FINA20044 Art and the Botanical
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Summer, Semester 1, Winter, Semester 2.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is FINA20044 hard?
FINA20044: About average. Makes it easier: No final exam. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, 1 other hurdle task. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.
What you learn
Botanical drawing in pencil and watercolour from live plants and herbarium specimens, plus how artists have shown plants.
After it you can
- Draw living and preserved plants from observation
- Handle pencil and watercolour with growing control
- Write about plants in historical and modern art
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Assignments 25%, Projects 75%, Participation 0%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 8 students on StudentVIP (2020–2024)
- Earlier reviewers loved the relaxed days of drawing and painting plants, and beginners felt well supported; marks rewarded effort and engagement.
- The most recent reviews (2024) warn the intensive version is exhausting: long days, very specific briefs and little hands-on guidance.
- Several say not to treat it as an easy mark: it suits people who already like drawing, and the semester version is gentler than the intensive.
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 FINA20044
Quick answers
- When is FINA20044 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Summer, Semester 1, Winter, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking FINA20044?
- No prerequisites.
- Does FINA20044 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Assignments 25%, Projects 75%, Participation 0%.
- Is FINA20044 hard?
- From 8 student reviews on StudentVIP: Earlier reviewers loved the relaxed days of drawing and painting plants, and beginners felt well supported; marks rewarded effort and engagement.
- What do students say about FINA20044?
- Earlier reviewers loved the relaxed days of drawing and painting plants, and beginners felt well supported; marks rewarded effort and engagement. The most recent reviews (2024) warn the intensive version is exhausting: long days, very specific briefs and little hands-on guidance. Several say not to treat it as an easy mark: it suits people who already like drawing, and the semester version is gentler than the intensive.
- How many class hours a week does FINA20044 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take FINA20044 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, 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 Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate FINA20044?
- 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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