Postgraduate Course: Machine Learning in Python (MATH11205)
Course Outline
| School | School of Mathematics | 
College | College of Science and Engineering | 
 
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) | 
Availability | Not available to visiting students | 
 
| SCQF Credits | 10 | 
ECTS Credits | 5 | 
 
 
| Summary | Machine Learning techniques are of increasing importance in key applications in a variety of data driven problems. This course will seek to give a practical introduction to these techniques, backed up by using python to apply them to a variety of datasets. The course is suitable for students with some existing background in python, and basic knowledge of probability and statistics. | 
 
| Course description | 
    
    This course is intended to provide an introduction to machine learning techniques. The course includes a discussion of some of the theory and ideas behind these techniques, as well as a chance to apply them in practice using a suitable toolkit available in python. 
 
Topics may include: 
 
- Introduction: supervised vs. unsupervised learning, regression vs. classification 
- Linear regression: basis function expansion, overfitting 
- Training, testing, generalisation, cross-validation, evaluating/comparing models 
- Classification (logistic regression, naive Bayes, decision trees/random forests) 
- Regularisation/sparse regression (ridge and lasso) 
- Unsupervised clustering (k-means, hierarchal clustering) 
    
    
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Course Delivery Information
 |  
| Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) 
  
 | 
Quota:  None | 
 
| Course Start | 
Semester 2 | 
 
Timetable  | 
	
Timetable | 
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) | 
 
 Total Hours:
100
(
 Lecture Hours 14,
 Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15,
 Summative Assessment Hours 1.5,
 Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
67 )
 | 
 
| Assessment (Further Info) | 
 
  Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
 | 
 
 
| Additional Information (Assessment) | 
Coursework will consist of at least two applied machine learning projects and weekly workshop assignments. | 
 
| Feedback | 
Written feedback on both projects ¿ potentially marked with gradescope if available.  
 
No written feedback on workshop assignments ¿ solutions posted after the deadline. | 
 
| Exam Information | 
 
    | Exam Diet | 
    Paper Name | 
    Hours & Minutes | 
    
	 | 
  
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Machine Learning in Python (MATH11205) | 2:00 |  |  
 
Learning Outcomes 
    On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
    
        - Explain the operation of different supervised and unsupervised algorithms and their practical uses.
 - Select and apply a suitable learning algorithm to a range of basic problems.
 - Use a suitable programming language to work with data and apply machine learning tools to it.
 - Interpret the output and validity of a learning algorithm.
 - Understand the derivations of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms including their strengths, weaknesses, and conceptual explanations.
 
     
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Reading List 
- The Elements of Statistical Learning, Hastie et al. Springer (2001) ISBN 9781489905192 
 
- Introduction to Machine Learning in Python, S.Guido & A.Muller O'Reilly (2016) ISBN 97814493369880 
 
- Thoughtful Machine Learning with Python, M.Kirk O'Reilly (2017) ISBN 9781491924136 |   
 
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills | 
Not entered | 
 
| Keywords | Machine Learning,Python,MLPy | 
 
 
Contacts 
| Course organiser | Dr Sara Wade 
Tel: (0131 6)50 5085 
Email:  | 
Course secretary | Miss Gemma Aitchison 
Tel: (0131 6)50 9268 
Email:  | 
   
 
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