PHYS30012 Physiology: Adapting to Challenges
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
- 50% group work
Is PHYS30012 hard?
PHYS30012: Easier. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (7 reviews). Makes it harder: 1 other hurdle task.
What you learn
How the body adapts to change and challenge across life stages, lifestyles and environments.
After it you can
- Critically read physiology papers and data
- Explain physiology to both experts and the public
- Work in a team on a research project
What you need first
PHYS20008 and (PHYS20009 or ZOOL20006 or ZOOL30007 or PATH30002 or BCMB30011 or BCMB30002 or BCMB30003 or BCMB30010 or CEDB30002 or PSYC20007 or PSYC20008)
- PHYS20008 Human Physiology
- PHYS20009 Research-Based Physiology
- ZOOL20006 Comparative Animal Physiology
- ZOOL30007 Experimental Animal Behaviour
- PATH30002 Techniques for Investigation of Disease
- BCMB30011 Cellular Metabolism and Disease
- BCMB30002 Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics
- BCMB30010 Advanced Techniques in Molecular Science
- CEDB30002 Principles of Cell Biology
- PSYC20007 Cognitive Psychology
- PSYC20008 Developmental Psychology
- BIOM20002 Human Structure and Function
Careers
Helps toward: Medical practitioner (doctor), Dietitian, Laboratory scientist, Biochemist, Microbiologist, Dentist, Optometrist, Physiotherapist, Registered nurse, Zoologist, Psychologist, Veterinarian, Biomedical Engineer, Biotechnologist
How it’s assessed
Tests 10%, Projects 50%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 7 students on StudentVIP (2021–2025)
- The weekly quizzes are fairly easy marks. The exam is lightly weighted and some found it simple, so an H1 is seen as achievable.
- Feedback on the lay assignment and group project often arrives only after the semester or exam, and those tasks were marked more harshly.
- Some topics, like altitude, diving and thermoregulation, felt dry. Opinions on the subject overall are split.
- For the group presentation, start early, meet regularly and set firm deadlines.
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 PHYS30012
Quick answers
- When is PHYS30012 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking PHYS30012?
- Needs PHYS20008 and (PHYS20009 or ZOOL20006 or ZOOL30007 or PATH30002 or BCMB30011 or BCMB30002 or BCMB30003 or BCMB30010 or CEDB30002 or PSYC20007 or PSYC20008).
- Does PHYS30012 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Tests 10%, Projects 50%, Final exam 40%.
- Is PHYS30012 hard?
- From 7 student reviews on StudentVIP: The weekly quizzes are fairly easy marks. The exam is lightly weighted and some found it simple, so an H1 is seen as achievable.
- What do students say about PHYS30012?
- The weekly quizzes are fairly easy marks. The exam is lightly weighted and some found it simple, so an H1 is seen as achievable. Feedback on the lay assignment and group project often arrives only after the semester or exam, and those tasks were marked more harshly. Some topics, like altitude, diving and thermoregulation, felt dry. Opinions on the subject overall are split.
- How many class hours a week does PHYS30012 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take PHYS30012 as breadth?
- No, it isn’t listed as breadth for any course.
- Can I rate PHYS30012?
- 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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