MBZUAI Undergraduate Research Internship (UGRIP, UAE)

The MBZUAI Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) is a fully funded four-week AI research residency in Abu Dhabi at the world’s first graduate-level university dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence. Interns join faculty-led projects in machine learning, computer vision, NLP and robotics with everything covered: stipend, private housing, round-trip flights, visa and insurance, plus trips around Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The program is open worldwide to penultimate-year STEM undergraduates with roughly a 3.5 GPA, and competition is fierce at around a 4 percent acceptance rate. Applications open each January 1 and close at the end of February for the June residency.

• Undergraduate students of any nationality in the penultimate year (third or fourth year) of a STEM-related major, graduating after the internship summer.
• Strong academic record with a cumulative GPA of about 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS Academic 6.5, EmSAT 1550, or an official letter confirming English as your degree's medium of instruction.
• Background or strong interest in machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics or related AI areas.
• Available full time for the entire four-week June residency in Abu Dhabi.
• No supervisor needs to be secured in advance; projects are ranked on arrival.
• Be ready for serious competition: recent cycles accepted around 4 percent of nearly 2,000 applicants.

• Join a faculty-led research team at the world's first graduate-level AI university for an intensive four-week project.
• Work hands-on across core AI disciplines: machine learning, computer vision, NLP (including Arabic and underserved languages), robotics and computational biology.
• Use MBZUAI's advanced labs and computing resources under mentorship from faculty and graduate students.
• Collaborate with a small international cohort drawn from leading universities worldwide.
• Present your project results at the closing session.
• Explore Abu Dhabi and Dubai through the program's organized cultural activities.

• Everything covered: generous stipend, private on-campus accommodation, round-trip airfare, visa processing, airport transfers and health insurance.
• Research at a university ranked in the global top ten for AI, computer vision, machine learning, NLP and robotics by CSRankings.
• Mentorship that regularly converts into MBZUAI's fully funded master's and PhD offers.
• A compact four-week format that fits any summer, unlike three-month internships.
• Cultural and social program including trips in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
• A cohort experience with students from institutions like Georgia Tech, the IITs and Tec de Monterrey.

• Prepare your documents early: registrar enrollment letter showing expected graduation, stamped transcripts, passport copy (one year validity), English proof and a statement of purpose covering your background, achievements and goals.
• Applications for each summer open on January 1 and close at the end of February (the 2026 round closed February 28), so target January to February 2027 for UGRIP 2027.
• Submit the complete online application through the MBZUAI portal; incomplete files are not evaluated.
• All documents must be in English or carry certified translations with official stamps.
• Decisions arrive by the end of March, with the residency running in June.
• If you are past undergraduate level, look instead at MBZUAI's graduate programs and research assistant openings.