PSYC20008 Developmental Psychology

University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

• Final exam 45%
• About 3 class hours a week

Is PSYC20008 hard?

PSYC20008: About average. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.

What you learn

How people's thinking, feelings and social lives change from infancy to young adulthood.

After it you can

• Explain what shapes a child's development
• Run a chi-squared test on research data
• Give useful peer review on academic writing

What you need first

None

What it leads to

• PHYS30012 Physiology: Adapting to Challenges
• PSYC30021 Psychological Science: Theory & Practice

Careers

• Required for Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accreditation (Psychologist) in Psychology

How it’s assessed

Quizzes 15%, Final exam 45%, Assignments 40%

Student reviews and ratings

Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2021–2026)

• The lab report is heavily weighted and harshly marked, with strict APA formatting. Several found it the hardest part.
• Several reviewers call the content and marking vague or subjective, though the content relates to real life.
• The redoable quizzes are easy marks. The exam format has changed: earlier years had essays from questions given in advance; recent reviews mention multiple choice.
• In 2026 one reviewer reported a low average and few H1s after scaling.

Read the reviews

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 PSYC20008

Quick answers

When is PSYC20008 offered?

Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

What do I need before taking PSYC20008?

No prerequisites.

Does PSYC20008 have a final exam?

Yes, the final exam is 45% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 15%, Final exam 45%, Assignments 40%.

Is PSYC20008 hard?

From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: The lab report is heavily weighted and harshly marked, with strict APA formatting. Several found it the hardest part.

What do students say about PSYC20008?

The lab report is heavily weighted and harshly marked, with strict APA formatting. Several found it the hardest part. Several reviewers call the content and marking vague or subjective, though the content relates to real life. The redoable quizzes are easy marks. The exam format has changed: earlier years had essays from questions given in advance; recent reviews mention multiple choice.

How many class hours a week does PSYC20008 have?

3 h a week in class

Can I take PSYC20008 as breadth?

Yes, for: 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 PSYC20008?

2 subjects need it first, for example PHYS30012, PSYC30021.

Can I rate PSYC20008?

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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