PSYC30017 Perception, Memory and Cognition

University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

• Final exam 50%
• About 3 class hours a week

Is PSYC30017 hard?

PSYC30017: Harder. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (6 reviews).

What you learn

Classic and modern experiments on perception, memory and decisions, and how theories get tested and revised.

After it you can

• Design an experiment to test a theory
• Analyse behaviour data with statistics
• Make charts to show your results

What you need first

None

How it’s assessed

Quizzes 15%, Reports and essays 35%, Final exam 50%

Student reviews and ratings

Summarised from 6 students on StudentVIP (2017–2024)

• The content is challenging, dense and abstract, so you can't coast through it. Best if you enjoyed second-year cognitive psychology.
• Most reviewers found it well run and the staff passionate, though one recent reviewer disliked the tutorials.
• The short-answer exam covers all weeks and felt tough, but appeared to be scaled. Marking is more objective than in other psych subjects.

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 PSYC30017

Quick answers

When is PSYC30017 offered?

Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

What do I need before taking PSYC30017?

No prerequisites.

Does PSYC30017 have a final exam?

Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 15%, Reports and essays 35%, Final exam 50%.

Is PSYC30017 hard?

From 6 student reviews on StudentVIP: The content is challenging, dense and abstract, so you can't coast through it. Best if you enjoyed second-year cognitive psychology.

What do students say about PSYC30017?

The content is challenging, dense and abstract, so you can't coast through it. Best if you enjoyed second-year cognitive psychology. Most reviewers found it well run and the staff passionate, though one recent reviewer disliked the tutorials. The short-answer exam covers all weeks and felt tough, but appeared to be scaled. Marking is more objective than in other psych subjects.

How many class hours a week does PSYC30017 have?

3 h a week in class

Can I take PSYC30017 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.

Can I rate PSYC30017?

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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