48 months
Duration
Free
Free
Unknown
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date

About

The goal of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence is to produce highly trained researchers for industry and academia. The program prepares students to apply the research techniques and knowledge they have gained to solve complex problems in the field of Computer Science and AI. MBZUAI ranks 15th in AI, ML, CV, NLP and Robotics in CS Rankings globally.

Visit programme website for more information

Overview

The Ph.D. in Computer Science from  Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence  offers exciting opportunities to do cutting-edge applied research and produce new intellectual contributions with world leaders in their field. It is designed to prepare students for leadership careers in academia, industry research labs and education in computer science. As a graduate of this program, students will not only have strong technical and research expertise in their field but will also have the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and be able to tackle problems that require both technical and non-technical solutions.

Career

AI is permeating every industry. At recent employer engagement events at MBZUAI, there has been representation from multiples sectors including (but not limited to):

  • Aviation, consultancy, education, energy, finance, government entities, healthcare, media, oil and gas, security and defense, research institutes, retail, telecommunications, transportation and logistics, and startups.

Recent job opportunities advertised via the MBZUAI Student Careers Portal include (but not limited to):

  • AI solution architect, AI solution engineer, algorithmic engineer, data analyst, data engineer, data scientist, data strategy consultant, full stack software engineer, full stack web developer, predictive analytics researcher, and senior data scientist – consultant.

Other career opportunities could include (but not limited to):

  • Applied scientist, analytics engineer, augmented/virtual reality, autonomous cars, biometrics and forensics, chief data officer, data platform leadership, data journalist, data and AI technical sales specialist, growth analytics / engineers, manager: AI and cloud services planning, machine learning engineers, product manager: AI and data analytics, product data scientist, product analyst, remote sensing, research assistants, security and surveillance, senior software engineer, and VP data.

Visa Opportunities for Graduates

Outstanding graduates from MBZUAI are eligible to apply for a 10-year golden visa in UAE, which will enable themselves and their family members to work and live in UAE with corresponding benefits. 

Programme Structure

Courses include:

  • Advanced Complexity
  • Advanced Data Structures
  • Randomized Algorithms
  • Combinatorial Optimization
  • Advanced Research Methods
  • Computer Science Ph.D. Research Thesis

Key information

Duration

  • Full-time
    • 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

More details
  • 15th Jan: Regular deadline.
  • 31st May: Final deadline, application after Jan 15th might not be considered.

Credits

60 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

What students do after studying

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Academic requirements

GPA admission requirements GPA
Required

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

  • Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
  • Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
  • Liability
  • Home contents and baggage
  • Accidents
  • Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and/or in United Arab Emirates, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

MBZUAI accepts applicants from all nationalities who hold a completed degree in Computer Science from a university accredited or recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE), demonstrate academic distinction and have a strong background in both applied and theoretical aspects of Computer Science – either with a:

  • Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% Computer Science content and minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. 

OR

  • Master’s degree in Computer Science fields. Students should have a minimum CGPA of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - Submission of GRE scores is optional for all applicants but will be considered a plus during the evaluation.

Applicants must provide their completed degree certificates and official transcripts when submitting their application, along with proof of English language ability. Applicants must also submit:

  • Statement of purpose
  • Research statement
  • A minimum of three (3) referees

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees
  • International

    Free
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the tuition of 0 AED per year during 48 months.
  • National

    Free
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the tuition of 0 AED per year during 48 months.

Full scholarship including 100% tuition fees, free accommodation, annual round tickets to/from the home country, health insurance and a monthly stipend of 10,000 AED for international students.

Living costs for Abu Dhabi

5000 - 8600 AED /month
Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

All admitted students are granted upon acceptance the privilege to complete their study with a full scholarship including 100% tuition, a monthly stipend and many more benefits. However, and in order to maintain their scholarships, stipends and other benefits, students are expected to maintain high academic standing, comply with the university code of conduct and fulfill certain requirements during their study tenure.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Computer Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
10000 USD
Deadline
01 Sep 2025
The PhD Prep Fellowship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Admit Lab
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
09 Jul 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Salvado Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

The Ramsay Centre
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Anonymous Hope Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
20 May 2025
PlagiarismSearch 2025 Essay Contest
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

PlagiarismSearch
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Voice Talent Online
Location not available

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