MBZUAI opens admissions cycle for Fall 2021 cohort

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the first graduate-level, research-based artificial intelligence (AI) university in the world, has opened its admissions cycle, which will see accepted students begin their AI education journey at the state-of-the-art Masdar City campus in Fall 2021. 

MBZUAI has also recently extended admission offers to 100 students for the first academic year commencing in January 2021, with nearly 90 per cent of the admitted students having already accepted their offers. Students accepted into the first cohort were selected from a high caliber group of 2,223 applicants of 97 different nationalities. Admitted students come from 31 countries, with a majority hailing from outside the MENA region.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chairman of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: “In line with the country’s wise leadership vision, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence seeks to develop the necessary skills to achieve growth, progress and advancement. Technology, and artificial intelligence in particular, is the driving force of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a core component of a sustainable and prosperous future. Building a workforce with expert technical skills will contribute towards strengthening the industrial sector in the UAE, while building our capacity for research and development, both of which will help elevate not only industries, but the country’s economy as a whole. A degree from MBZUAI will provide graduates with the skills and competencies to deploy the full potential of artificial intelligence for the betterment of communities, society, and economies, in the UAE and beyond.”

Since launching in October 2019, MBZUAI has achieved several important milestones, including the completion of its state-of-the-art Masdar City campus and the successful completion of its first admissions cycle. In addition to appointing senior faculty members and leadership team made up of renowned experts, MBZUAI has received licensing and accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation, and has launched a series of expert-led webinars to build awareness and understanding of AI amongst the global community. 

Additionally, the University has formed strategic partnerships for AI research and excellence with internationally renowned organizations, such as Virgin Hyperloop, and has hosted numerous delegations of international political and academic leaders. 

Applications are being accepted for a Fall 2021 start in MBZUAI’s MSc and PhD programs in Computer Vision and Machine Learning. 

These programs will be taught by a world-class faculty, overseen by the University’s Board of Trustees, which comprises internationally renowned experts in the field of AI. Dr. Al Jaber is joined on the Board of Trustees by MBZUAI Interim President, Professor Sir Michael Brady, professor of Oncological Imaging at the University of Oxford, UK; Professor Anil K. Jain, a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, USA; Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, a technology executive and venture capitalist based in Beijing, China; Professor Daniela Rus, Director of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), USA, and Peng Xiao, CEO of Group 42.

The University’s Board of Trustees is supported by an Advisory Board, which is chaired by His Excellency Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. Members of the Board include Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology; His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises; His Excellency Jassim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Finance, and Dr. Wan Li Min, Chief Machine Intelligence Scientist at Alibaba. 

Professor Sir Michael Brady said: “We are thrilled that MBZUAI has received such an incredible response from graduate students around the world. The standard of applications received for the inaugural cohort has been excellent, and the faculty is very eager to begin working with students who have already demonstrated strong potential. Students accepted into programs in our first and second academic years will be trailblazers, embarking upon an exciting educational journey that is entirely unique to our University. They will be provided with the opportunity to obtain a skillset that will set them apart in the world of AI, giving them the knowledge and understanding required to not only exceed in their careers, but to reshape the future of our societies through the immense possibilities of artificial intelligence.” 

From the start of the academic year, students will enjoy a purpose-built, high-tech and eco-friendly campus in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, which includes futuristic smart classrooms and research laboratories, an AI-specialized knowledge center, and recreational facilities. MBZUAI is the first university in the UAE that is implementing Software Defined Architecture towards an agile IT infrastructure, with the deployment of consistent services.

Eligible students will have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field in order to be considered for MBZUAI’s MSc programs, and must hold a relevant Master’s degree in order to be considered for the University’s PhD programs. Full admissions requirements can be found on MBZUAI’s website, mbzuai.ac.ae.

Graduate students can apply to MBZUAI via the University’s website. Admissions for the Fall 2021 cohort closes on April 15, 2021. Early admission by 15 January 2021 is recommended for international students.