Machine Learning Essentials WS 2025/2026
Time and Place
Offered every Winter Semester
Lecture: Fridays 830-1000
Exercise: Fridays 1015-1100
Place: 5505.01.550
Help with coding: Wednesdays 1300-1500
Place: 5501.02.133
Program
BSc.
Language: English
5 ECTS, 2 VO + 1 UE
Literature
Bishop: Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning. Extra literature will be given in the lecture notes.
Exam
Type: written
Time & Place: 27.02.2026 at 08:00, 5416.01.004
Allowed: non-programable calculator
Exam Breakdown
The exam grade can be increased by 0.3 if exercises are submitted and sufficient attempts are made to solve them.
What's this course about?
The course is an introductory B.Sc. level course on the topic of machine learning and deep learning. Starting with a review of probability theory and Python programming, we then introduce various machine learning approaches (supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning) and tasks (regression, classification, clustering, and dimensionality reduction), using recent success examples. Topics covered include linear and logistic regression, Gaussian process, regularization, generalization and model selection, numerical optimization, principal component analysis, clustering, neural networks, and auto-encoders. In the exercise class, you will apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations and learn how to utilize machine learning tools to solve engineering and scientific problems.
How does it work?

Learn the basics
The theoretical background will be given in 2h/week lectures with a mixture of slides (motivational examples, key concepts), pen annotation of lecture notes (important mathematical background), and animations (algorithm demonstrations).

Apply to Problems
Exercise handouts are given beforehand. During exercise class, TAs give you hints on how to solve them and explain any questions about the previous exercise. Computational problems can be solved in any programming language. However, the solutions will be in Python.

Download
All course material (lecture notes, slides, exercise handouts, etc.) will be uploaded to Moodle or Artemis.

Questions
For any organizational questions, write an email to the head TA.

Online Support
Need help with exercises? You didn't quite understand the lectures? Post on Moodle or Artemis and get fast feedback.

Learn from others
A collection of questions on Moodle or Artemis allows you to learn from and help your fellow students.
Meet your teachers

Lecturer
