MBZUAI Master's and PhD Scholarships 2027 in Abu Dhabi

About

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a graduate research university in Abu Dhabi that focuses entirely on artificial intelligence. It offers M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs for students from all over the world, and funded students study without paying tuition and receive a stipend, health insurance and a yearly flight home.

The funding works differently for each level. Every Ph.D. program comes with a full scholarship. M.Sc. places are fee-paying by default, but strong applicants are considered for merit-based funding during the admissions review, so you do not need a separate scholarship application. The portal for the 2027 intake opened on 7 September 2026, and the main deadline is 15 December 2026.

Host institution / country

MBZUAI has a single campus in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Its Ph.D. programs cover Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Robotics, and Statistics and Data Science, with M.Sc. programs in related AI fields. Students on a scholarship live in campus housing with an ensuite bathroom, kitchen and living area.

Financial benefits

Funded M.Sc. and Ph.D. students receive:

• Free tuition
• A monthly stipend. The admissions page lists AED 15,500 for international M.Sc. students and AED 17,500 for international Ph.D. students (AED 37,500 and 43,500 for UAE nationals)
• One return flight home each year
• Health insurance for the approved funding period
• A university-sponsored UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, where eligible
• Accommodation for scholarship students on the Masdar City campus

How funding works:

• Ph.D.: the first year is funded centrally while you match with a faculty advisor. The match must be confirmed by the end of year one, and funding then moves to your advisor. Continued funding depends on the match and good progress
• M.Sc.: funding is not guaranteed. It comes from a faculty-sponsored research or teaching assistantship, or an approved government scholarship for UAE nationals
• The Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MAAI) is fee-based and has no university funding
• Funded students must study in person on campus. Outside scholarships must be declared and normally replace the MBZUAI stipend

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants of any nationality
• A degree in a STEM field, such as computer science, electrical or computer engineering, mathematics or physics, from an accredited institution recognised by the UAE Ministry of Education
• A minimum CGPA of 3.0 or 3.5 out of 4.0, depending on the program
• Final-year students can apply with their current transcript and send the final degree documents after admission
• Proof of English for non-native speakers, for example IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90 (or 4.5 on the new score scale), PTE Academic 60 or Cambridge C1 Advanced 180. Tests must be taken at a test centre, and results are valid for two years
• Only one application per admission cycle is processed

Required documents

• Online application form
• CV with your education, work experience, publications and programming skills
• Bachelor’s transcript and degree certificate (or an expected graduation letter)
• Master’s transcript and certificate, for Ph.D. applicants who hold a master’s
• Statement of purpose (PDF)
• Research statement (PDF), for Ph.D. applicants only
• Referees: three for Ph.D., two for M.Sc.
• Proof of English proficiency
• Valid passport copy and a photo with a white background

How to apply

1. Choose one program. Look through the faculty directory and note a possible supervisor.
2. Create an account on the MBZUAI application portal.
3. Take the online screening exam. It tests advanced mathematics and programming, and Ph.D. applicants are also tested on machine learning and core computer science.
4. Pay the AED 200 application fee after the exam. The fee is waived if you score 75% or more overall.
5. Upload your documents and add your referees.
6. Submit before 15 December 2026, 5 p.m. UAE time (GST). Computational Biology has a later deadline of 22 January 2027.

Selection process and timeline

The admissions committee reviews your documents and your screening exam score. Some applicants are then invited to a technical interview with committee members and receive instructions in advance.

• 7 September 2026: portal opened for most programs
• 15 December 2026, 5 p.m. GST: main application deadline
• 31 March 2027: decisions sent to all applicants
• 15 April 2027, 5 p.m. GST: deadline to accept an offer

Tips for a strong application

• Practise mathematics, programming and, for Ph.D. applicants, machine learning before the screening exam. A high score also waives the application fee.
• Name a realistic supervisor whose research matches your interests, and mention their work in your statement.
• In your CV, list concrete coding projects, publications or competition results.
• Pick your one program carefully, because only one application per cycle is processed.
• If you apply for an M.Sc., plan your finances in case funding is not offered.