ECON20001 Intermediate Macroeconomics
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- Final exam 60%: exam-heavy
Is ECON20001 hard?
ECON20001: Harder. #17 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 60%, You must pass the exam on its own.
What you learn
Models of growth, short-term ups and downs, exchange rates and how policy affects the economy.
After it you can
- Use IS-LM to analyse monetary and fiscal policy
- Trace how an economy responds to shocks
- Explain growth with the Solow model
What you need first
ECON10003
What it leads to
- ECOM30001 Basic Econometrics
- ECOM30002 Econometrics 2
- ECON30005 Money and Banking
- ECON30008 History of Economic Thought
- ECON30009 Macroeconomics
- ECON30010 Microeconomics
- ECON30020 Mathematical Economics
- ECON30024 Economics of Financial Markets
- ECON30029 International Macroeconomics
- ECON30030 Topics in Asian Economic History
Careers
Helps toward: Economist
How it’s assessed
Tests 5%, Assignments 25%, Participation 10%, Final exam 60%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2017–2023)
- Very mathematical: strong algebra and economic intuition are needed, and assignments can be tricky and harshly marked.
- Tutorials are often described as rushed.
- Views on teaching are split: earlier years were praised, while recent reviews (2022-23) complain of poor explanations and little support.
- For the exam, practise the tutorial problem sheets and past papers; consistent effort can give a good score.
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 ECON20001
Quick answers
- When is ECON20001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking ECON20001?
- Needs ECON10003.
- Does ECON20001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 60% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Tests 5%, Assignments 25%, Participation 10%, Final exam 60%.
- Is ECON20001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Very mathematical: strong algebra and economic intuition are needed, and assignments can be tricky and harshly marked.
- What do students say about ECON20001?
- Very mathematical: strong algebra and economic intuition are needed, and assignments can be tricky and harshly marked. Tutorials are often described as rushed. Views on teaching are split: earlier years were praised, while recent reviews (2022-23) complain of poor explanations and little support.
- Can I take ECON20001 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, 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, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after ECON20001?
- 10 subjects need it first, for example ECOM30001, ECOM30002, ECON30005, ECON30008.
- Can I rate ECON20001?
- 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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