Available PhD scholarships of Masdar institute
Entry Requirements
- A relevant undergraduate and Master’s degree in science, engineering or IT from a recognized and accredited university
- A minimum CGPA of 3.0 in the undergraduate degree and a minimum CGPA of 3.2 in the master’s degree, or equivalent.
- A minimum GRE Quantitative score of 155 (700 on the old scale)*
- A minimum TOEFL of 91 on the internet-based test (iBT) or equivalent paper/computer-based scores, or a minimum academic IELTS score of 6.5
- 3 recommendation letters
- Statement of Objectives
- Research proposal
Note: Applicants who do not have the required minimum GRE score but have one or more publications in peer-reviewed journals may be considered for admission. High grades and scores are a prerequisite but do not guarantee admission. Admission standards are in accordance with those of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Guidelines for the Statement of Objectives
The Statement of Objectives is a very important part of your application and should describe the following:
- How you think about the world and what are your professional career objectives
- The issues or problems you want to address during your doctoral studies at the Masdar Institute and how they contribute to your career objectives
- How your previous studies and work experience (If any) relates to what you propose to do at the Masdar Institute
- Why you are applying to the Masdar Institute
- Other matters you think are important for us to know
Guidelines for the Research Proposal
Candidates are required to write a brief proposal for their research outlining in general terms the scope of their intended research project, and naming at least three potential research advisors from the Masdar Institute faculty. Note: A list of faculty and their research interests can be found on the Masdar Institute website.
The research proposal is a critical component of the PhD application. It is a demonstration of the ability of the candidate to conduct advanced research in their field. The research proposal should:
- Be written in an academic format;
- State clearly the PhD candidate’s research question(s) and objective(s);
- Conduct a literature review of prior relevant work;
- Offer a methodological section describing how the objective(s) would be achieved; and
- Explain why Masdar Institute provides the right environment for such work.
The research proposal does not bind the candidate in their future research at Masdar Institute, as it can and, most likely, will be modified in part or in full, but it shows the passion, capabilities and overall research potential of the candidate.
Note: A list of faculty and their research interests can be found on the website.
PhD Residency
The maximum time limit for completion of the PhD program is seven years.
MIT Involvement
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a primary partner and stakeholder in the creation of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. MIT’s involvement in Masdar Institute’s PhD program enables some Masdar Institute doctoral candidates to spend up to one semester at MIT, where they take courses (maximum of three courses per semester) on campus as proposed by the relevant Research Supervisory Committee (RSC) and approved by the Graduate Education Council (GEC). This creates synergy and collaboration between the research agendas of both institutes. In order for students to be able to spend time at MIT, they need to gain admittance to MIT as special students, and must be eligible and able to get a visa to the US.
Deadlines
Masdar Institute is accepting applications for fall 2016 from UAE nationals. Those who wish to apply can still do so by clicking the link above. The application deadline for international students has passed.
Application Guidelines
For prospective students’ initial application for admissions, the copies of documents submitted do not have to be original or certified as true. However, if admitted, you will be required to have original transcripts sent directly from your university, as well original TOEFL/IELTS/GRE scores sent directly from the relevant examining body.
Applicants are required to complete the online application form and submit the following documents in PDF, MS Word or JPF format. Please do not upload RAR or ZIP files.
- Copy of undergraduate/graduate transcripts
- Statement of Objectives
- Research proposal (for PhD applicants)
- Copy of GRE and TOEFL (or IELTS) scores
- Copy of CV (including education, list of publications, awards, professional experience, etc.)
