Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

What you'll study

The degree is primarily research-based; coursework exists to supply the skills necessary to complete a master's research thesis. Degree credit requirements total 36 credits, organised as follows:

• Core courses: 4 courses, 16 credit hours. Core components include the internship (INT799) and Introduction to Research Methods (RES799).
• Electives: At least two electives, totaling 8 credit hours, chosen in consultation with the student’s supervisory panel to match background and research plans.
• Internship: INT799 — an industry internship of up to six weeks that carries 2 credits; students must have completed 24 credit hours before undertaking the internship.
• Introduction to research methods: RES799 — a 2‑credit course covering quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, measurement and metrics, reproducibility and open science, public communication, ethical issues in AI research and designing rigorous research methodology.
• Master’s research thesis: SDS799 — an 8‑credit research thesis that is the central component of the programme.

Entry requirements

The programme page lists admission criteria and an application deadline (final deadline shown as 15 December 2026 at 5 p.m. GST) but does not provide detailed numeric entry thresholds on the published excerpt. Course selection and any prerequisite requirements are determined in consultation with a supervisory panel; students from diverse academic backgrounds are accommodated through personalised coursework plans.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to continue to doctoral study or to take roles that apply statistical inference, supervised and unsupervised learning, and data‑driven modelling in sectors such as business, healthcare and academia. The programme emphasises the ability to formulate research questions, design studies, conduct independent research and communicate findings to varied audiences.

Scholarships & funding angle

The source text does not list specific scholarships or funding levels. Prospective applicants should consult MBZUAI admissions and funding pages for details; given the programme’s research orientation, students may inquire about university fellowships, research assistantships or internship-related support.