Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

What you'll study

The degree is primarily research-based; coursework is intended to provide the skills needed to carry out a successful thesis project. The minimum requirement is 60 credits distributed across coursework, experiential learning and thesis work, with core courses required of all students and elective choices tailored by a supervisory panel to account for diverse academic backgrounds.

• Total credits: 60
• Core courses: 3 courses (8 credit hours) — mandatory foundational coursework
• Electives: At least four elective courses (total 16 credit hours), selected in consultation with the supervisory panel
• Internship: At least one internship of minimum three months duration (2 credit hours) is required for graduation
• Advanced research methods: 1 course (2 credit hours)
• Research thesis: 1 thesis (32 credit hours)

Entry requirements

The programme page lists an application deadline (15 December, 2026, 5 p.m. GST) but does not specify detailed admission criteria on the excerpt provided. Admissions decisions and the individual coursework plan are made with a supervisory panel; prospective applicants should consult the university’s graduate admissions information for full entry requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for research roles in both academia and industry. Typical application areas for the skills developed include automated translation, semantic understanding, summarization, conversational agents and intelligent assistants—positions in R&D teams, research labs, and higher-education faculty tracks are realistic outcomes.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

MBZUAI operates multiple graduate support initiatives (for example named fellowship and scholar programs are listed on the university site). Prospective students should review the university’s funding and fellowship pages for current PhD financial support options and eligibility procedures.