COMP10001 Foundations of Computing
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Summer, Semester 1, Semester 2.
- Final exam 50%
Is COMP10001 hard?
COMP10001: Harder. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 1 other hurdle task.
What you learn
A first programming subject for beginners: writing simple programs to work with and analyse data.
After it you can
- Read, write and debug small programs
- Use functions, lists and other basic data structures
- Break a problem into steps a program can solve
What you need first
None
What it leads to
- COMP10002 Foundations of Algorithms
- COMP20008 Elements of Data Processing
- COMP90041 Programming and Software Development
- FNCE30010 Algorithmic Trading
- INFO20002 Foundations of Informatics
- INFO20003 Database Systems
- INFO20005 User Interface Development
- INFO30006 Information Security and Privacy
- ISYS20006 Shaping the Enterprise with ICT
- ISYS30008 Business Analytics
- MAST30028 Numerical Methods & Scientific Computing
- MAST30032 Biological Modelling and Simulation
How it’s assessed
Final exam 50%, Projects 30%, Tests 10%, Assignments 10%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2021–2024)
- Reviewers with no coding background found it a good start: Python basics, practical rather than theory-heavy.
- The weekly Grok worksheets are seen as easy marks; the projects take much more time, and several beginners needed help with them.
- Several reviewers advise against the summer term: 12 weeks of content in about 5 is hard to keep up with.
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 COMP10001
Quick answers
- When is COMP10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Summer, Semester 1, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking COMP10001?
- No prerequisites.
- Does COMP10001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Final exam 50%, Projects 30%, Tests 10%, Assignments 10%.
- Is COMP10001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers with no coding background found it a good start: Python basics, practical rather than theory-heavy.
- What do students say about COMP10001?
- Reviewers with no coding background found it a good start: Python basics, practical rather than theory-heavy. The weekly Grok worksheets are seen as easy marks; the projects take much more time, and several beginners needed help with them. Several reviewers advise against the summer term: 12 weeks of content in about 5 is hard to keep up with.
- Can I take COMP10001 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 COMP10001?
- 12 subjects need it first, for example COMP10002, COMP20008, COMP90041, FNCE30010.
- Can I rate COMP10001?
- 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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