MBZ University of AI launched Bachelor in AI programme

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched its first undergraduate programme - the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence programme, which blends core AI expertise with leadership, entrepreneurship and industry experience.

MBZUAI’s undergraduate programme aims to equip students with a strong foundation in AI fields, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. It also aims to provide cross-disciplinary training in business, finance, industrial design, market analysis, management, and communication. The programme seeks to benefit students by providing a hands-on experiential curriculum to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

The Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and Chairman of MBZUAI’s Board of Trustees, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, said: “Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries and economies worldwide, and the UAE is committed to remaining at the forefront of this transformation. MBZUAI’s new undergraduate programme reflects our nation’s vision to develop future leaders who will harness AI’s potential to drive innovation, economic growth, and societal progress.

“By equipping the next generation with deep technical expertise and an understanding of AI’s broader impact, this programme will play a critical role in ensuring that the UAE continues to lead in AI research, application, and commercialisation. It will also strengthen the nation’s ability to develop homegrown talent, fostering a skilled workforce capable of driving AI advancements that benefit not only our region but the world.”

.@mbzuai has launched its first-ever undergraduate programme to develop young AI talent locally and globally. The Bachelor of Science in AI programme blends core AI expertise with a strong focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and real-world impact. pic.twitter.com/5y7k1eRYd8

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) March 3, 2025

The programme aims to equip students with the leadership acumen, financial and legal fundamentals, and essential human skills including management, communication. The programme also embraces a co-pilot education model, which integrates AI into the student’s educational journey. AI will assume a central role in the student learning experience, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills and preparing students to excel in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The curriculum will cover advanced topics such as deep learning, generative AI, and AI for science, alongside business and entrepreneurial training. Students will also explore cutting-edge areas including AI for health and medicine, AI for sustainable living, and 3D vision and mixed reality.

Students will have the opportunity to work with global leaders across various domains of AI and gain hands-on experience with the teams who develop state-of-the-art large language models including MBZUAI’s JAIS, the world’s most advanced Arabic LLM, and K2, the only third-party reproducible LLM to outperform major private sector models.

The President of MBZUAI, Professor Eric Xing, said: “Our undergraduate programme will be the first-of-its-kind, as it integrates AI education with entrepreneurship, problem-discovery, and key skills for a product journey. We are reshaping what it means to be educated in AI, producing not just engineers, but also entrepreneurs, designers, influencers, executives, and visionary innovators prepared to drive AI innovation in every sector at all stages.

“Our students won’t just be taught theory and programming. They will graduate with critical understandings of society and people, of markets and the economy, and the practical experience and confidence to drive and lead AI initiatives, whether within established companies or through their own entrepreneurial ventures. We’re focused on preparing our graduates for the rapidly changing landscape of AI.

“We are not just educating students; we are building future generations of workforce and community of AI. With this undergraduate programme, MBZUAI is setting a new standard in AI education, ensuring our graduates are equipped to transform industries and drive global progress.”

MBZUAI’s programme, which is open to both local and international students, offers two distinct streams: a Bachelor of Science in AI, Business, focusing on business integration and entrepreneurship, and a Bachelor of Science in AI, Engineering that centres on AI model development and deployment across the breadth of AI, and real-world applications in different sectors.

The programme features cross-disciplinary training and hands-on learning, encouraging students to embrace the humanities, business and a liberal arts curriculum. Students will also engage in co-operative industry placements, internships, mentorships, and partnerships with industry leaders and AI research.