• A relevant undergraduate degree in science, engineering or IT from a recognized and accredited university
• A minimum CGPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) or equivalent (2nd class upper in the British system)
• A minimum GRE Quantitative score of 155 (700 on the old scale)*
• A minimum TOEFL score of 91 (iBT) or equivalent paper/computer based scores, or a minimum academic IELTS score of 6.5
• 3 Recommendation Letters
• Statement of Objectives

Note: 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 (MIT). Graduates from native English speaking countries (e.g. USA, UK, Australia, etc.) may get a waiver for the TOEFL/IELTS requirements.

GRE Information
The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. Please check www.ets.org for information on the GRE or TOEFL exams and availability at your location.

The ETS institutional GRE code for Masdar Institute is 3870. Only the GRE General test is required. The ETS institutional TOEFL code for Masdar Institute is 5786.

PhD Program Admissions 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 (MIT).

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 name 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.

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 Masdar Institute. 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 (a 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.

How to Apply