FIT5217 Natural language processing
Faculty of Information Technology
FIT5217 Natural language processing is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Information Technology, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton, Malaysia and Suzhou (SEU). It needs FIT5201, FIT5197, FIT5047, EPM5003 or FIT5215.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton, Malaysia, Suzhou (SEU)
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before FIT5217
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After FIT5217
No unit lists FIT5217 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Basics of probability and mathematics (discrete & continuous)
Prerequisite: For students enrolled in E3001, E3002, E3005, E3010, E3011, E3007 completing the Software Engineering specialisation: ENG1005 AND FIT3080.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
Natural language processing (NLP) stands as a cornerstone in the information age, made even more riveting with the rise of Generative AI and the introduction of models like LLM. NLP not only supports artificial intelligence in grasping intricate language nuances but also heralds a range of innovative applications. This unit delves into the fundamental principles of NLP, covering essential techniques for analyzing language syntax and meaning. We will also explore the neural network underpinnings of contemporary language models in the context of important real-world problems such as Machine Translation. Furthermore, we'll delve into the theoretical and practical foundations of recent LLMs.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Blended |
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| Term 3 | Suzhou (SEU) | On campus |
Assessment
- Assignment 1ArtefactThreshold hurdle25%
- Assignment 2ArtefactThreshold hurdle25%
- Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes)ExaminationThreshold hurdle50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
organise core problems and applications in NLP;
- 2
design systems to tackle NLP problems;
- 3
Evaluation of NLP models from utility & ethics, and safety perspectives.
- 4
assess various recent approaches to NLP.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars24 hours
- Laboratories22 hours
- Lectures24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online and face to face learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated reading and preparation for scheduled teaching activities. Clayton campus - no Lab in week 1.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
- Speech and Language Processing (3rd ed. draft), Dan Jurafsky and James H. Martin, Draft chapters in progress, October 16, 2019. The PDF can be obtained here: https://web.stanford.edu/~jurafsky/slp3/
- Foundations of Statistical Natural Language Processing, Chris Manning and Hinrich Schütze, MIT Press. Cambridge, MA: May 1999. The book's website: https://nlp.stanford.edu/fsnlp/
-
Introduction to Natural Language Processing, Jacob Eisenstein, MIT Press. Cambridge, 2019.
Where it fits
FIT5217 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Sailaja Rajanala
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Sailaja Rajanala
- Trang Vu
- Cunjian Chen
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for FIT5217?
You need FIT5201, FIT5197, FIT5047, EPM5003 or FIT5215 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is FIT5217 offered?
In 2026, FIT5217 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton, Malaysia and Suzhou (SEU).
How much work is FIT5217?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does FIT5217 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include FIT5217?
FIT5217 is part of Computational science and Software engineering.