PHYC10007 Physics for Biomedicine
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- Final exam 60%: exam-heavy
- About 5 class hours a week
Is PHYC10007 hard?
PHYC10007: Harder. Not counted by Bachelor of Science, so it isn't on its lists. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task.
What you learn
The physics behind the body and medicine: movement, fluids, waves, electricity and imaging, with live demos and labs.
After it you can
- Apply physics principles to the human body
- Explain the physics of medical imaging and therapy
- Run experiments and write lab reports
What you need first
MAST10012 or VCE Mathematical Methods (or equivalent)
Can’t be taken together with
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 25%, Assignments 15%, Final exam 60%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2018–2020)
- Most reviewers, many with no physics background, found it hard and poorly organised, with confusing lectures and practice exams that lacked clear answers.
- Lab reports are written within the session, and several said prac marks depend a lot on which demonstrator you get and that feedback was thin.
- Those who did well say an H1 is reachable by working through many textbook and past exam questions; the exam reused past questions and scaling helped.
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 PHYC10007
Quick answers
- When is PHYC10007 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking PHYC10007?
- Needs MAST10012 or VCE Mathematical Methods (or equivalent).
- Does PHYC10007 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 60% of the mark. Assessment: Reports and essays 25%, Assignments 15%, Final exam 60%.
- Is PHYC10007 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Most reviewers, many with no physics background, found it hard and poorly organised, with confusing lectures and practice exams that lacked clear answers.
- What do students say about PHYC10007?
- Most reviewers, many with no physics background, found it hard and poorly organised, with confusing lectures and practice exams that lacked clear answers. Lab reports are written within the session, and several said prac marks depend a lot on which demonstrator you get and that feedback was thin. Those who did well say an H1 is reachable by working through many textbook and past exam questions; the exam reused past questions and scaling helped.
- How many class hours a week does PHYC10007 have?
- 5 h a week in class
- Can I take PHYC10007 as breadth?
- No, it isn’t listed as breadth for any course.
- Can I rate PHYC10007?
- 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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