The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi has enrolled its largest cohort to date, with 403 new students joining for the Fall 2025 semester. This landmark intake includes the university’s first-ever undergraduate class, signaling a major expansion in its mission to cultivate top-tier AI talent.
By the Numbers
The Fall 2025 intake highlights the university’s growing global prestige and highly selective admissions:
- 403 New Students: The largest incoming class in the university’s history.
- 8,000+ Applications: The number of applications received for the semester.
- 5% Acceptance Rate: Reflecting the highly competitive nature of the programs.
- 115 Undergraduates: The size of the inaugural Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence cohort.
- 700+ Total Students: The current size of the entire student body at MBZUAI.
Launching a Benchmark Undergraduate AI Program
The newly launched Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence is designed to set a new global standard for AI education. The program, which received over 8,000 applications, offers two distinct streams: AI for Business and AI for Engineering. It combines deep technical training with leadership development, hands-on entrepreneurship, and crucial industry experience.
“Our extraordinarily talented students don’t just learn about AI, but learn with it, through it, and for it,” said Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI Provost. He added that the program aims to ensure the “high-end AI job-readiness of the students.”
A Magnet for Global and Local Talent
The new cohort reinforces MBZUAI’s status as a global hub for AI education, with the total student body now exceeding 700 individuals from over 47 nationalities. The inaugural undergraduate class is notably diverse, with students from more than 25 countries, and includes a strong local component, with over 25% of the students being UAE nationals. The university also continues to attract top graduate talent, with over a quarter of incoming postgraduate students holding degrees from top 100-ranked computer science universities.
Fostering a Culture of Excellence
To integrate the new students, the university has begun its Orientation Week, featuring academic sessions, mentorship activities, and cultural events. The program is designed to introduce the incoming class to MBZUAI’s culture of academic rigor and community engagement, laying the groundwork for their academic and personal growth as they become the next generation of AI leaders.
Source: Fintechnews Middle East
