Fully Funded MBZUAI Scholarship 2027 in Abu Dhabi - Automatic Full Funding

About the Scholarship

The MBZUAI Scholarship 2027 at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi is automatically granted to every admitted full-time student. There is no separate scholarship form. The scholarship provides 100% tuition waiver, monthly stipend, on-campus accommodation, health insurance, and UAE visa sponsorship. The 2027 application portal opens 7 September 2026 and closes 15 December 2026 at 5:00 PM GST.

Scholarship Model

MBZUAI operates a distinctive funding structure: admission equals funding. Every student admitted to a full-time eligible GRADUATE program (M.Sc./Ph.D.; the Master in Applied AI (MAAI) is excluded) receives the full scholarship package automatically. Undergraduate applicants are considered for separate merit-based and need-based scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition and cost of attendance. There is no separate scholarship application, essays, or selection rounds. The admission itself is the competition.

Financial Coverage

• 100% tuition fee waiver for the full program duration.
• Monthly stipend: International MSc students receive AED 15,500 gross/month (approximately AED 8,000 net take-home with housing deducted); International PhD students receive AED 17,500 gross/month (approximately AED 10,000 net take-home). Married PhD students receive additional AED 5,000/month housing allowance. UAE nationals receive significantly higher stipends: AED 37,500/month (MSc) and AED 43,500/month (PhD).
• On-campus student accommodation in Masdar City campus.
• Health insurance and UAE visa/residence sponsorship for non-UAE nationals.
• Annual return airfare to home country for funded international students.
• Dedicated faculty supervision from internationally renowned AI researchers.

Programs Available for 2027 Intake

• Master's and PhD: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, Robotics, Statistics and Data Science, Computational Biology.
• Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (Engineering or Business stream).

Eligibility and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from a university accredited or recognized by UAE Ministry of Education.
• Minimum CGPA of 3.0-3.5/4.0 depending on program (MSc programs typically list 3.2 minimum).
• English proficiency: IELTS Academic minimum 6.5, TOEFL iBT minimum 90, PTE Academic 60, or Cambridge C1.
• Statement of purpose required.
• Research proposal required only for PhD applicants.
• GRE optional, not mandatory.
• Two recommendation letters typically required.
• CV/resume highlighting research, projects, and technical skills. GitHub/technical portfolio recommended.

About Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence is a research university in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. MBZUAI focuses on education and research in artificial intelligence, including machine learning, computer vision and related fields. Its programmes bring students and researchers together to develop computational methods and investigate practical AI applications.

Official website: https://mbzuai.ac.ae

Application dates

Milestone	Date
Application portal opens	7 September 2026
Priority review deadline	15 November 2026, 5:00 PM GST
Final application deadline	15 December 2026, 5:00 PM GST
Admission decisions	By 31 March 2027
Enrollment	Fall 2027 intake

Application Process

1. Choose your program from the MSc or PhD catalogs and confirm CGPA cutoff and prerequisites.
2. Gather documents: official transcripts, degree certificates, English test scores, statement of purpose, CV, and recommendation contacts. PhD applicants also prepare research proposal.
3. Apply online through MBZUAI admissions portal when it opens on 7 September 2026. The application also serves as the scholarship application.
4. Submit before 15 November 2026 for priority review, or by final deadline 15 December 2026.
5. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for faculty interviews.
6. Receive admission decisions by 31 March 2027 with full scholarship package activated upon enrollment.

Official Link

• MBZUAI main site: https://mbzuai.ac.ae
• Graduate admission process: https://mbzuai.ac.ae/study/graduate-admission-process
• Master's programs: https://mbzuai.ac.ae/study/msc-programs
• PhD programs: https://mbzuai.ac.ae/study/phd-programs

Important Notes

• There is no scholarship selection process. Funding is automatic upon admission. All application effort should target admission quality.
• The December 15 deadline is final. Applying by November 15 priority deadline improves review positioning.
• The applicant pool is heavily research-weighted. Publications, open-source contributions, and competition results materially strengthen applications.

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the official portal before the deadline: 15 December 2026. Read the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare all requested documents — early applications are strongly recommended for competitive awards.

Open the official application page ↗

Application guides

• How to Email a PhD Supervisor: 7 Templates and Practical Tips
• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps