An experiential research internship program for AI
Would you like the chance to take your research career to the next level? Then, join the Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) – a fantastic opportunity to connect with some of the brightest minds in AI.
For over four weeks at our Abu Dhabi campus, you’ll work with other high-calibre students from the UAE and around the world on research projects, build your professional network and receive mentorship and guidance on further study choices from one of our top-class graduate students or faculty. Your flights, insurance, accommodation, and stipend are covered as part of the internship, as is a series of cultural and social activities, and trips to downtown Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Register your interest below to receive updates about the next UGRIP cohort.What are the research areas in AI you can work on?
Why MBZUAI?
MBZUAI's campus is located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi's pioneering hub for sustainability, and offers the facilities, labs, and research centers to think big. Our graduates go on to found start-ups, invent the tech of tomorrow and drive public and private sector innovation.
A world first
We are the world’s first AI-focused, graduate research university
Global top 20 for AI
We are ranked 18th in the world for AI, CV, ML, NLP, and robotics
5:1 student to faculty ratio
Research alongside world leading faculty
Global student body
Our students come from more than 40 countries
Women in AI
39% of our students are women
Benefits
As a MBZUAI UGRIP student you will receive the following benefits:
A generous stipend
Private accommodation
Visa, airfares, and airport transfers
Health insurance
Social and cultural activities
Access to MBZUAI’s student facilities
Internship application requirements
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Undergraduate students in the third/fourth year of STEM-related majors, including students in Australian-style Honours degrees with a CGPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent
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Official enrolment letter from the University Registrar that includes registration status, admission date, program duration/expected graduation date
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Official academic transcript that includes all registered courses from the first until the current semester with course names, grades and credit hours
- Statement of Purpose
In a 400-word essay, explain why you would like to participate in the UGRIP at MBZUAI and include the following information:
- Motivation for applying
- Personal and academic background and how it makes you suitable for the UGRIP
- Stand-out achievements (e.g., awards, distinction, etc.)
- Goals as a prospective UGRIP participant
- Preferred career path and plans
- Any other details that will support the application
- Official evidence of English language proficiency, such as an official letter from the University Registrar confirming that English is the medium of instruction at the applicant’s university or a valid certificate of any of the following:
- TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 90
- IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 6.5
- EmSAT English with a minimum score of 1550
- Colored copy of passport (valid for at least one year)
- All submitted documents must either be in English, originally, or include legal English translations. Additionally, official academic documents should be stamped and signed by the university authorities.
Application deadlines
Summer 2025 admission cycle for Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) (all nationalities)
| First day of receiving applications | Last day of receiving applications | Last day of sending admission decision notifications | Review process |
| 1st January 2025 (8:00 AM UAE time) |
28th February 2025 (5:00 PM UAE time) |
1st April 2025 (11:00 PM UAE time) |
Throughout the admission cycle, the Admission Committee will review applications and make admission decisions. |
| Important Notes | |||
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– Applicants are allowed to submit one application per admission cycle. Multiple submissions will not be processed.
– Only applications submitted through the online application portal (https://mbzuai.ac.ae/register) by the submission deadline and with complete and valid documentation will be evaluated. – All application documents must either be in English, originally, or include legal English translations. Additionally, official academic documents should be stamped and signed by the university authorities. |
Student testimonials
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“I'm very excited about the research that i've done here and I’m looking forward to furthering this reasearch after my undergraduate studies are complete.”
John, USA
Computer Vision -
“I couldn't have imagined it (UGRIP) going a better way for me, not only related to technical aspects of learning ML or NLP techniques, i also met a bunch of people from different nationalities all across the world and interacted with them.”
Aaryamonvikram, India
Natural Language Processing -
“The program helped me a lot to learn about the machine learning field with the help of my amazing mentors and smart collegues.”
Shahad, UAE
Machine Learning
