NEUR30002 Neurophysiology: Neurons and Circuits
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 50%
- About 3 class hours a week
Is NEUR30002 hard?
NEUR30002: About average. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
How nerve cells make electrical signals, talk to each other and form circuits that control the body.
After it you can
- Explain how nerve cells generate electrical signals
- Explain how nerves signal to other cells
- Describe simple circuits behind reflexes
What you need first
None
What it leads to
- NEUR30006 Real and Artificial Neural Networks
- NEUR30007 Auditory Neuroscience
- OPTO30007 Visual Neuroscience
How it’s assessed
Tests 50%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 9 students on StudentVIP (2021–2026)
- Content heavy and time consuming, around 6 hours of content a week. Understanding how topics connect is key.
- Coordinators were widely praised as supportive, but some found the online modules low quality.
- The MSTs are mostly MCQ with a short answer, and seen as fair. In 2026 the exam felt harder and more memorisation based than the MSTs.
- Attend the tutorials and interactive sessions, because they help explain the content and hint at what is assessed.
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 NEUR30002
Quick answers
- When is NEUR30002 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking NEUR30002?
- No prerequisites.
- Does NEUR30002 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Tests 50%, Final exam 50%.
- Is NEUR30002 hard?
- From 9 student reviews on StudentVIP: Content heavy and time consuming, around 6 hours of content a week. Understanding how topics connect is key.
- What do students say about NEUR30002?
- Content heavy and time consuming, around 6 hours of content a week. Understanding how topics connect is key. Coordinators were widely praised as supportive, but some found the online modules low quality. The MSTs are mostly MCQ with a short answer, and seen as fair. In 2026 the exam felt harder and more memorisation based than the MSTs.
- How many class hours a week does NEUR30002 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take NEUR30002 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, 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.
- What can I take after NEUR30002?
- 3 subjects need it first, for example NEUR30006, NEUR30007, OPTO30007.
- Can I rate NEUR30002?
- 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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