MBZUAI welcomed 142 students from 34 countries, its largest and most diverse cohort since 2019, with a competitive admission rate of 4.6% out of over 4,000 applications. The new students are pursuing master's and Ph.D. degrees in computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing, bringing the total student body to nearly 300. MBZUAI also established new robotics and computer science departments to meet global demand. Why it matters: This expansion strengthens the UAE's position as a global AI research hub, attracting top talent and fostering innovation in key AI disciplines.
MBZUAI will welcome its inaugural cohort of 101 students from 31 countries in January 2021, with 82 in M.Sc. programs and 19 in Ph.D. programs focusing on computer vision and machine learning. The students come from diverse regions, including the UAE (21%), other parts of the Middle East (13%), Asia (38%), Africa (21%), and the Americas/Europe (10%), with 30% female representation. Many admitted students graduated from top universities worldwide. Why it matters: This signals the operational launch of MBZUAI as a global hub for AI research and education, with potential to foster international collaboration and AI innovation in the region.
MBZUAI welcomed 127 new students from over 25 countries for the Fall 2022 semester, bringing the total student population to 259. The incoming class includes 22 doctoral students and 105 master’s students across computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing. 32% of the new students are female, and 30 are UAE nationals who will support the UAE’s National Strategy for AI 2031. Why it matters: This continued growth of MBZUAI's student body strengthens the UAE's AI talent pool and supports its national AI strategy.
MBZUAI welcomed its largest cohort of 209 graduate students for Fall 2024, selected from over 4800 applications. The new cohort includes the first students in computer science and robotics, representing 36 countries with 44 Emiratis. MBZUAI is also creating new departments dedicated to human-computer interaction, statistics and data science, and computational biology. Why it matters: This expansion strengthens Abu Dhabi's AI ecosystem and MBZUAI's position as a leading global AI institution, providing a diverse talent pool for the UAE's innovation goals.
MBZUAI welcomed its second cohort of students for the Fall 2021 semester, totaling 74 students across master's and Ph.D. programs. The incoming class includes 41 students in Computer Vision, 24 in Machine Learning, and 9 in the inaugural Natural Language Processing program. The cohort represents 29 nationalities, including 10 UAE nationals, and includes graduates from universities such as Purdue, Edinburgh, and Khalifa University. Why it matters: This demonstrates MBZUAI's continued growth as a global AI research institution attracting international talent to Abu Dhabi.