Internship•UAE · Abu Dhabi

Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP)

Funding

Fully Funded · Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Jun 1, 2026 – Jun 26, 2026

The Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) is a flagship experiential research program run by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), a graduate AI university in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Launched in 2023, it brings undergraduates from around the world to MBZUAI’s campus for a four-week immersive research experience, working alongside faculty and researchers on artificial-intelligence projects. Interns join active labs across fields such as computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, human-computer interaction, computational biology and data science. The program is fully funded and highly selective — in its 2025 edition roughly 2,000 students applied and about 4% were admitted.

Benefits & funding

  • Fully funded residency at MBZUAI’s Abu Dhabi campus for the four-week program
  • Monthly stipend (the official page does not publish the exact amount)
  • Accommodation provided
  • Round-trip airfare and airport transfers
  • Entry visa and health insurance
  • Access to MBZUAI student facilities plus social and cultural activities

Eligibility

  • Undergraduate students in the penultimate year of a STEM major, graduating after August 2026 (having completed at least three years of study by the program start)
  • Minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
  • Meets MBZUAI’s English-language requirement (e.g. IELTS 6.5+, TOEFL iBT 90+, PTE 60+, or an accepted equivalent / medium-of-instruction letter)
  • Valid passport with at least one year of validity
  • Open to applicants of any nationality

Application process

  1. 1
    Prepare the required documents: enrollment letter, official transcript, proof of English proficiency, passport copy, statement of purpose and CV.
  2. 2
    Submit the application through the MBZUAI applicant portal during the application window (1 January – 28 February for the 2026 cycle).
  3. 3
    Await admission decisions (released 7 April for the 2026 cycle).
  4. 4
    If admitted, complete visa and travel arrangements and attend the four-week residency in Abu Dhabi.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open (8 a.m. GST)

    Jan 1, 2026

  2. Application deadline (5 p.m. GST)

    Feb 28, 2026

  3. Admission decisions released (5 p.m. GST)

    Apr 7, 2026

  4. Program starts

    Jun 1, 2026

  5. Program ends

    Jun 26, 2026