ECOL20003 Ecology
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 5 class hours a week
Is ECOL20003 hard?
ECOL20003: About average. Makes it harder: 5 class hours a week. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
What controls where species live, how populations grow, and how energy flows through ecosystems.
After it you can
- Collect and interpret ecological data
- Apply ecological reasoning to new cases
- Write up results as a science report
What you need first
(BIOL10001 or BIOL10002 or BIOL10008 or BIOL10010 or BIOL10011 or ENVS10001 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
- ENVS10001 Natural Environments
- BIOM10002 Exploring Biomedicine
What it leads to
- BIOL30011 Applied Marine Biology
- ECOL30005 Applied Ecology
- ECOL30006 Ecology in Changing Environments
- ECOL30007 Marine Biodiversity and Biogeography
- ENST30004 Nature, Conservation and Society
- EVSC30002 Problem Solving in Environmental Science
- EVSC30003 Environmental Risk Assessment
- EVSC30006 Ecology of Urban Landscapes
- EVSC30007 Landscape Ecosystem Project
- FRST20015 Fire in the Australian Landscape
- VETS30033 Health & Disease in Wildlife Populations
- ZOOL30004 Evolutionary Applications
- ZOOL30006 Animal Behaviour
- ZOOL30007 Experimental Animal Behaviour
- ZOOL30008 Experimental Marine Biology
- ZOOL30009 Field Ecology
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 15%, Assignments 10%, Projects 35%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2016–2020)
- Pracs and fieldwork were enjoyed by most reviewers, though one found the online pracs messy.
- The exam had ambiguous questions, and studying felt broad since you are pointed to the whole textbook.
- Opinions on teaching quality are split, from pleasant to poor.
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 ECOL20003
Quick answers
- When is ECOL20003 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking ECOL20003?
- Needs (BIOL10001 or BIOL10002 or BIOL10008 or BIOL10010 or BIOL10011 or ENVS10001 or BIOM10002) or (BIOL10003 or BIOL10004 or BIOL10005).
- Does ECOL20003 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 15%, Assignments 10%, Projects 35%, Final exam 40%.
- Is ECOL20003 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: Pracs and fieldwork were enjoyed by most reviewers, though one found the online pracs messy.
- What do students say about ECOL20003?
- Pracs and fieldwork were enjoyed by most reviewers, though one found the online pracs messy. The exam had ambiguous questions, and studying felt broad since you are pointed to the whole textbook. Opinions on teaching quality are split, from pleasant to poor.
- How many class hours a week does ECOL20003 have?
- 5 h a week in class
- Can I take ECOL20003 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 ECOL20003?
- 16 subjects need it first, for example BIOL30011, ECOL30005, ECOL30006, ECOL30007.
- Can I rate ECOL20003?
- 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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