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General requirements

Applicants to MBZUAI's graduate programs must hold a degree in a STEM field such as computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, mathematics, physics, or other relevant science or engineering majors from an accredited University or college recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE), with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) depending on the program. Senior-level students can apply initially with a copy of their transcript and upon admission must submit official complete degree certificate/transcript. A degree attestation (for degrees from the UAE) or a Certificate of Recognition (for degrees acquired outside the UAE) should also be furnished within their first semester at the University.

Other elements required:

  • checkmark iconCurriculum vitae
  • checkmark iconStatement of purpose
  • checkmark iconResearch statement
  • checkmark iconReferee recommendations
  • checkmark iconScreening exam

To learn more about each program’s specific admissions criteria, learning outcomes, and completion requirements please choose your program of study on either one of these links:

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Artificial Intelligence

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Ensure you have the required documents to complete your application before the deadline to avoid any delays in the review of your application, or the inability to submit before the deadline.

Application documents must either be in English, originally, or include legal English translations. Additionally, official academic documents should be stamped and signed by the University authorities.

All applicants

  • checkmark icon Complete online application form
  • checkmark icon CV (with academic background, work experience, research publications, and programming/coding skills)
  • checkmark icon Official bachelor’s degree transcript and degree certificate or expected graduation letter
  • checkmark icon Official master’s degree transcript and degree certificate or expected graduation letter (only for Ph.D. applicants with a master’s degree)
  • checkmark icon Referee recommendations (minimum of three for Ph.D. applicants and two for M.Sc. applicants)
  • checkmark icon Research statement (only for Ph.D. applicants) (make sure to upload as a PDF)
  • checkmark icon Statement of purpose (make sure to upload as a PDF)
  • checkmark icon Valid proof of English language proficiency (must meet the admission criteria and submitted at the time of application.)
  • checkmark icon Valid passport copy
  • checkmark icon Photo with white background

UAE nationals

  • checkmark icon Valid Emirates ID
  • checkmark icon Valid passport copy with unified ID number
  • checkmark icon UAE national service completion/exemption letter (only for UAE national males)
  • checkmark icon Family book (or UAE national mother’s family book, for children of Emirati mothers)
  • checkmark icon UAE birth certificate (only for children of Emirati mothers)
  • checkmark icon UAE national mother’s valid Emirates ID (only for children of Emirati mothers)
  • checkmark icon UAE national mother’s valid passport copy (only for children of Emirati mothers)
  • checkmark icon Valid UAE visa (only for non-GCC children of Emirati mothers)

UAE residents (living in the UAE)

  • checkmark icon Valid UAE visa
  • checkmark icon Valid Emirates ID

All applicants are required to pay the AED 200 fee after application submission. Applications with unpaid fees will be considered incomplete and will not proceed to the review stage.

Fee waivers are available only if:

  • checkmark icon the overall screening exam score is above 75%; or
  • checkmark icon the applicant is admitted (fee will be reimbursed after admission).

The screening exam is designed to assess your foundational knowledge in areas relevant to your program, including advanced mathematics, programming, and, for Ph.D. applicants, machine learning, and core computer science topics.

For topics covered on the exam and resources to help you prepare, visit the program specific pages for more information.

A subset of applicants will be invited to a technical interview with admission committee members. Instructions will be provided before the interview.

We expect to send out decision notifications for all applicants no later than 31 March 2027 (5p.m. GST).

Only one application per admission cycle must be submitted; multiple submissions will not be processed.

Application Portal Opens Final Application Deadline Decision Notification Date Offer Response Deadline
1 September, 2026
(8a.m. GST) 		15 December, 2026
(5p.m. GST)		 31 March, 2027
(5p.m. GST)		 15 April, 2027

Ready to start your new education journey?

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