Overview

The Ph.D. in Computer Science from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence offers exciting opportunities to do cutting-edge applied research and produce new intellectual contributions with world leaders in their field. It is designed to prepare students for leadership careers in academia, industry research labs and education in computer science. As a graduate of this program, students will not only have strong technical and research expertise in their field but will also have the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and be able to tackle problems that require both technical and non-technical solutions.

Career

AI is permeating every industry. At recent employer engagement events at MBZUAI, there has been representation from multiples sectors including (but not limited to):

Aviation, consultancy, education, energy, finance, government entities, healthcare, media, oil and gas, security and defense, research institutes, retail, telecommunications, transportation and logistics, and startups.

Recent job opportunities advertised via the MBZUAI Student Careers Portal include (but not limited to):

AI solution architect, AI solution engineer, algorithmic engineer, data analyst, data engineer, data scientist, data strategy consultant, full stack software engineer, full stack web developer, predictive analytics researcher, and senior data scientist – consultant.

Other career opportunities could include (but not limited to):

Applied scientist, analytics engineer, augmented/virtual reality, autonomous cars, biometrics and forensics, chief data officer, data platform leadership, data journalist, data and AI technical sales specialist, growth analytics / engineers, manager: AI and cloud services planning, machine learning engineers, product manager: AI and data analytics, product data scientist, product analyst, remote sensing, research assistants, security and surveillance, senior software engineer, and VP data.

Visa Opportunities for Graduates

Outstanding graduates from MBZUAI are eligible to apply for a 10-year golden visa in UAE, which will enable themselves and their family members to work and live in UAE with corresponding benefits.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Advanced Complexity
Advanced Data Structures
Randomized Algorithms
Combinatorial Optimization
Advanced Research Methods
Computer Science Ph.D. Research Thesis

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00

More details

15th Nov: Priority deadline.

15th Dec: Final deadline.
Applying by the priority deadline is strongly encouraged as they will be reviewed first.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

90

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

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Credits

60 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Disciplines

Computer Sciences Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning View 6 other PhDs in Artificial Intelligence in United Arab Emirates

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Academic requirements

GPA

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

90

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants for the Ph.D. in Computer Science should hold a completed degree in computer science which demonstrates academic distinction and a strong background in both applied and theoretical aspects of computer science – either:

Bachelor’s degree with at least 35% computer science content and minimum CGPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent, or Master’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent.

Applicants must provide their completed degree certificates and official transcripts when submitting their application. Senior-level students can apply initially with a copy of their official transcript and expected graduation letter and upon admission must submit the official completed degree certificate and transcript. A degree attestation from UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (for degrees from the UAE) or Certificate of Recognition should also be furnished within students’ first semester at MBZUAI.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and/or in United Arab Emirates, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

Free
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

Free

Additional Details

Full scholarship including 100% tuition fees for international students.

Living costs

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

5000 - 8600 AED / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

All admitted students are granted upon acceptance the privilege to complete their study with a full scholarship including 100% tuition, a monthly stipend and many more benefits. However, and in order to maintain their scholarships, stipends and other benefits, students are expected to maintain high academic standing, comply with the university code of conduct and fulfill certain requirements during their study tenure.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Computer Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career

Visa Opportunities for Graduates

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Abu Dhabi

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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