Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

What you'll study

Courses and research focus on foundational and applied computational biology topics. The curriculum covers programming, machine learning, statistics and bioinformatics, and trains students to integrate and interpret biological data from multiple sources while respecting ethical and privacy norms. The programme is primarily research-based: coursework provides skills required to complete a research thesis and internships that support that research.

• Program learning outcomes: critically evaluate literature across computational biology and engineering; apply computational tools and experimental methods used in life sciences, biotechnology and healthcare; integrate and interpret multi-source biological data; independently design and execute experiments; communicate scientific findings to varied audiences; and function as member or leader of collaborative research teams.
• Core coursework: four core courses totaling 16 credits (mandatory).
• Electives: minimum of two electives totaling 8 credits chosen to align with research interests.
• Research and practical components: one research thesis worth 8 credits and an introduction to research methods course (2 credits).
• Internship: at least one internship of up to six weeks is required and carries 2 credits.

Entry requirements

The programme page lists application and admission guidance; the final application deadline shown is 15 December 2026 (5 p.m. GST). Specific entry qualifications and documents are provided through the university’s graduate admission information.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles in biotechnology and healthcare industries, positions that require computational analysis of molecular and clinical data, and for further academic research such as PhD study. Workstreams referenced by the department include precision medicine, systems biology, genetics and biomarker discovery, often leveraging large-scale multi-omic datasets.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The programme materials reference university-level research initiatives and fellowships elsewhere on the site; prospective students should consult MBZUAI’s admissions and funding pages for current scholarship, fellowship and assistantship opportunities and any eligibility criteria.