NDAK15005U Information Retrieval (IR)
MSc Programme in Computer Science
The course objective is to offer an advanced introduction into information retrieval. The goal is to understand and model how people search for, access and use information, in order to design and evaluate reliable retrieval algorithms. Through realistic and sound projects, the course aims to stimulate and prepare students for their MSc thesis work.
The course will focus on these main questions:
- How can we design efficient retrieval systems?
- How can we design effective retrieval systems?
Content in detail:
Architecture of an IR system
- Basic building blocks
- Crawling, filtering and storing information
- Ranking with indexes
Information ranking models
- Probabilistic & machine learning models
- Complex queries and combining evidence
- Domain-specific ranking
- Evaluation and optimisation
Knowledge of
- The basic architecture of retrieval systems
- The basic models and techniques for collecting, storing and ranking information
- Different criteria for information retrieval evaluation
Skills in
Students should be able to transfer the above knowledge to real-world tasks by:
- Designing appropriate strategies for crawling, storing and ranking information
- Planning and carrying out appropriate evaluations
Given a working retrieval system, students should be able to:
- Diagnose problems in its main information processing functions
- Design and calibrate appropriate solutions
Competences to
- Explain the basic information retrieval principles to both laymen and specialists
- Use standard procedures and practices when designing or implementing information retrieval solutions
- Present evaluation analyses and results in a proper format of a written report such that a technically qualified person can follow and obtain similar findings
The literature consists of seminal research and review articles
from central journals and selected papers from peer-reviewed
conferences, textbooks and research reports. This is supplemented
with practical experience gained through lab sessions.
The literature will be listed in Absalon.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 28
- Practical exercises
- 57
- Preparation
- 14
- Project work
- 50
- Theory exercises
- 57
- Total
- 206
As an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
PhD’s can register for MSc-course by following the same procedure as credit-students, see link above.
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- PortfolioSeveral elements will be included in the exam, the main ones being:
(i) submission of the student’s own project report, and
(ii) the student acting as opponent in respect of fellow students’ work. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Students will need to submit new projects/assignments, no later than three weeks before the re-exam date; additionally an 20-minute oral examination without preparation will be administered covering the full course syllabus. All aids are allowed for the oral examination.
The part-examinations/assignments must be individually approved. The final grade is based on an overall assesment.
Criteria for exam assesment
See Learning Outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NDAK15005U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 4
- Schedule
- C
- Course capacity
- No limit
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Mathematics and Computer Science
Contracting department
- Department of Computer Science
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Maria Maistro (mm@di.ku.dk)