MAST30020 Probability for Inference
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 70%: exam-heavy
- About 4 class hours a week
Is MAST30020 hard?
MAST30020: Harder. #9 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (6 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%.
What you learn
Probability built on measure theory, the rigorous base for limit theorems used in statistics.
After it you can
- Work with multivariate probability distributions
- Construct general conditional expectations
- Compare different kinds of convergence
What you need first
(MAST10009 or MAST20026 or MAST20033) and (MAST20004 or MAST20006)
- MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2
- MAST20026 Real Analysis
- MAST20033 Real Analysis: Advanced
- MAST20004 Probability
- MAST20006 Probability for Statistics
How it’s assessed
Assignments 15%, Quizzes 15%, Final exam 70%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 6 students on StudentVIP (2018–2024)
- Very hard and abstract, building probability theory rigorously from axioms. Only take it if you need it or love the topic.
- Heavy workload: 10 weekly assignments (often 3+ hours each), a mid-semester test and an exam. Only one question per assignment is marked.
- Many found the lecture explanations and notes unclear or pitched at an advanced level, so strong self-study skills help.
- Opinions are split: some found it very rewarding for mathematical maturity, others felt it was hard for the wrong reasons.
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 MAST30020
Quick answers
- When is MAST30020 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking MAST30020?
- Needs (MAST10009 or MAST20026 or MAST20033) and (MAST20004 or MAST20006).
- Does MAST30020 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 70% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 15%, Quizzes 15%, Final exam 70%.
- Is MAST30020 hard?
- From 6 student reviews on StudentVIP: Very hard and abstract, building probability theory rigorously from axioms. Only take it if you need it or love the topic.
- What do students say about MAST30020?
- Very hard and abstract, building probability theory rigorously from axioms. Only take it if you need it or love the topic. Heavy workload: 10 weekly assignments (often 3+ hours each), a mid-semester test and an exam. Only one question per assignment is marked. Many found the lecture explanations and notes unclear or pitched at an advanced level, so strong self-study skills help.
- How many class hours a week does MAST30020 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take MAST30020 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Commerce, 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 MAST30020?
- 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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