- JPEG of passport-sized photo of not more than 100K in size
- Name and email address of 3 referees (It is preferable that these email addresses are university/professional email addresses and not common Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc., email addresses)
Guidelines for the Statement of Objectives
The Statement of Objectives is a very important part of your application so we encourage you to write it carefully. We seek a statement of one to two pages (approximately 400 to 1,000 words) explaining your reasons for wanting to complete your graduate studies at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
Your Statement of Objectives should describe:
- How you think about the world and your professional career objectives
- The issues or problems you want to address during your studies at Masdar Institute and the setting in which you eventually see yourself working professionally
- How your previous studies and work experience (if any) relate to what you propose to do at Masdar Institute
- Why you are applying to Masdar Institute and the specific program you have chosen
- Other matters you think are important for us to know
Guidelines for the Research Proposal (for PhD applicants)
PhD candidates are required to write a brief proposal for research outlining in general terms the scope of their intended research project, and naming at least three potential research advisors from the Masdar Institute faculty. Note: A list of faculty and their research interests can be found on the Masdar Institute website.
The research proposal is a critical component of the PhD application. It is a demonstration of the ability of the candidate to conduct advanced research in their field.
The research proposal should:
- Be written in an academic format;
- State clearly the candidate’s research question(s) and objective(s);
- Conduct a literature review of prior relevant work;
- Offer a methodological section describing how the objective(s) would be achieved; and
- Explain why Masdar Institute provides the right environment for such work.
The research proposal does not bind the candidate in their future research at Masdar Institute, as it can and, most likely, will be modified in part or in full, but it shows the passions, capabilities and overall research potential of the candidate.
Available scholariships
There are four scholarships available to applicants of Masdar Institute – the Masdar Institute Scholarship, IRENA Scholarship, Toyota Scholarship and ICT Fund Scholarship.
In the tabs below you will find briefs on each of these scholarships, their intended purpose, eligibility, and benefits:
Qualified Master’s and Doctorate degree applicants to Masdar Institute will be provided with full scholarship benefits upon admission.
The Masdar Institute Scholarship
The Masdar Institute Scholarship benefits include the following:
- 100% of all tuition fees
- All required textbooks
- A laptop
- Reimbursement of GRE and TOEFL exam/test fees
- Masdar Institute housing
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
- Annual return ticket home (if applicable)
The IRENA Scholarship
This two-year scholarship funded by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is targeted to aspiring Master’s students with a desire to work in the field of renewable energy and contribute to the implementation of IRENA’s mandate. Up to 20 highly-accomplished applicants are awarded this scholarship at Masdar Institute every year, with the generous support of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
Scholarship students may study in any one of the nine Master’s degree programs offered at Masdar Institute and will profit from the interaction with IRENA experts.
The IRENA Scholarship benefits include the following:
- 100% of all tuition fees
- All required textbooks
- A laptop
- Housing
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
- Annual return ticket home (if applicable)
- Possibility for first-hand experience with IRENA through an internship
- Excellent networking potential
- Exclusive access to the IRENA Lecture Program
The TOYOTA Scholarship
The Masdar Institute – Toyota Scholarship was established upon Toyota’s winning of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. The scholarship is designed to promote opportunities for students to work on projects relating to technologies for sustainable development. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to a first-year student in any one of Masdar Institute’s nine Master of Science degree programs.
In addition to the usual Masdar Institute benefits, the scholarship recipient is provided with a special two-week ‘Japan Experience’ arranged by the Toyota Motor Corporation.
To select the scholarship recipients, a competition is held among Masdar Institute’s first-year Master’s degree program students that involves submission of a two-page essay that describes why the applicant would be a good representative of the Toyota Scholarship program, followed by a discussion of the applicant’s career goals and interest in experiencing Japan.
The Toyota Scholarship benefits include the following:
- 100% of all tuition fees
- All required textbooks
- A laptop
- Reimbursement of GRE and TOEFL exam/test fees
- Housing
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
- Annual return ticket home if applicable
- A two-week ‘Japan Experience’ arranged by the Toyota Motor Corporation
ICT fund scholarship
The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority selects 30 outstanding Emirati students from across the country to specialize in the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) sector as part of its Be’tha Scholarship.
Applicants must be committed to a career in the UAE for at least five years after graduation. They can apply to use this scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at Masdar Institute relating to ICT.
ICT fund Scholarship benefits include the following:
- 100% of all tuition fees
- All required textbooks
- A laptop
- Reimbursement of GRE and TOEFL exam/test fees
- Housing
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
For more information press "Further official information" below.