MIIM20002 Microbes, Infections and Responses
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 55%
- About 4.5 class hours a week
Is MIIM20002 hard?
MIIM20002: Harder. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
How microbes cause human infections, how the body responds, and how vaccines and drugs control them.
After it you can
- Describe common disease-causing microbes
- Explain how infections are controlled in communities
- Do basic microbiology lab techniques safely
What you need first
MIIM20001
- MIIM20001 Principles of Microbiology & Immunology
- CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine
- BIOM20001 Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine
What it leads to
- MIIM30011 Medical Microbiology: Bacteriology
- MIIM30015 Techniques in Immunology
- MIIM30016 Techniques in Microbiology
How it’s assessed
Tests 40%, Quizzes 5%, Final exam 55%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 11 students on StudentVIP (2016–2025)
- Widely praised as very well coordinated, with practicals that closely match the lectures.
- Very content heavy: you must memorise many pathogens and their mechanisms. The volume, not the concepts, is the hard part.
- The MSTs test fine details under time pressure, with averages around 50-60%. Reviews differ on whether the exam is harder or easier.
- Strongly microbiology-focused. A few found the virology section weaker than the rest.
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 MIIM20002
Quick answers
- When is MIIM20002 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking MIIM20002?
- Needs MIIM20001.
- Does MIIM20002 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 55% of the mark. Assessment: Tests 40%, Quizzes 5%, Final exam 55%.
- Is MIIM20002 hard?
- From 11 student reviews on StudentVIP: Widely praised as very well coordinated, with practicals that closely match the lectures.
- What do students say about MIIM20002?
- Widely praised as very well coordinated, with practicals that closely match the lectures. Very content heavy: you must memorise many pathogens and their mechanisms. The volume, not the concepts, is the hard part. The MSTs test fine details under time pressure, with averages around 50-60%. Reviews differ on whether the exam is harder or easier.
- How many class hours a week does MIIM20002 have?
- 4.5 h a week in class
- Can I take MIIM20002 as breadth?
- No, it isn’t listed as breadth for any course.
- What can I take after MIIM20002?
- 3 subjects need it first, for example MIIM30011, MIIM30015, MIIM30016.
- Can I rate MIIM20002?
- 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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