Hardest UniMelb subjects

Subjects students say are hard come first, then ones with big final exams, hurdles and long class hours.

How we rank

What students say comes first: the verdict of each public review summary (hard or easy, heavy or light workload), our own ratings once 3 students have rated a subject, and shared grades.
Then the Handbook: the final exam’s share, hurdles, weekly class hours, the number of assessment tasks and the level.
A subject nobody has reviewed is ranked on the Handbook alone, is marked that way, and never goes above one reviewers call easy (or hard).
Left out: subjects not running in 2026, graduate subjects, pass/fail subjects and ones your degree can’t count.
This is guidance, not a promise. Your own strengths matter more, so read the subject page before you enrol.

MAST10008 Accelerated Mathematics 1: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%, 6 class hours a week
COMP30024 Artificial Intelligence: Reviewers say it’s hard (6 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%, You must pass the exam on its own
COMP30023 Computer Systems: Reviewers say it’s hard (7 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 3 other hurdle tasks
ELEN30011 Electrical Device Modelling: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 1 other hurdle task
COMP10002 Foundations of Algorithms: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 60%, You must pass the exam on its own
PHYC10009 Foundations of Physics: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task
MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2: Reviewers say it’s hard (7 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%, 5 class hours a week
MAST20033 Real Analysis: Advanced: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%, 5 class hours a week
MAST30020 Probability for Inference: Reviewers say it’s hard (6 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%
MAST20026 Real Analysis: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%
MAST20030 Differential Equations: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 65%
MAST20004 Probability: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 80%
PHYC20012 Quantum and Thermal Physics: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%
COMP30026 Models of Computation: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 70%
ENEN20002 Earth Processes for Engineering: Reviewers say it’s hard (4 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 2 other hurdle tasks
PHYC10003 Physics 1: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task
BLAW10001 Principles of Business Law: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 80%
ECON20001 Intermediate Macroeconomics: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 60%, You must pass the exam on its own
MAST20022 Group Theory and Linear Algebra: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 70%
PHYC10006 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task, 5 class hours a week
PHYC10001 Physics 1: Advanced: Reviewers say it’s hard (7 reviews), Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task, 5.5 class hours a week
CHEM20020 Chemistry: Structure and Properties: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews), Final exam 80%
MAST10022 Linear Algebra: Advanced: Reviewers say it’s hard (6 reviews), Final exam 70%, 5 class hours a week
MIIM30015 Techniques in Immunology: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, 5 class hours a week
CHEM10004 Chemistry 2: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 65%, 1 other hurdle task
ENGR20004 Engineering Mechanics: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), You must pass the exam on its own
FOOD30010 Functional Foods: Reviewers say it’s hard (4 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
MAST30030 Applied Mathematical Modelling: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews), Final exam 70%
BCMB20005 Techniques in Molecular Science: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
BIOL10001 Biology of Australian Flora & Fauna: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time

Breadth for Bachelor of Science students

BLAW10001 Principles of Business Law: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 80%
ECON20001 Intermediate Macroeconomics: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 60%, You must pass the exam on its own
LING20006 Syntax: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
ACCT20007 Accounting Information: Risks & Controls: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews), You must pass the exam on its own
ACCT20002 Intermediate Financial Accounting: Reviewers say it’s hard (8 reviews), Final exam 60%
FNCE30001 Investments: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews)
BLAW10002 Free Speech and Media Law: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
BLAW20001 Principles of Company Law: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews)
CHIN10005 Chinese 1: Reviewers say it’s hard (4 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
POLS10003 Introduction to Political Ideas: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
ECOM30002 Econometrics 2: Reviewers say it’s hard (4 reviews)
LING20011 Grammar of English: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews)
CLAS10004 Ancient Greek 1: Reviewers say it’s hard (4 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time
LING30002 Phonology: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews)
POLS20006 Contemporary Political Theory: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews)

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