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Fine-Tuning & Optimizing Large Language Models

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Fine-Tuning & Optimizing Large Language Models

Instructor: Edureka

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

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1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Apply transfer learning and parameter-efficient fine-tuning techniques (LoRA, adapters) to adapt pretrained LLMs for domain-specific tasks

  • Build end-to-end fine-tuning pipelines using Hugging Face Trainer APIs, including data preparation, hyperparameter tuning, and evaluation

  • Design and optimize LLM context using relevance selection, compression techniques, and scalable context engineering patterns

  • Optimize, deploy, monitor, and maintain fine-tuned LLMs using model compression, cloud inference, and continuous evaluation workflows

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Recently updated!

January 2026

Assessments

17 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the LLM Engineering: Prompting, Fine-Tuning, Optimization & RAG Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

This course provides a comprehensive, hands-on journey into model adaptation, fine-tuning, and context engineering for large language models (LLMs). It focuses on how pretrained models can be efficiently customized, optimized, and deployed to solve real-world NLP problems across diverse domains.

Through structured lessons, demonstrations, and practice assignments, you will learn how to apply transfer learning, parameter-efficient fine-tuning techniques, context engineering strategies, and optimization methods to build scalable and production-ready LLM systems. The course emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical workflows using modern tooling such as Hugging Face, Trainer APIs, and model monitoring platforms. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Explain the principles of transfer learning, model adaptation, and parameter-efficient fine-tuning for large language models - Fine-tune pretrained models using techniques such as LoRA and adapters for domain-specific and task-based applications - Design effective context engineering strategies, including context optimization, compression, and scalable context patterns - Evaluate fine-tuned models using task-appropriate metrics and perform error analysis - Optimize, deploy, monitor, and maintain fine-tuned models for efficient and cost-effective production use This course is ideal for machine learning engineers, AI practitioners, NLP developers, and data scientists who want to move beyond prompt-only interactions and gain practical expertise in adapting and deploying LLMs in real-world systems. A working knowledge of Python, machine learning fundamentals, and basic NLP concepts is recommended to get the most out of this course. Join us to master the end-to-end lifecycle of fine-tuning, optimizing, and operationalizing large language models—from pretrained foundations to scalable, production-ready AI solutions.

Explore how pretrained language models are adapted for new tasks using transfer learning techniques. Learn how parameter-efficient methods such as LoRA and adapters enable lightweight fine-tuning, and how domain-specific data improves model performance. By the end, you’ll understand how to customize large models efficiently while minimizing training cost and complexity.

What's included

13 videos5 readings4 assignments1 discussion prompt

13 videosTotal 78 minutes
  • Specialization Introduction7 minutes
  • Course Introduction4 minutes
  • Introduction to Transfer Learning6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Exploring Pretrained Models on Hugging Face Hub5 minutes
  • Demonstration: Visualizing Model Layers and Parameters5 minutes
  • Introduction to PEFT, LoRA, and Adapters7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Fine-Tuning with LoRA on a Custom Dataset6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Adding Adapters LoRa for Lightweight Training7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Instruction-Based Fine-Tuning on a Custom Dataset7 minutes
  • Fine-Tuning for Custom Domains6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Domain-Specific Classification Fine-Tuning7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Domain-Specific Classification Fine-Tuning : Visualization4 minutes
  • Demonstration: Evaluating Fine-Tuned Model Accuracy6 minutes
5 readingsTotal 70 minutes
  • Welcome to Fine-Tuning & Optimizing Large Language Models15 minutes
  • Foundations of Transfer Learning and Domain Adaptation15 minutes
  • Understanding LoRA and Adapter-Based Fine-Tuning for Large Models15 minutes
  • Best Practices for Domain Adaptation 15 minutes
  • Module Summary : Understanding Model Adaptation and Transfer Learning10 minutes
4 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Understanding Model Adaptation and Transfer Learning30 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Fundamentals of Transfer Learning6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning Techniques6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Domain-Specific and Task-Based Adaptation6 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Introduce Yourself10 minutes

Dive into the end-to-end workflows required to fine-tune language models effectively. Learn how to prepare and tokenize datasets, configure training pipelines using the Hugging Face Trainer API, and optimize hyperparameters for better results. By the end, you’ll be able to train, evaluate, and publish fine-tuned models with confidence.

What's included

10 videos4 readings4 assignments

10 videosTotal 62 minutes
  • Preprocessing and Cleaning Text for Fine-Tuning7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Tokenizing and Batching Datasets6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Dataset Splitting for Validation and Testing6 minutes
  • Setting Up Fine-Tuning Environments7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Configuring Trainer API for BERT Models7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Monitoring Training Loss and Accuracy6 minutes
  • Model Evaluation Metrics: F1, BLEU, ROUGE6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Visualizing Confusion Matrix for Performance6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Exporting and Uploading to Hugging Face Hub6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Evaluating models using DeepEval + ELO ranking6 minutes
4 readingsTotal 60 minutes
  • Text Preprocessing Pipelines for Fine-Tuning Transformers15 minutes
  • Hyperparameter Optimization in Hugging Face Trainer15 minutes
  • Model Evaluation Metrics and Error Analysis for NLP Tasks15 minutes
  • Module Summary: Fine-Tuning Workflows and Hyperparameter Optimization15 minutes
4 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Fine-Tuning Workflows and Hyperparameter Optimization30 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Preparing and Tokenizing Data6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Fine-Tuning Pipeline Setup6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Evaluating Fine-Tuned Models6 minutes

Explore how context influences LLM behavior and performance. Learn the fundamentals of context engineering, manage token limits, apply context compression techniques, and design scalable context patterns. By the end, you’ll understand how to structure and optimize context for reliable and production-ready LLM applications.

