Knight Hennessy Scholars at Standford University 2027

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a fully-endowed, multidisciplinary leadership development program for graduate students at Stanford University. Scholars, who come from around the globe, receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at any of Stanford’s seven schools while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders capable of taking on the world’s most difficult challenges.

• Table of Content
• About Stanford University
• Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship

Application Deadline	06 Oct 2026
Country to study	United States
School to study	Stanford University
Type	Postgraduate
Sponsor	Stanford University
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship

Knight-Hennessy scholars receive funding for up to three years for any graduate degree(s) at Stanford. This funding applies to the degree(s) to which scholars are preparing to enroll at the time of scholar selection.

During each of the first three years of graduate study, Knight-Hennessy scholars receive several types of funding:

• A fellowship applied directly to cover tuition and associated fees
• A stipend for living and academic expenses (such as room and board, books, academic supplies, instructional materials, local transportation, and reasonable personal expenses)
• A travel stipend intended to cover an economy-class ticket for one annual trip to and from Stanford

Additional funding specific to certain years:

• Newly enrolling scholars receive a one-time relocation stipend intended to offset some of the costs associated with relocation to the area and/or technology purchases.
• Scholars in their second and third years may apply for supplemental funds to support academic enrichment activities  (e.g., conference travel).?

Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) provides funding for the degree program listed in the initial KHS admission letter. Scholars who wish to enroll in an additional graduate program may apply to KHS to receive additional funding up to the maximum of three years. This additional funding is not guaranteed. 

If a scholar is admitted to a degree program that exceeds three years — such as an MD, PhD, or Stanford dual- or joint-degree program — then funding is based on the graduate degree program’s standard funding commitment. This varies by department and school, as indicated in the chart below. Please contact the graduate program with specific questions about their funding commitment. 

Requirements for Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification

Requirement 1: Admission to Stanford

First, in addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS), you must apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program including, but not limited to, DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD programs. You must meet at least one of the following four conditions to be eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:

1. You are applying separately but concurrently to KHS and a full-time Stanford graduate degree program such that you will start both in the same year.
2. You have already been offered and deferred admission to a full-time Stanford graduate degree program, and will apply to KHS such that you will start both in the same year.
3. You are a current Stanford graduate student who will apply to add a new full-time Stanford graduate degree program, such that you will start both KHS and the new program in the same year.
4. You are a current Stanford PhD student in your first year of enrollment, and will apply to KHS such that you will start KHS in your second year of PhD enrollment.  

Please note that the following Stanford graduate degree programs are not eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:

• Honors Cooperative Program
• Master of Liberal Arts
• Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) and the Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
• Current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS degree in their PhD discipline
• Coterminal degrees (current Stanford students enrolled in a coterminal degree must be applying to a different full-time Stanford degree program to apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars)

Requirement 2: Undergraduate Degree Date 

• Second, you must have earned, in January 2020 or later, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Kinight Hennessy Scholars Postgraduate Scholarship

The criteria clarify what we seek in your application, help you assess your alignment with our values, and prepare you to demonstrate the criteria in your application.

There is neither a typical nor a prototypical Knight-Hennessy scholar. Each cohort is diverse by design; no two candidates are equally strong across all criteria, and you may demonstrate different strengths in different ways. As we evaluate and select Knight-Hennessy scholars, we look for evidence of three criteria:

1. Independence of Thought

Stanford University seek visionary thinkers who are curious, open-minded, analytical, eager for cross-cultural perspective, and genuinely excited to boldly and creatively address  our world’s important challenges.

• Demonstrates intellectual ability and clear thinking
• Communicates clearly based on reflection and introspection
• Seeks out new knowledge, perspectives, and experiences
• Makes sense of ambiguous circumstances
• Generates ideas to solve problems

2. Purposeful Leadership

Stanford University seek courageous leaders who are ethical, decisive, resilient, driven to achieve meaningful results, and motivated to inspire others to effect positive change at scale.

• Achieves impactful results
• Confronts challenges with courage, persistence, and resilience
• Includes and inspires others to effect change
• Makes decisions in accordance with values

3. Civic Mindset

Stanford University seek collaborative community members who are humble, empathetic, trustworthy, oriented to act in service of others, and deeply passionate about contributing to the greater good.

• Demonstrates humility, integrity, and accountability
• Makes a habit of serving and helping others
• Thoughtful and considerate of others’ perspectives
• Embraces difference and celebrates varying opinions and experiences
• Strives to make our world a better place

Stanford University find evidence of these selection criteria throughout your application and, if you are invited to participate, in your video statement and during the Finalist Experience. We look forward to getting to know you, including what you have done, who you are now, and what you aspire to do in the future.

Check also:
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

October 6, 2026

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Stanford University on apply.knight-hennessy.stanford.edu to apply

For more information, kindly visit Knight Hennessy Scholars webpage.