COMP30023 Computer Systems
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 50%
- About 4 class hours a week
Is COMP30023 hard?
COMP30023: Harder. #3 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (7 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 3 other hurdle tasks.
What you learn
How computers work under the hood: operating systems, networks and basic security.
After it you can
- Explain how an operating system runs programs
- Build simple server applications
- Spot common security weaknesses
What you need first
COMP20003 or COMP20007
- COMP20003 Algorithms and Data Structures
- COMP20007 Design of Algorithms
- COMP90038 Algorithms and Complexity
Can’t be taken together with
- COMP90007
- COMP30017
Careers
Helps toward: Software Engineer, Web and social media developer, Computing professional, Mobile app designer
How it’s assessed
Projects 30%, Participation 10%, Tests 10%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 7 students on StudentVIP (2017–2026)
- It covers networking and operating systems. Most find the content useful but the balance favours networking.
- Projects are demanding and time consuming, and they need skills not directly taught in lectures, such as socket programming.
- Exams are seen as hard, with confusing wording and questions beyond the practised material; this complaint persists into 2026.
- Opinions on teaching are split: some praised the lectures, others found them vague and the tutorials unhelpful.
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 COMP30023
Quick answers
- When is COMP30023 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking COMP30023?
- Needs COMP20003 or COMP20007.
- Does COMP30023 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Projects 30%, Participation 10%, Tests 10%, Final exam 50%.
- Is COMP30023 hard?
- From 7 student reviews on StudentVIP: It covers networking and operating systems. Most find the content useful but the balance favours networking.
- What do students say about COMP30023?
- It covers networking and operating systems. Most find the content useful but the balance favours networking. Projects are demanding and time consuming, and they need skills not directly taught in lectures, such as socket programming. Exams are seen as hard, with confusing wording and questions beyond the practised material; this complaint persists into 2026.
- How many class hours a week does COMP30023 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take COMP30023 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.
- Can I rate COMP30023?
- 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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