MBZUAI Scholarships 2027 in UAE

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence is a specialist AI university based in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Its graduate programmes focus on advanced artificial intelligence research and related areas including machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, computer science, statistics and data science, computational biology and human-computer interaction. For the 2027 intake, MBZUAI has introduced an important distinction between Master’s and PhD funding.

All doctoral programmes are described by MBZUAI as offering a full scholarship, including tuition, accommodation, healthcare, student visa and a monthly stipend. Under the current funding structure, PhD students receive central university funding in Year 1 while matching with a faculty adviser. Continued funding is subject to securing an adviser match and maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

M.Sc. students, however, are now fee-paying by default. Merit-based funding may be awarded during the admissions review process, while students may also secure funding through a faculty-sponsored research or teaching assistantship. Funding is therefore not guaranteed for every admitted Master’s student.

For funded international students, MBZUAI currently lists monthly stipends of AED 15,500 for funded M.Sc. students and AED 17,500 for funded PhD students, together with tuition coverage, annual return airfare, health insurance and eligible UAE residence visa/Emirates ID sponsorship. The professional Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MAAI) should not be included when advertising this scholarship opportunity. It is explicitly fee-based, costs AED 170,000 in tuition and is not eligible for university or faculty-sponsored funding.

Applicants should:

• Hold a relevant degree from an accredited or recognised university.
• For M.Sc. programmes, generally hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM field such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics or another suitable science/engineering discipline.
• Meet the programme-specific minimum CGPA requirement. For example, the current M.Sc. Computer Science programme requires a minimum 3.0/4.0 or equivalent.
• For PhD programmes, satisfy the specific degree and GPA pathway of the selected programme. Current PhD Computer Science requirements allow a relevant Bachelor’s with at least 3.5/4.0 or a relevant Master’s with at least 3.0/4.0.
• Provide valid English-language proficiency evidence unless an approved exemption applies.
• Complete MBZUAI’s mandatory screening examination.
• Submit the required statement of purpose.
• PhD applicants must submit a research statement.
• Provide at least two referees for M.Sc. applications and three referees for PhD applications.
• Meet any additional academic or technical requirements of the selected programme.

PhD Scholarship Benefits

All MBZUAI doctoral programmes offer full scholarship support, including:

• Full tuition coverage.
• Accommodation.
• Healthcare.
• Student visa support.
• Monthly stipend.
• One return airfare each year to the student’s home country.
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID sponsorship where eligible.
• AED 17,500 monthly stipend for funded international PhD students under the current funding table.

PhD funding is centrally provided during Year 1 while the student establishes a faculty-adviser match. Continued funding depends on securing the required adviser match and satisfactory academic progress.

Master’s Funding Benefits

M.Sc. students who secure MBZUAI funding may receive:

• Full tuition coverage.
• Monthly stipend.
• One return airfare each year to the student’s home country.
• Health insurance during the approved funding period.
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID sponsorship where eligible.
• AED 15,500 monthly stipend for funded international M.Sc. students under the current funding table.

General graduate application documents include:

• Completed online application form.
• CV showing academic background, work experience, publications where applicable and programming/coding skills.
• Official Bachelor’s transcript and degree certificate, or expected graduation letter where applicable.
• Master’s transcript and degree certificate for PhD applicants applying with a Master’s degree.
• Statement of purpose in PDF format.
• Research statement in PDF format for PhD applicants.
• Minimum two referee recommendations for M.Sc. applicants.
• Minimum three referee recommendations for PhD applicants.
• Valid proof of English-language proficiency.
• Valid passport copy.
• Passport-style photograph with a white background.
• Additional UAE residency documents where applicable.

Senior-level students may apply initially with their transcript and expected graduation letter but must provide final official degree documents after admission. Degrees obtained outside the UAE may also require a Certificate of Recognition within the first semester.

MBZUAI’s graduate admissions process considers factors including:

• Academic background and academic performance.
• Suitability of the applicant’s prior degree for the chosen programme.
• Technical and quantitative preparation.
• Screening-exam performance.
• Programming and mathematical readiness.
• Quality and relevance of the statement of purpose.
• Research background and proposed research direction for PhD applicants.
• Referee recommendations.
• Performance in the technical interview where invited.
• Motivation for studying at MBZUAI.
• Alignment between research interests and available faculty expertise, particularly for PhD funding.

• Study at a university dedicated specifically to artificial intelligence.
• Work in specialised areas including machine learning, NLP, computer vision, robotics and AI-related research.
• Access advanced AI research facilities in Abu Dhabi.
• Work with faculty researchers on specialised research projects.
• Build research experience through thesis-based graduate programmes.
• Gain international academic and professional exposure.
• PhD applicants can access substantial full scholarship support.
• Funded international M.Sc. students may receive significant tuition and living support.