BIOL20001 Evolution: Making Sense Of Life
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 4 class hours a week
- 10% group work
Is BIOL20001 hard?
BIOL20001: About average. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
How evolution works through selection, drift and migration, and why it matters for problems like drug resistance.
After it you can
- Build and read evolutionary trees
- Explain heritability, adaptation and speciation
- Describe how scientists study evolution
What you need first
BIOL10001 or BIOL10002 or BIOL10008 or BIOL10010 or BIOL10011 or BIOM10002 or BIOL10003 or BIOL10004 or BIOL10005
- BIOL10001 Biology of Australian Flora & Fauna
- BIOL10002 Biomolecules and Cells
- BIOL10008 Foundational Biology: Life's Machinery
- BIOL10010 Foundational Biology: Life's Complexity
- BIOL10011 Biology: Life's Complexity
- BIOM10002 Exploring Biomedicine
What it leads to
- ECOL30005 Applied Ecology
- ECOL30006 Ecology in Changing Environments
- GENE30004 Genetic Analysis
- ZOOL30004 Evolutionary Applications
- ZOOL30007 Experimental Animal Behaviour
- ZOOL30009 Field Ecology
Careers
Helps toward: Biochemist, Microbiologist, Laboratory scientist, Zoologist, Veterinarian, Biotechnologist
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 25%, Projects 25%, Presentations 10%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2018–2025)
- Most earlier reviewers praised passionate lecturers and clear explanations, but a 2025 reviewer found it disorganised with little support.
- Workshops are mixed: sometimes engaging, sometimes confusing or loosely tied to lectures, and they include assessed tests.
- The exam can be harder than the sample paper; don't rely on the practice exam alone.
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 BIOL20001
Quick answers
- When is BIOL20001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking BIOL20001?
- Needs BIOL10001 or BIOL10002 or BIOL10008 or BIOL10010 or BIOL10011 or BIOM10002 or BIOL10003 or BIOL10004 or BIOL10005.
- Does BIOL20001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 25%, Projects 25%, Presentations 10%, Final exam 40%.
- Is BIOL20001 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: Most earlier reviewers praised passionate lecturers and clear explanations, but a 2025 reviewer found it disorganised with little support.
- What do students say about BIOL20001?
- Most earlier reviewers praised passionate lecturers and clear explanations, but a 2025 reviewer found it disorganised with little support. Workshops are mixed: sometimes engaging, sometimes confusing or loosely tied to lectures, and they include assessed tests. The exam can be harder than the sample paper; don't rely on the practice exam alone.
- How many class hours a week does BIOL20001 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take BIOL20001 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 BIOL20001?
- 6 subjects need it first, for example ECOL30005, ECOL30006, GENE30004, ZOOL30004.
- Can I rate BIOL20001?
- 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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