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Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP)

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Launched in 2023, the Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) is our flagship experiential AI research internship for undergraduates worldwide. Applications for the 2026 program will open on January 1, 2026, and it will be held from June to July 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed).

UGRIP offers a chance to advance your research career, connect with some of the brightest minds in AI, and experience life in the UAE.

What you can expect:
  • Fully funded, four-week residency at our Abu Dhabi campus
  • Mentorship and guidance from top faculty
  • Collaboration with high-caliber students from the UAE and abroad
  • Opportunities to build a strong professional network


The program has quickly become one of the most competitive and sought-after immersive AI undergraduate research experiences. In 2025, nearly 2000 students applied, with only 4% accepted. More than 130 interns have participated so far, representing leading global institutions such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Indian Institutes of Technology, and Monterrey Institute of Technology.

The benefits you will receive include:

A generous stipend
Accommodation
Visa, airfares, and airport transfers
Health insurance
Social and cultural activities
Access to MBZUAI's student facilities

Located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s hub for sustainability, MBZUAI provides advanced facilities, labs, and research centers to think big. Our graduates go on to launch startups, invent breakthrough technologies, and drive innovation across sectors.

  • World’s first AI-focused research University
  • Ranked top 10 globally in AI, computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and robotics (CSRankings)*
  • Access to world leading faculty with an attractive student-faculty ratio (5.6:1)*
  • Diverse international student body representing more than 60 countries*
  • Active supporter of women in STEM (28% of students are women)*

* Correct as at August 2025

What research will you undertake?

    Interns are embedded in faculty-led research teams, working on high-impact projects. Past projects have included:

  • Developing models for brain tumor detection
  • Creating automated systems for media bias detection
  • Designing interactive music generation systems
  • Advancing machine translation for dialectal Arabic
  • Building early-stage brain-machine interface frameworks

Interns contribute directly to original, hands-on research across core AI disciplines such as computer vision, computer science, machine learning, NLP, and robotics. Projects may also explore human-computer interaction, computational biology, and data science.

Many interns choose to continue their studies at MBZUAI by pursuing our master’s or Ph.D. programs in:

Online application

Applications are currently closed and will open on January 1, 2026.

Eligibility

  • Undergraduate students in the penultimate year of a STEM-related major and graduating after August 2026
  • Minimum CGPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent

Required documentation

  • Enrollment letter from University registrar showing admission date, program duration, and expected graduation date
  • Official academic transcript listing all courses, grades, and credit hours
  • Proof of English proficiency through 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
    • OR official letter from University registrar confirming English is the medium of instruction
  • Valid color passport copy (minimum one year validity)
  • Statement of purpose essay, including:
    • 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 relevant details that will support the application.

All documents must be in English or include certified translations. Academic documents must carry official stamps and signatures.

Admission cycle and dates

The summer 2026 admission cycle for UGRIP for all nationalities is as follows:

  • OPENS

    January 1, 2026 (8 a.m. GST)

  • CLOSES

    February 28, 2026 (5 p.m. GST)

  • REVIEW PROCESS

    Ongoing during the admission cycle

  • ADMISSION DECISION NOTIFICATION DEADLINE

    April 1, 2026 (11 p.m. GST)
UGRIP will be held from:
June to July 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed).
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Meet the interns

Aaryamonvikram

Aaryamonvikram, India

Natural language processing

“The knowledge that I have gained from the UGRIP program at MBZUAI will be used to further conduct research in the field of NLP back home in India and I hope to share this with my friends and my classmates...The UGRIP program has definitely influenced my future plans as now I lean more towards the research side of things and maybe even go for my further studies here at MBZUAI rather than going for employment in the industry.”

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Shahad

Shahad, UAE

Machine learning

“The program helped me (a lot) to learn about the machine learning field with the help of my amazing mentors...From the knowledge that I gained here at UGRIP program, I would like to do further research in machine learning and build on it.”

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John

John, USA

Computer vision

“My expectations have been fully fulfilled here at MBZUAI ...I got to learn a lot of machine learning techniques from people from all around the world and I'm excited to apply them to my life back home...The Undergraduate Research Internship Program has definitely influenced what I'm going to do in the future. I'm very excited about the research that I've done here and I'm looking forward to furthering this research after my undergraduate studies are complete.”

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