The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program at Stanford University is a prestigious graduate scholarship and leadership development program for talented students from around the world. The program brings together a multidisciplinary community of scholars across Stanford’s seven schools and provides financial support while scholars pursue eligible full-time graduate degrees.

For the 2027 cohort, eligible applicants can apply from any country, and there are no restrictions based on citizenship, age, field of study or career aspiration. Applicants must separately apply to an eligible Stanford graduate degree program unless they already meet one of the specified Stanford enrollment conditions.

Scholarship Quick Facts

About the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary graduate scholarship program at Stanford University designed to develop future leaders who can work across disciplines and address complex global challenges.

Scholars become part of a diverse community and participate in the King Global Leadership Program, which focuses on leadership development, collaboration, communication, creative problem-solving and personal growth.

The program spans Stanford’s seven schools and welcomes applicants from around the world. There are no quotas based on discipline or world region.

Eligible Degree Programs

Knight-Hennessy Scholars can support eligible full-time Stanford graduate programs, including:

• DMA
• JD
• MA
• MBA
• MD
• MFA
• MPP
• MS
• PhD
• Eligible joint and dual-degree programs

Some Stanford programs are excluded, including the Honors Cooperative Program, Master of Liberal Arts, JSD and MLS. Certain coterminal and current-degree combinations are also excluded.

Eligibility Criteria

• ✅ Applicants from all countries and nationalities are encouraged to apply.
• ✅ Applicants must apply to and be accepted by an eligible full-time Stanford graduate degree program.
• ✅ For the 2027 cohort, applicants must have earned their first bachelor’s degree in January 2020 or later.
• ✅ Military applicants receive an extended bachelor’s-degree eligibility window to January 2018 or later.
• ✅ Current first-year Stanford PhD students may also apply to begin Knight-Hennessy Scholars in their second year.
• ✅ Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen Stanford graduate program.

What Knight-Hennessy Looks For

• 💡 Independence of Thought: Curiosity, intellectual ability, analytical thinking and creative approaches to important challenges.
• 🌟 Purposeful Leadership: Courage, resilience, ethical decision-making and the ability to achieve meaningful results.
• 🤝 Civic Mindset: Humility, empathy, integrity, collaboration and a commitment to serving others.

Scholarship Benefits

• 🏆 Tuition and associated fees covered through a fellowship for the supported period.
• 🏆 Stipend for living and academic expenses, including room and board, books, supplies, local transportation and reasonable personal expenses.
• 🏆 Travel stipend intended to cover one economy-class round trip to and from Stanford each year.
• 🏆 One-time relocation stipend for newly enrolling scholars to help offset relocation or technology costs.
• 🏆 Opportunities for supplemental academic-enrichment funding during the second and third years.

Required Documents

• Online Knight-Hennessy Scholars application
• Resume
• Academic transcript
• Required test scores, where applicable
• Recommendation letters
• Short-answer responses and essays
• Separate Stanford graduate-program application and required documents

How to Apply

1. Review the official Knight-Hennessy Scholars eligibility requirements for the 2027 cohort.
2. Choose an eligible full-time graduate degree program at Stanford University.
3. Prepare your KHS application, including your resume, transcript, recommendation letters, short answers and essays.
4. Submit the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application by October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
5. Submit your separate Stanford graduate-program application by the earlier applicable deadline or by December 1, 2026 where that date applies to KHS eligibility.
6. Check the specific requirements and deadline of your selected Stanford graduate program because Stanford degree-program deadlines vary.

Frequently Asked Questions