Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) Graduate Scholarship 2027

The Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MAAI) is different. It is a fee-paying professional programme and is not eligible for the university's or faculty-sponsored graduate funding. Applicants seeking the scholarship should check the funding status of their exact programme before applying.

2. Who can apply?

The university's general graduate admission requirements specify that applicants should have a degree in a relevant STEM discipline from an accredited institution recognised by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Relevant academic backgrounds may include:

• Computer Science
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Other relevant science and engineering disciplines

The general published minimum CGPA is 3.0 or 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, depending on the programme. Applicants should consult the requirements for their intended degree because the minimum academic threshold is not identical across all programmes.

International applicants are welcome. However, meeting the minimum academic requirement does not guarantee admission. MBZUAI describes its admissions process as highly competitive, with limited places available.

3. What documents are required?

Applicants should prepare the following documents and information:

1. A completed online application.
2. Curriculum vitae (CV) showing academic qualifications, work experience, research publications and programming or coding skills.
3. Official bachelor's degree certificate and academic transcript, or an expected graduation letter where applicable.
4. Master's degree certificate and transcript for PhD applicants who hold a master's qualification.
5. Two referee recommendations for MSc applicants.
6. Three referee recommendations for PhD applicants.
7. Statement of purpose.
8. Research statement for PhD applicants.
9. Valid evidence of English-language proficiency that meets the requirements of the selected programme.
10. A valid passport copy.
11. A photograph with a white background.

The university may require additional programme-specific information. Applicants whose transcripts are not in English should arrange an official English translation and retain the original documents.

4. Screening examination and interview

Admission involves more than submitting academic documents.

MBZUAI requires applicants to complete a screening examination designed to assess foundational knowledge relevant to their chosen programme. The examination may cover advanced mathematics and programming, with additional machine-learning and core computer-science topics for PhD applicants.

A technical interview may also be required for shortlisted candidates. The university explains that its interview process assesses applicants' academic background, motivation, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving ability and mathematical readiness.

Applicants should therefore prepare for the technical assessment rather than relying exclusively on their academic transcripts.

The university also requires an application fee of AED 200 after completion of the screening examination. Applications with unpaid fees are considered incomplete. The published fee-waiver conditions include achieving an overall screening examination score of at least 75% or being enrolled, in which case the fee is reimbursed upon enrolment.

5. Application deadlines for the 2027 intake

The university has different deadlines for different graduate programmes:

• 15 December 2026, 5:00 p.m. GST: Most MSc and PhD programmes.
• 22 January 2027, 5:00 p.m. GST: MSc and PhD in Computational Biology.
• 28 February 2027, 5:00 p.m. GST: Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MAAI).

The MAAI programme is fee-paying and is not eligible for the university's graduate scholarship.

For applicants interested in the funded graduate programmes, the December deadline is particularly important. The university expects to issue admission decisions for most graduate applicants by 31 March 2027. The 2027 Fall semester is scheduled to begin in mid-August 2027.

Only one application per admission cycle is permitted, so applicants should carefully select their intended programme before submitting.

6. How to apply

1. Visit the official MBZUAI graduate admissions website and review the programmes available for the 2027 intake.
2. Select the MSc or PhD programme that matches your academic background and research interests.
3. Read the programme-specific admission requirements, including the GPA and English-language requirements.
4. Prepare your CV, academic transcripts, certificates, statement of purpose and referee details.
5. PhD applicants should also prepare a research statement and identify faculty members whose research interests align with their proposed area of study.
6. Complete the online application through the university's application portal.
7. Complete the required screening examination and pay the applicable application fee, unless eligible for a waiver.
8. Monitor your email and application portal for any additional assessment or interview instructions.

Application portal: https://apply.mbzuai.ac.ae/

7. Practical advice for applicants

A strong application should demonstrate more than a general interest in artificial intelligence. Applicants should explain the particular area of AI they want to study and show how their previous academic training has prepared them for it.

For example, an applicant interested in machine learning should be able to demonstrate relevant preparation in mathematics, statistics, programming and data analysis. Someone interested in computer vision or robotics should explain relevant projects, technical experience or research work that supports that interest.

For PhD applicants, the research statement deserves particular attention. It should identify a meaningful research problem, explain why the problem matters, outline a plausible research direction and demonstrate awareness of relevant academic work. Applicants should also explore MBZUAI's faculty directory and identify potential supervisors whose research aligns with their interests.

The CV should give concrete evidence of technical ability. Instead of simply writing "knowledge of Python" or "interested in AI", describe relevant projects, tools used, research contributions, publications, datasets analysed or systems developed. Where possible, explain your individual contribution to each project.

Before submitting, check that your referees are available and can provide detailed academic or professional recommendations. Also ensure that your transcripts, certificates and English-language documents are ready. The university's application process requires a complete submission, and applicants should not assume that missing documents can always be added later.

8. Important points to check before applying

• Confirm that your chosen programme is eligible for the university's funding arrangement.
• Check the exact GPA and English-language requirements for that programme.
• Do not confuse the fee-paying Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence with the funded MSc programmes.
• PhD applicants should understand the faculty-adviser matching requirement and its effect on continued funding.
• Budget for the AED 200 application fee unless you qualify for one of the published waivers.
• Submit only one application for the admission cycle.
• Check the official admissions page regularly in case programme requirements or funding conditions are updated.