Prospectus

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Fundamentals of AI and Its Applications

Course
2025-2026

Admission requirements

Required:

  • Data Science and AI, or

  • Introduction to Programming

Description

The course aims to provide the necessary introductory knowledge about artificial intelligence(AI), its current and future impact, and its applications on real life problems.

On the one hand, we cover macro-topics including (but are not limited to) the definition of AI, the historical challenges that accompanied its development, and how generative AI is impacting the way we think and work in different fields. On the other, joint with these topics, we will introduce essential concepts for designing and applying AI solutions such as combinatorial explosion, approximation, optimisation, stochasticity, learning, and others.

Students will be tasked to plan, apply AI approaches to their field of interest, and reflect upon their results.

Course Objectives

  • Remember the fundamental steps in the history of AI

  • Remember the meaning of fundamental concepts for AI

  • Understand how AI developed and how this impacts its current state

  • Understand the opportunities and limitations of AI approaches

  • Evaluate the appropriateness of AI solutions to specific problems

  • Apply AI algorithms to one's field of interest

Timetable

Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2025-2026 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.

Mode of instruction

Lectures and workshops.

Assessment Method

  • Two assignments 40% (20% x 2) (end week 3 and end week 6)

  • In-class exams 30% (15% x 2) (week 4 and week 7)

  • One final assignment 30% (end reading week)

Reading list

TBA

Registration

Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

Giulio Barbero, g.barbero@liacs.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

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