BIOL10001 Biology of Australian Flora & Fauna
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 45%
- About 4 class hours a week
Is BIOL10001 hard?
BIOL10001: Harder. #29 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
Australia's plants and animals: how they evolved, how people changed their environments, and how to protect them.
After it you can
- Identify and record plants and animals in the field
- Link native species' features to their survival
- Explain ways to conserve Australian wildlife
What you need first
None
What it leads to
- BIOL20001 Evolution: Making Sense Of Life
- BOTA20001 Green Planet: Plants and the Environment
- BOTA20002 Plant Biodiversity
- BOTA20004 Flora of Victoria
- ECOL20003 Ecology
- ENST30003 Green Infrastructure Technologies
- ENST30004 Nature, Conservation and Society
- EVSC20004 Blue Planet - Intro to Marine Biology
- FRST20015 Fire in the Australian Landscape
- FRST30003 Urban Forest Ecosystems
- MAST20031 Analysis of Biological Data
Careers
Helps toward: Biochemist, Microbiologist, Laboratory scientist, Zoologist, Veterinarian, Biotechnologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 40%, Tests 15%, Final exam 45%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2013–2025)
- Very content-heavy and needs a good memory; it is easy to fall behind on lectures.
- Lecturers are widely praised as passionate, and the content and field trips are seen as fun.
- Exams are seen as challenging, especially short answers; notes allowed in the exam are limited to a set reflection format.
- Recent reviewers say it is not a WAM booster; best if you are genuinely interested in plants and animals.
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 BIOL10001
Quick answers
- When is BIOL10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking BIOL10001?
- No prerequisites.
- Does BIOL10001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 45% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 40%, Tests 15%, Final exam 45%.
- Is BIOL10001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Very content-heavy and needs a good memory; it is easy to fall behind on lectures.
- What do students say about BIOL10001?
- Very content-heavy and needs a good memory; it is easy to fall behind on lectures. Lecturers are widely praised as passionate, and the content and field trips are seen as fun. Exams are seen as challenging, especially short answers; notes allowed in the exam are limited to a set reflection format.
- How many class hours a week does BIOL10001 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take BIOL10001 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after BIOL10001?
- 11 subjects need it first, for example BIOL20001, BOTA20001, BOTA20002, BOTA20004.
- Can I rate BIOL10001?
- 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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