The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has opened applications for its Graduate Scholarship 2027, offering international students, including Pakistanis, an opportunity to pursue graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence in the UAE.
The scholarship covers Master’s and PhD programmes in AI-related fields at the university’s Abu Dhabi campus. The 2027 fall semester is scheduled to begin in August 2027, while the application deadline is December 15, 2026.
For PhD students, university funding is provided during the first year while students complete the faculty advisor matching process. From the beginning of the second year, funding moves to the faculty advisor, subject to a confirmed advisor match and satisfactory academic progress.
The funding arrangement for Master’s students is different. Admission to a Master’s programme does not automatically include financial support. Students need to secure available funding options, which may include merit-based funding, faculty-sponsored research or teaching assistantships, or approved UAE government scholarships for eligible candidates.
Applicants must meet MBZUAI’s graduate admission requirements and hold a relevant STEM degree from an accredited institution. The university considers academic performance, technical preparation, research experience and potential for advanced AI research during the evaluation process.
The required CGPA generally ranges from 3.0 to 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, depending on the selected programme. Applicants are also expected to demonstrate a clear connection between their academic background, research interests and chosen AI programme.
Students may need to submit academic transcripts, degree certificates, a CV, statement of purpose, research statement, referee recommendations and English language test results. Additional documents may also be required depending on the selected programme.
For English proficiency, the listed minimum scores include IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90, PTE Academic 60 and Duolingo English Test 120. Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency scores of 180 and 200 respectively are also listed.
The MBZUAI Graduate Scholarship gives AI students an opportunity to study at a specialised artificial intelligence university in Abu Dhabi. PhD students can work with faculty members through the advisor matching process and pursue research in advanced AI fields.
Students interested in applying should first select their preferred graduate programme and review its specific admission requirements. They can then submit the online application along with the required documents.
The deadline for the MBZUAI Graduate Scholarship 2027 is December 15, 2026. Applicants should complete the admission and screening requirements before the deadline and check the latest university guidelines before submitting their applications.
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