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
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Prepare the required documents: enrollment letter, official transcript, proof of English proficiency, passport copy, statement of purpose and CV.
- 2Submit the application through the MBZUAI applicant portal during the application window (1 January – 28 February for the 2026 cycle).
- 3Await admission decisions (released 7 April for the 2026 cycle).
- 4If admitted, complete visa and travel arrangements and attend the four-week residency in Abu Dhabi.
Program timeline
Applications open (8 a.m. GST)
Jan 1, 2026
Application deadline (5 p.m. GST)
Feb 28, 2026
Admission decisions released (5 p.m. GST)
Apr 7, 2026
Program starts
Jun 1, 2026
Program ends
Jun 26, 2026