulty are split: one called it very hard, another easy.
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 BCMB30010
Quick answers
- When is BCMB30010 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking BCMB30010?
- Needs BCMB20005 and (BCMB20002 or BIOM20001).
- Does BCMB30010 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 15% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 50%, Reports and essays 35%, Final exam 15%.
- Is BCMB30010 hard?
- From 7 student reviews on StudentVIP: Extremely time-consuming: weekly lab notebooks alone can take hours. Many advise underloading or pairing it with an easy subject.
- What do students say about BCMB30010?
- Extremely time-consuming: weekly lab notebooks alone can take hours. Many advise underloading or pairing it with an easy subject. Runs like a semester-long research project with fun practicals; ideal for anyone heading to honours or lab research. The major report is marked strictly, but draft feedback lets you improve the final version significantly.
- Can I take BCMB30010 as breadth?
- No, it isn’t listed as breadth for any course.
- What can I take after BCMB30010?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example PHYS30012.
- Can I rate BCMB30010?
- 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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