The goal of the Ph.D. program in Robotics is to prepare the next generation of world-class researchers, industry leaders, academics, and educators in the field of robotics and autonomous systems.
As a research-oriented degree, the Ph.D. in Robotics focuses on human-centered and autonomous robotics research and prepares exceptional students for careers at the cutting edge of academia, industry, and government. Our world-leading robotics researchers, students and industry partners collaborate to advance discoveries in various aspects of robotics, such as perception and applied machine learning, human-robot interaction, cognitive and soft robotics, and swarm intelligence. Ph.D. students in Robotics enjoy the unique experience of conducting world-class research with the state-of-the-art equipment and under the guidance of internationally renowned experts.
By the end of this program, students will be able to:
The minimum degree requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics is 60 credits, distributed as follows:
Core courses | Number of courses | Credit hours |
Core | 4 | 16 |
Electives | 2 | 8 |
Internship | At least one internship of up to four-months’ duration must be satisfactorily completed as a graduation requirement | 2 |
Advanced Research Methods | 1 | 2 |
Research thesis | 1 | 32 |
The Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics is primarily a research-based degree. The purpose of coursework is to equip students with the right skillset, so they can successfully accomplish their research project (thesis). Students are required to take ROB801, ROB802, ROB803, and ROB804 as mandatory courses.
Students will select a minimum of two elective courses, with a total of eight (or more) credit hours. The choice of electives must be selected based on interest, proposed research thesis, and career aspirations, in consultation with their supervisory panel. The elective courses available for the Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics are listed in the tables below:
The Ph.D. thesis exposes students to cutting-edge and unsolved research problems in the field of robotics, where they are required to propose new solutions and significantly contribute towards the body of knowledge. Students pursue an independent research study, under the guidance of a supervisory panel, for a period of three to four years.
The MBZUAl internship with industry is intended to provide the student with hands-on experience, blending practical experiences with academic learning.
Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
INT899 | PhD Internship (up to four months) | 2 |
MBZUAI accepts applicants from all nationalities who have a completed degree in a STEM field such as Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or other relevant Science or Engineering major that demonstrates academic distinction in a discipline appropriate for the doctoral degree – either:
Applicants must provide their completed degree certificates and official transcripts when submitting their application. Senior-level students can apply initially with a copy of their official transcript and expected graduation letter and upon admission must submit the official completed degree certificate and transcript. A degree attestation from UAE MoE (for degrees from the UAE) or Certificate of Recognition from UAE MoE (for degrees acquired outside the UAE) should also be furnished within students’ first semester at MBZUAI.
All submitted documents must either be in English, originally, or include official English translations. Additionally, official academic documents must be stamped and signed by the university authorities.
Each applicant must show proof of English language ability by providing valid certificate copies of either of the following:
TOEFL iBT and IELTS academic certificates are valid for two (2) years from the date of the exam while EmSAT results are valid for eighteen (18) months. Only standard versions (i.e. conducted at physical test centers) of the accepted English language proficiency exams will be considered.
Waiver requests from eligible applicants who are citizens (by passport or nationality) of UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand who completed their studies from K-12 until bachelor’s degree and master’s degree (if applicable) from those same countries will be processed. They need to submit notarized copies of their documents during the application stage and attested documents upon admission. Waiver decisions will be given within seven (7) days after receiving all requirements.
Submission of GRE scores is optional for all applicants but will be considered a plus during the evaluation.
In a 500- to 1000-word essay, explain why you would like to pursue a graduate degree at MBZUAI and include the following information:
The research statement is a document summarizing the potential research project an applicant is interested in working on and clearly justify the research gap which the applicant would like to fill in during the course of his/her study. It must be presented in the context of currently existing literature and provide an overview of how the applicant aims to investigate the underlying research project as well as predict the expected outcomes. It should mention the relevance and suitability of the applicant’s background and experience to the project and highlight the project’s scientific and commercial significance. The research statement should include the following details:
Applicants are expected to write the research statement independently. MBZUAI faculty will NOT help write it for the purpose of the application. The MBZUAI Admission Committee will review the submitted document and use it as one of the measures to gauge and assess applicants’ skills.
Applicants will be required to nominate referees who can recommend their application. Ph.D. applicants should have a minimum of three (3) referees wherein at least one was a previous course instructor or faculty/research advisor and the others were current or previous work supervisors.
To avoid issues and delays in the provision of the recommendation, applicants have to inform their referees of their nomination beforehand and provide the latter’s accurate information in the online application portal. Automated notifications will be sent out to the referees upon application submission.
All applicants with complete files, including the required number of recommendations, will be invited to participate in an online screening exam to assess their knowledge and skills. Completion of the exam is not mandatory but highly encouraged as it would provide additional information to the evaluation committee. Waiving the exam is only recommended for those students who can provide strong evidence of their research capability, subject matter expertise, and technical skills.
Exam Topics
Math: Calculus, probability theory, linear algebra, trigonometry and optimization
Machine learning: Machine learning algorithms and concepts such as linear regression, decision trees, loss functions, support vector machines, classification, regression, clustering, convolutional neural networks, dimensionality reduction, neural networks and unsupervised learning
Programming: Knowledge surrounding specific programming concepts and principles such as algorithms, data structures, logic, OOP, and recursion as well as language–specific knowledge of Python
Applicants are highly encouraged to complete the following online courses to further improve their qualifications :
The exam instructions are available here
A select number of applicants may be invited to an interview with faculty as part of the screening process. The time and instructions for this will be communicated to applicants on timely bases.
A typical study plan is as follows:
ROB801 Advanced Robotics Motion Planning
ROB802 Advanced Topics in Robotics: Multi-Robot Systems
+ one elective
ROB803 Advanced Humanoid Robotics
ROB804 Vision for Autonomous Robotics
+ one elective
INT899 PhD Internship
RES899 Advanced Research Methods
ROB899 Robotics Ph.D. Research Thesis
ROB899 Robotics Ph.D. Research Thesis
ROB899 Robotics Ph.D. Research Thesis
ROB899 Robotics Ph.D. Research Thesis
ROB899 Robotics Ph.D. Research Thesis
ROB899 Robotics Ph.D. Research Thesis
AI is permeating every industry. At recent employer engagement events at MBZUAI, there has been representation from multiples sectors including (but not limited to):
Recent job opportunities advertised via the MBZUAI Student Careers Portal include (but not limited to):
Other career opportunities could include (but not limited to):
Disclaimer: Subject to change.
We’ll keep you up to date with the latest news and when applications open.