Program Overview

Introduction to the Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP)

The Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) is a flagship experiential AI research internship for undergraduates worldwide, launched in 2023. Applications for the 2026 program will open on January 1, 2026, and it will be held from Sunday, May 31 – Friday, June 26, 2026.

Program Overview

UGRIP offers a chance to advance your research career, connect with some of the brightest minds in AI, and experience life in the UAE. The program includes:

• Fully funded, four-week residency at the Abu Dhabi campus
• Mentorship and guidance from top faculty
• Collaboration with high-caliber students from the UAE and abroad
• Opportunities to build a strong professional network

Benefits

The benefits of participating in UGRIP include:

• A generous stipend
• Accommodation
• Visa, airfares, and airport transfers
• Health insurance
• Social and cultural activities
• Access to MBZUAI's student facilities

Research Areas

Interns will have the opportunity to work on a research project related to core AI disciplines, such as:

• Computer vision
• Computer science
• Machine learning
• Natural language processing
• Robotics Projects may also explore human-computer interaction, computational biology, and data science.

Past Projects

Past projects have included:

• Developing models for brain tumor detection
• Creating automated systems for media bias detection
• Designing interactive music generation systems
• Advancing machine translation for dialectal Arabic
• Ensuring safe obstacle avoidance in robotics

Eligibility and Application Requirements

To be eligible for UGRIP, applicants must:

• Be undergraduate students in the penultimate year of a STEM-related major and graduating after August 2026
• Have a minimum CGPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent Required documentation includes:
  • Enrollment letter from the university registrar
  • Official academic transcript
  • Proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, Duolingo English Test)
  • Valid color passport copy
  • Statement of purpose essay
  • Curriculum vitae

Admission Cycle and Dates

The summer 2026 admission cycle for UGRIP is as follows:

• Opens: January 1, 2026 (8 a.m. GST)
• Closes: February 28, 2026 (5 p.m. GST)
• Review process: Ongoing during the admission cycle
• Admission decision notification deadline: March 31, 2026 (5 p.m. GST)

Testimonials

Past interns have shared their experiences and the impact of UGRIP on their future plans, including:

• Aaryamonvikram from India, who worked on natural language processing
• Shahad from the UAE, who worked on machine learning
• John from the USA, who worked on computer vision

MBZUAI Programs

MBZUAI offers various programs, including:

• Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MAAI)
• Undergraduate Program
• AI Master's Programs
• AI Ph.D. Programs
• Computer vision (CV) M.Sc. and Ph.D.
• Computer science (CS) M.Sc. and Ph.D.
• Machine learning (ML) M.Sc. and Ph.D.
• Natural language processing (NLP) M.Sc. and Ph.D.
• Robotics (ROB) M.Sc. and Ph.D.