What's included

15 videos4 readings4 assignments

15 videosTotal 78 minutes
  • Introduction to Context Engineering5 minutes
  • LLM Context Engineering Basics5 minutes
  • Comparing Prompt and Context Design4 minutes
  • Effective Context Writing4 minutes
  • Demonstration: Context Flow Visualization6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Comparing Prompt and Context Engineering for LLMs5 minutes
  • Token Limits in LLMs4 minutes
  • Context Relevance Selection5 minutes
  • Context Compression Techniques5 minutes
  • Demonstration: Context Compression in LLM System6 minutes
  • Task Isolation Strategies5 minutes
  • Common Context Errors5 minutes
  • Scalable Context Engineering6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Context Isolation Patterns for LLMs6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Scaling LLM with Production using Context Engineering6 minutes
4 readingsTotal 55 minutes
  • Foundations of LLM Context Design15 minutes
  • Optimizing Context Windows15 minutes
  • Context Engineering Design Patterns15 minutes
  • Module Summary: Context Engineering for LLMs10 minutes
4 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Context Engineering for LLMs30 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: LLM Context Fundamentals6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Context Limits and Optimization6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Context Patterns and Scalability6 minutes

Learn how to optimize fine-tuned models for efficient inference and real-world deployment. Explore model compression techniques such as quantization and knowledge distillation, scaling strategies in cloud environments, and continuous monitoring practices. By the end, you’ll know how to deploy, scale, and maintain LLMs while controlling cost and performance.

What's included

13 videos4 readings4 assignments

13 videosTotal 72 minutes
  • Model Compression Techniques6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Quantizing Model for Inference Speed - I4 minutes
  • Demonstration: Quantizing Model for inference Speed - II5 minutes
  • Demonstration: Knowledge Distillation for Model Compression6 minutes
  • Scaling and Cost Management in Cloud Environments6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Deploying on Hugging Face Inference API7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Monitoring Latency and Costs6 minutes
  • Continuous Evaluation and Model Versioning6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Tracking Metrics with MLflow - I6 minutes
  • Demonstration: Tracking Metrics with MLflow - II 5 minutes
  • Demonstration: Tracking Metrics with MLflow - III7 minutes
  • Demonstration: Updating Models Using Incremental Retraining - I5 minutes
  • Demonstration: Updating Models Using Incremental Retraining - II5 minutes
4 readingsTotal 65 minutes
  • Efficiency Optimization Techniques for Transformer Models15 minutes
  • Scaling Fine-Tuned Models for Production Inference15 minutes
  • Lifecycle Management for Deployed LLM Models20 minutes
  • Module Summary: Understanding Model Adaptation and Transfer Learning15 minutes
4 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Optimization, Compression, and Deployment30 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Model Optimization Techniques6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Scaling Fine-Tuned Models6 minutes
  • Practice Knowledge Check: Monitoring and Maintaining Fine-Tuned Models6 minutes

Apply everything you’ve learned through a hands-on practice project focused on fine-tuning and adapting an LLM end to end. Reflect on key concepts, complete the final graded assessment, and identify next steps for advancing your skills. By the end, you’ll be prepared to apply model adaptation techniques in real-world AI systems.

What's included

1 video1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 3 minutes
  • Course Summary: Fine-Tuning & Optimizing Large Language Models3 minutes
1 readingTotal 40 minutes
  • Practice Project: Fine-Tuning and Adapting Domain-Specific LLMs40 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes
  • End Course Knowledge Check: Fine-Tuning & Optimizing Large Language Models30 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Describe your Learning Journey10 minutes

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Instructor

Edureka
203 Courses185,724 learners

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Frequently asked questions

This course teaches how to fine-tune, adapt, optimize, and deploy large language models for real-world applications.

It helps you move beyond prompt usage and gain hands-on expertise in production-grade LLM adaptation.

It is designed for ML engineers, AI practitioners, NLP developers, and data scientists.

Basic familiarity with machine learning and NLP concepts is recommended but not mandatory.

The course uses Hugging Face Transformers, Trainer API, and modern LLM tooling.

Yes, the course covers PEFT methods such as LoRA and adapter-based fine-tuning.

Yes, the course covers quantization, compression, and knowledge distillation.

Yes, the course covers metrics like F1, BLEU, ROUGE, and error analysis.

Yes, each module includes practical demos and assignments.

This course focuses on model adaptation, training workflows, and production deployment rather than prompts alone.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Financial aid available,