Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

Programme overview

The Master of Science in Robotics at MBZUAI is a 36‑credit, on‑campus, full‑time degree designed to build deep knowledge in robotics and autonomous systems and to prepare graduates for doctoral study or employment in robotics R&D and industry. The programme balances core coursework, electives, practical internships and an 8‑credit research thesis. It emphasises interdisciplinary approaches and hands‑on design, prototyping and validation of intelligent robotic systems. Key faculty associated with the programme include Sami Haddadin, Yoshihiko Nakamura, Dezhen Song, Abdalla Swikir, Anqing Duan and Xingxing Zuo.

What you'll study

The curriculum totals 36 credits distributed across core courses, electives, an internship, research methods and a thesis. Core requirements include five core courses (16 credits). Students select at least two electives (8 credits) and complete at least one internship of up to six weeks for 2 credits. An introductory research methods course is taken for 2 credits, and an 8‑credit research thesis completes the programme.

• Program learning outcomes cover: understanding robotics technologies and sensors; spatial transformation, locomotion, kinematics, motion control, localization and mapping, navigation and path planning; critical appraisal of research literature and experimentation with state‑of‑the‑art robotic algorithms; communication of design decisions; and teamwork and leadership in research settings.
• All students must take core courses such as AI7101 Machine Learning with Python (2 credits) and AI7102 Introduction to Deep Learning (core list continues within the programme). Course selection is personalised by a supervisory panel of two or more faculty members to account for diverse academic backgrounds and the planned research project.

Entry requirements

The public programme page lists admissions and application deadlines (next application deadline shown as 15 December 2026 at 5 p.m. GST) and describes a graduate admission process, but specific numeric entry requirements, minimum GPA, prerequisite degrees or test scores are not detailed on the provided text. Applicants should consult the MBZUAI graduate admissions pages for exact eligibility criteria and documentation requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to take leading roles in developing integrated robotics technologies and systems in both local and international contexts. The degree is explicitly intended to ready students for PhD research or for technical careers in industry focused on robotics, autonomous systems, perception, motion control, navigation and related R&D areas.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The source text does not specify scholarships tied to this programme. Prospective students should review MBZUAI funding, fellowship and scholarship opportunities (for example university fellowships or visiting researcher support) and contact the admissions or financial aid offices for current information on tuition support and sponsored research positions.