Master’s Technology Law Student Jeyhun Khalilov from Azerbaijan Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master’s at the University of California, Berkeley, United States

I am Jeyhun Khalilov. I am a lawyer from Azerbaijan. I studied at Baku State University (LL.B’22), and then got my Master’s Degree (LL.M’25) from the University of California, Berkeley. I specialized in Technology Law and took relevant classes at Berkeley – AI, Cybersecurity, Privacy. I also had the privilege of working with Paul Schwartz, the Jefferson E. Peyser Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, on a research paper titled “Quantum Computing and the Next Generation of Cybersecurity: A Focus on Post-Quantum Cryptography”.

State Program for the Education of Youth at Prestigious Universities of Foreign Countries Details

The Azerbaijani government funded both levels of my education. I would like to share some information about my LL.M. and scholarship. I was awarded a scholarship within the "State Program for the Education of Youth at Prestigious Universities of Foreign Countries for 2022-2026". This scholarship was paid during the academic year (pursuant to the academic calendar). It included the benefits of full tuition fee, insurance and visa costs, banking and plastic card costs, and a round-trip airline ticket. Besides, I received a monthly living allowance of 1800 USD.

Educational Background

During my time at Baku State University, my GPA was 97.68 out of 100. I received an excellence scholarship in the form of a monthly stipend through all semesters (2018-2022). However, I do believe that my extracurricular activities at the Baku State University Law School made me a unique candidate at that time. I was the editor-in-chief of the BSU Law Review, chairperson of the Student Academic Society that operated 4 projects simultaneously: Moot Court Society (Topchubashov Moot Court Competition, Topchubashov Arbitration Moot, Khoyski Mediation Moot), Legal Discussion Forums, Junior Legal Scholars Assistant Program, and the Baku State University Law Review.

I think all the extracurricular activities that I participated in at the Baku State University allowed me to gain different perspectives, leadership, teamwork, and other organizational skills. This experience later helped me to find a spot at the Berkeley Technology Law Journal (LTWW and podcast editor) and Berkeley Business Law Journal (supervising editor). I also had a chance to become an AI policy fellow at the Berkeley AI Safety Initiative, a researcher at the International Lawyers Assistant Network.

Last but not least, together with my fellow LL.M. classmates, we founded a new organization at Berkeley called “Legal Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Berkeley”. I was the outreach coordinator for the LINE.

It was an outstanding and remarkable experience to study at Berkeley. Thanks to the Scholarship, I had one of the most beautiful chapters of my life in California.

How Did You Find Information About State Program for the Education of Youth at Prestigious Universities of Foreign Countries and the University of California, Berkeley?

The Scholarship was announced publicly and was open to all citizens of Azerbaijan. Starting from 2022, I had dreamt of being part of this process.

Regarding Berkeley, I was advised by my friends. They knew that I wanted to specialize in something related to technology, AI, and cybersecurity. Therefore, they helped me to choose a path to Berkeley.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

As my whole education at Baku State University was in English, I got a waiver from the language requirement. So, I did not take any exam for the Law School Admission.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the State Program for the Education of Youth at Prestigious Universities of Foreign Countries?

The requirements for the Scholarship were:

• 80+ GPA
• C1 Language proficiency
• Law specific: Admission from the TOP10 Universities (QS, Times Higher Education, Shanghai Rating)

Besides these, the committee evaluates the candidate's knowledge and skills in the specialty he wants to study; ability to make logical judgments; communication skills, self-confidence, and persuasiveness.

How is Your Experience at the University of California, Berkeley?

The best chapter of my life! Most importantly, I feel so privileged to be surrounded by my fellow LLMs, who have become my family members.

How Do You Rate the University of California, Berkeley Academically?

Berkeley has a unique environment. In Berkeley, you are covered by the brilliant minds who want to change things in a positive way. We had hot discussions about legal regulations/deregulations in specific fields: cybersecurity, AI, copyright, privacy, venture capital, etc. Also, hearing different perspectives from fellow LLMs who have very diverse practice areas allowed us to have a comprehensive understanding of the legal approach.

Also, the argumentation between JD and LLM students was interesting: JDs had different backgrounds, while LLMs had previous experience. Therefore, this environment gives you a chance to learn every topic in an interdisciplinary way.

How Does the University of California, Berkeley Support International Students?

Berkeley provides comprehensive support for international students through the Berkeley International Office (BIO), which assists with visa and immigration matters, cultural adjustment, and academic integration. The university also offers orientation programs specifically designed for international students, English language support services, and a range of cultural and community organizations. Financial aid counseling and health insurance guidance are also available to international students throughout their studies.

What Did You Pursue After the State Program for the Education of Youth at Prestigious Universities of Foreign Countries?

Under the Scholarship requirements, I have to work for 5 years in Azerbaijan. Therefore, immediately after the LL.M. I started to work for a company in the defense industry. But I am still considering my JSD option for the upcoming years.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I had a very good combination of my past experience, opportunities offered by Berkeley, my future goals, and the Scholarship purposes. I was very clear and precise about this connection.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

In hindsight, I would have reached out to alumni and current students earlier to better understand the program’s culture and expectations. Getting first-hand perspectives before applying would have helped me craft an even stronger statement of purpose and prepare more targeted questions for the application interview.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

The most important thing is knowing why you are going to apply. Choose the same path only when you have overlapping goals with the Scholarship purposes.