Serhiy Tokarev and SET University Launch Full MBA Scholarship at UC Berkeley Haas
SET University, together with the Tokarev Foundation, founded by Serhiy Tokarev, has launched a scholarship program for MBA studies at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition for the two-year program, amounting to more than $178,000.
The MBA program at Haas lasts two years and provides access to the Silicon Valley ecosystem, including venture funds, technology companies, and the entrepreneurial community. According to the Financial Times and Bloomberg rankings, Haas is among the world’s top ten business schools. The organizers note that the scholarship covers tuition only, while candidates are responsible for preparing their documents and completing the admissions process independently.
Ukrainian citizens may apply for the scholarship regardless of their country of residence or age. Berkeley’s basic requirements include a bachelor’s degree, official translations of academic transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, C1-level English proficiency confirmed by TOEFL or IELTS, two letters of recommendation, and motivational essays. The organizers also note that candidates are generally expected to have at least two years of full-time professional experience.
Unlike many traditional grants, the scholarship includes an additional requirement set by the organizers. Candidates must propose an idea that could contribute to Ukraine’s technology sector through entrepreneurship, investment, science, or education. After admission, the scholarship recipient will become an ambassador of the Ukrainian tech community by joining SET University and Tokarev Foundation events, speaking at conferences, and publicly sharing their learning experience.
“An MBA at a top school is not just about the diploma — it is about access to venture capital, technology teams, and the Silicon Valley community, which can become a network for decades. This kind of access is the scarcest resource for a modern entrepreneur. We see education as an investment with the longest return horizon, so the purpose of this scholarship is to help knowledge and capital flow back to Ukraine,” said Serhiy Tokarev, Ukrainian entrepreneur and investor, co-founder of SET University and founder of the Tokarev Foundation.
Admission to Berkeley for the 2026–2027 academic year will take place in two rounds. The first round closes on September 10, 2026, and the second on January 7, 2027. The organizers will accept scholarship interest forms until September 3 and December 31, 2026, respectively.
The selection process consists of three stages.
- Candidates submit a preliminary application
- The SET University team provides the list of requirements and offers consultations
- After the candidate is officially admitted to Berkeley, the Tokarev Foundation covers the cost of tuition.
A preliminary application for the scholarship can be submitted through the online form on the organizers’ website.
Background
SET University is a technology education institution that empowers innovators and develops Ukraine’s tech sector by combining science, entrepreneurship, and technology. Its learning model is built around practice: instead of a traditional thesis, students create their own startup in the university accelerator or develop IT solutions for real companies.
Tokarev Foundation is a technology-driven philanthropy organization working to develop a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Ukraine through technology and innovation. Founded by Serhiy Tokarev, the foundation implements projects in EdTech and HealthTech.
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