CONS10001 Principles of Building
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 55%
- About 5 class hours a week
- 20% group work
Is CONS10001 hard?
CONS10001: About average. Not counted by Bachelor of Science, so it isn't on its lists. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: 1 other hurdle task, 5 class hours a week. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.
What you learn
How buildings stand up and perform: loads, beams, columns and trusses, plus concrete, steel, timber and masonry.
After it you can
- Trace how loads move through a structure
- Calculate forces in simple members
- Compare common building materials
What you need first
None
What it leads to
Careers
Helps toward: Construction manager, Quantity surveyor
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 5%, Assignments 40%, Final exam 55%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 4 students on StudentVIP (2017–2018)
- Reviewers praised the teaching team as organised, patient and helpful.
- It involves physics-style problem solving; students without a physics background found it harder and were advised to use consultations.
- Attending lectures was recommended, since worked examples on the board did not show up in the recordings. One student struggled to finish the exam.
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 CONS10001
Quick answers
- When is CONS10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking CONS10001?
- No prerequisites.
- Does CONS10001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 55% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 5%, Assignments 40%, Final exam 55%.
- Is CONS10001 hard?
- From 4 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers praised the teaching team as organised, patient and helpful.
- What do students say about CONS10001?
- Reviewers praised the teaching team as organised, patient and helpful. It involves physics-style problem solving; students without a physics background found it harder and were advised to use consultations. Attending lectures was recommended, since worked examples on the board did not show up in the recordings. One student struggled to finish the exam.
- How many class hours a week does CONS10001 have?
- 5 h a week in class
- Can I take CONS10001 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 CONS10001?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example ABPL20042.
- Can I rate CONS10001?
- 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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