MBZUAI set to welcome global cohort of students from more than 30 countries

Launched as an open invitation from Abu Dhabi to the world to unleash AI’s full potential, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate-level, research-based artificial intelligence (AI) university, will welcome an international inaugural cohort of students when the first semester begins on 10 January, 2021. 

MBZUAI extended admission offers to 101 students from 31 countries for the first academic year commencing in January 2021. Initial plans were to accept 50 students in the first year, however due to the impressive number of applications received, the decision was made to extend admissions offers to more students. Of these students, 82 have been offered admissions in the University’s MSc programs in Computer Vision and in Machine Learning, while 19 have been selected for MBZUAI’s PhD programs in the same fields.

Students in the first cohort come from across the world; 21 per cent of admitted students come from the UAE, 13 per cent from other parts of the Middle East, 38 per cent from Asia, 21 per cent from Africa, and nearly ten  per cent from the Americas and Europe.

There will also be a strong female representation in MBZUAI’s first academic year with women comprising 30 per cent of admitted students. Over 23 per cent of female students who have received offers from the University are Emirati, while 13 per cent come from India and 10 per cent from Syria. 

Admitted students have received education at some of the world’s leading universities, including prestigious institutions such as the National University of Singapore, University of Melbourne, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University, University of York, University of Minnesota, Queen’s University of Belfast, Arizona State University, and Khalifa University in the UAE. 

Professor Sir Michael Brady, Interim President, MBZUAI, said: “The University received applications from some exceptionally talented graduate students from nearly 100 countries, all of whom have compelling and unique stories. This incredibly diverse first cohort will truly bring the world to MBZUAI, creating a multicultural campus that celebrates diversity and international collaboration. Our hope from the very beginning was for MBZUAI to inspire the development of AI on a global scale. With students from around the world, all of whom come from different backgrounds and industries, this is a solid start to realizing the full potential of AI for positive progress around the world.”  

Salem Almarri, a UAE national, will join the University’s PhD Computer Vision program in January. “As an Emirati, it is very important for me to develop world-class solutions for the UAE, to make my mark on the AI sector,” he said. “AI will give humanity a chance to develop a new world based on better solutions. MBZUAI will contribute towards this by bridging the gap between research, government, and the private sector, empowering graduates to become expert consultants who can provide the UAE with the means to gain more growth in the future development of AI and machine learning. I cannot describe how grateful I feel for the opportunity to be part of this.” 

Kevin Michael Toner, from Ireland, will join the University’s MSc Computer Vision program. “Today artificial intelligence is redefining the future of every industry and impacting human lives in an unprecedented way. As demand for specialized AI education increases globally, joining a world-class university like MBZUAI will help expand my horizonsand connect me to an international network of AI industry experts. I am looking forward to both practical experiences and research opportunities, hopefully contributing to real-life applications of this fascinating technology.” 

Prior to the commencement of the academic year, accepted students have been able to refresh their knowledge through a set of online courses, taught by MBZUAI faculty members, that cover the fundamentals of mathematics and programming. These courses are intended to prepare admitted MBZUAI students for the challenging coursework that they will receive at the University, and to help them perform innovative world-class research.

With the first admissions cycle successfully completed, the University has recently started accepting applications for the Fall 2021 cohort. Applications are being submitted for a Fall 2021 start in MBZUAI’s MSc and PhD programs in Computer Vision and Machine Learning. 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 now apply to MBZUAI via the University’s website before April 15, 2021. Early admission by January 15, 2021 is recommended for international students.

Located in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the MBZUAI campus is purpose-built, high-tech, and eco-friendly. It features futuristic 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.