GEOL30007 Geobiology
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 5.5 class hours a week
Is GEOL30007 hard?
GEOL30007: About average. Makes it harder: 5.5 class hours a week. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
How life evolved over 4.5 billion years and shaped Earth's environments, using fossils and biogeochemistry.
After it you can
- Identify and describe fossils in field or lab
- Explain how biogeochemical cycles shape climate
- Describe how life evolved over Earth's history
What you need first
25 points of level 2 ERTH/GEOL/CHEM/BIOL or the subject coordinator’s permission
Careers
Helps toward: Geologist, Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 20%, Reports and essays 40%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2017–2025)
- Reviewers described it as poorly organised, with some lectures hard to follow.
- Expect to memorise obscure, specific facts; only take it if you are really interested in fossils.
- The literature reviews (choice of topic) are marked fairly, but scores above 90 are hard; field trips are a highlight.
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 GEOL30007
Quick answers
- When is GEOL30007 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking GEOL30007?
- Needs 25 points of level 2 ERTH/GEOL/CHEM/BIOL or the subject coordinator’s permission.
- Does GEOL30007 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 20%, Reports and essays 40%, Final exam 40%.
- Is GEOL30007 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers described it as poorly organised, with some lectures hard to follow.
- What do students say about GEOL30007?
- Reviewers described it as poorly organised, with some lectures hard to follow. Expect to memorise obscure, specific facts; only take it if you are really interested in fossils. The literature reviews (choice of topic) are marked fairly, but scores above 90 are hard; field trips are a highlight.
- How many class hours a week does GEOL30007 have?
- 5.5 h a week in class
- Can I take GEOL30007 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 Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- Can I rate GEOL30007?
- 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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