PHYC20012 Quantum and Thermal Physics
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 70%: exam-heavy
- About 4 class hours a week
Is PHYC20012 hard?
PHYC20012: Harder. #13 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%.
What you learn
Heat, energy and classical mechanics, and how they lead to the basic ideas of quantum mechanics.
After it you can
- Explain how quantum differs from classical
- Solve simple thermal and quantum problems
- Apply the laws of thermodynamics to heat engines
What you need first
(PHYC10001 or PHYC10003 or PHYC10009) and (PHYC10002 or PHYC10004 or PHYC10006) and (MAST10006 or MAST10021 or MAST10009 or MAST10019)
Take in the same semester or earlier
MAST10007 or MAST10022 or MAST10008 or MAST10018
- PHYC10001 Physics 1: Advanced
- PHYC10003 Physics 1
- PHYC10009 Foundations of Physics
- PHYC10002 Physics 2: Advanced
- PHYC10004 Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology
- PHYC10006 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment
- MAST10006 Calculus 2
- MAST10021 Calculus 2: Advanced
- MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2
What it leads to
- EVSC30009 Energy Pathways to Net-Zero
- PHYC20014 Theoretical Physics 2
- PHYC30011 Sub-atomic Physics
- PHYC30017 Statistical Physics
- PHYC30018 Quantum Physics
- PHYC30019 Astrophysics
- PHYC30021 Laboratory and Computational Physics 3
Careers
Helps toward: Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 30%, Final exam 70%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2021–2026)
- Several reviewers found the thermal section messy and confusing. The quantum section got better reviews.
- It is a big step up from first-year physics and needs a lot of self-study. Strong calculus helps.
- The exam has been scaled, so H1s are possible, but there are few resources and in 2026 no past exams were given.
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 PHYC20012
Quick answers
- When is PHYC20012 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking PHYC20012?
- Needs (PHYC10001 or PHYC10003 or PHYC10009) and (PHYC10002 or PHYC10004 or PHYC10006) and (MAST10006 or MAST10021 or MAST10009 or MAST10019). Must be taken before or alongside it: MAST10007 or MAST10022 or MAST10008 or MAST10018.
- Does PHYC20012 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 70% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 30%, Final exam 70%.
- Is PHYC20012 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: Several reviewers found the thermal section messy and confusing. The quantum section got better reviews.
- What do students say about PHYC20012?
- Several reviewers found the thermal section messy and confusing. The quantum section got better reviews. It is a big step up from first-year physics and needs a lot of self-study. Strong calculus helps. The exam has been scaled, so H1s are possible, but there are few resources and in 2026 no past exams were given.
- How many class hours a week does PHYC20012 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take PHYC20012 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 PHYC20012?
- 7 subjects need it first, for example EVSC30009, PHYC20014, PHYC30011, PHYC30017.
- Can I rate PHYC20012?
- 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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