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MOHAMED BIN ZAYED UNIVERSITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (UGRIP)

Application Opens: January 1, 2026 (8 a.m. GST); Deadline: February 28, 2026 (5 p.m. GST)

LOCATION: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

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

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

What you can expect:

Fully funded, four-week residency at their 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

The program has quickly become one of the most competitive and sought-after immersive AI undergraduate research experiences. In 2025, nearly 2000 students applied, with only 4% accepted. More than 130 interns have participated so far, representing leading global institutions such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Indian Institutes of Technology, and Monterrey Institute of Technology.

ELIGIBILITY:

Undergraduate students in the penultimate year of a STEM-related major and graduating after August 2026

Minimum CGPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent

Enrolment letter from the university registrar showing admission date, program duration, and expected graduation date

Official academic transcript listing all courses, grades, and credit hours

Proof of English proficiency through a valid certificate of any of the following:

IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5

TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 90

PTE Academic: Minimum overall score of 60

Cambridge C1 Advanced: Minimum 180

Cambridge C2 Proficiency: Minimum score 200 (meets and exceeds required proficiency)

Duolingo English Test: Minimum score of 120. (Accepted only where IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Cambridge access is limited. A mandatory interview is required. Evidence of limited access to other tests may be requested.)

OR an official letter from the University registrar confirming English is the medium of instruction

Valid color passport copy (minimum one year validity)

Statement of purpose essay, including:

Motivation for applying

Personal and academic background and how it makes you suitable for the UGRIP

Stand-out achievements (e.g., awards, distinctions, etc.)

Goals as a prospective UGRIP participant

Preferred career path and plans

Any other relevant details that will support the application.

All documents must be in English or include certified translations. Academic documents must carry official stamps and signatures.

Please note: Exams must be administered at an approved physical test center. Home Edition exams are not accepted.

BENEFIT:

A generous stipend

Accommodation

Visa, airfares, and airport transfers

Health insurance

Social and cultural activities

Access to MBZUAI’s student facilities

APPLY

THE EARTH PRIZE ANNUAL COMPETITION

Application Deadline: 31st January 2026

LOCATION: Switzerland

The Earth Prize is an annual, global $100,000 environmental sustainability competition for students between the ages of 13 and 19, which rewards the teams whose projects have the most potential to address environmental issues. Through The Earth Prize competition, students are inspired, educated, mentored and empowered to solve environmental sustainability problems.

ELIGIBILITY:

Registration is open from September 1st until January 31st.

Participants must have been born between 2006 and 2012 and be registered in a school or educational program.

Education Level: The Earth Prize is open to all students in the secondary education level and is not open to tertiary education students. Eligible institutions are schools or educational programs.

Location: Participants are accepted from anywhere in the world. There are no geographic restrictions. The regions are Southeast Asia and Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and Central & South America.

Language: Starting with The Earth Prize 2026, registrations and submissions can be made in any language, and an integrated AI tool will be available to support participants throughout the process.

Teams: Each Participant can be an individual student or a team of up to five (5) students collaborating on a submission. Participants from different classes and grades are welcome to form a team. Teams can also consist of students from different institutions.

Educator: Participants are strongly encouraged to have an assigned adult Educator for their team. Valid Educators include, but are not limited to, teachers or school administrators. If Participants have been signed up through an educational program, valid Educators can include program coordinators or educators. For individual participants or groups of homeschooled students, a parent may serve as the Educator. In either case, an official document certifying the Educator status or the student’s authorized homeschooling status will be requested during registration.

Participation: Past Participants are welcome to register for The Earth Prize again, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Projects submitted to The Earth Prize in a prior year that have been selected as The Earth Prize Winners or Runners-up will not be accepted.

Scope of Submissions: Submissions to The Earth Prize are expected to propose solutions aimed at accelerating positive change towards environmental sustainability. The Earth Prize will consider a wide range of solutions: local and national as well as global ones; new ideas with implementation potential as well as existing student projects; and products, organizations, and enterprises as well as campaigns.

BENEFIT:

The Earth Prize is an annual, global $100,000 worth of prizes, which now features seven regional winners, each receiving $12,500 to implement their ideas. In addition, three mentors of the year will be recognized, with each receiving $2,500.

APPLY