SWEN20003 Object Oriented Software Development

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

• Final exam 50%
• 10% group work

Is SWEN20003 hard?

SWEN20003: About average. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (9 reviews). Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 1 other hurdle task. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.

What you learn

Designing software with objects and classes, and building those designs in a programming language.

After it you can

• Design a medium-sized program with object-oriented models
• Write code that follows your design
• Compare the trade-offs of different designs

What you need first

COMP10002 or COMP20005

• COMP10002 Foundations of Algorithms
• COMP20005 Intro. to Numerical Computation in C

What it leads to

• SWEN30006 Software Modelling and Design

Can’t be taken together with

• COMP90041 Programming and Software Development

Careers

Helps toward: Software Engineer, Web and social media developer, Computing professional, Mobile app designer

How it’s assessed

Assignments 20%, Tests 20%, Participation 10%, Final exam 50%

Student reviews and ratings

Summarised from 9 students on StudentVIP (2018–2022)

• It is a solid introduction to object-oriented programming in Java and seen as useful for a computing career.
• The main project is building a game, which most found fun and rewarding. Start early, as bugs take time.
• The exam was not considered hard. Workshops can be finished quickly if you prepare beforehand.

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 SWEN20003

Quick answers

When is SWEN20003 offered?

Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.

What do I need before taking SWEN20003?

Needs COMP10002 or COMP20005.

Does SWEN20003 have a final exam?

Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Assignments 20%, Tests 20%, Participation 10%, Final exam 50%.

Is SWEN20003 hard?

From 9 student reviews on StudentVIP: It is a solid introduction to object-oriented programming in Java and seen as useful for a computing career.

What do students say about SWEN20003?

It is a solid introduction to object-oriented programming in Java and seen as useful for a computing career. The main project is building a game, which most found fun and rewarding. Start early, as bugs take time. The exam was not considered hard. Workshops can be finished quickly if you prepare beforehand.

Can I take SWEN20003 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 SWEN20003?

1 subjects need it first, for example SWEN30006.

Can I rate SWEN20003?

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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