Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 – Fully Funded Graduate Fellowship at Stanford University

Overview

Stanford University's flagship fully funded graduate fellowship, covering up to three years of tuition, stipend, and travel for admitted students in almost any Stanford graduate program.

Eligibility

Benefits

Application Process

Stanford University’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is one of the world’s largest fully endowed graduate fellowships, funding up to three years of study for admitted students in almost any Stanford graduate degree program.

The program is open to citizens and residents of any country, with no nationality quotas and no restriction on field of study, but it is not a standalone admissions program: winning a Knight-Hennessy Scholarship requires separate, concurrent acceptance into a qualifying Stanford graduate program.

The 2027 cohort application closes 6 October 2026 at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Scholarship Summary

Scholarship Name: Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Cohort: 2027 (matriculating Fall 2027)

Host Country: United States

Scholarship Provider: Stanford University

Administered Through: Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program Office

Eligible Applicants: International and domestic students, any nationality

Study Location: Stanford, California, USA

Application Method: Online, concurrent with a Stanford graduate program application

Study Levels

Knight-Hennessy funds students admitted into almost any full-time Stanford graduate degree program, including:

• Master’s (MA, MS, MPP, and similar)
• MBA
• PhD / Doctoral programs
• MD
• JD
• MFA
• DMA

Who Can Apply?

Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they meet Stanford’s general academic requirements and apply separately but concurrently to a qualifying Stanford graduate program.

• Hold, or expect to hold, a bachelor’s degree earned January 2020 or later (January 2018 or later for applicants with military service)
• No nationality restriction — open to citizens/residents of any country
• No fixed field-of-study restriction
• Must apply separately and concurrently to a qualifying full-time Stanford graduate degree program (coterminal degrees and a few other program types are excluded)

Selection emphasizes personal qualities and leadership potential rather than a fixed formula of grades or test scores.

Scholarship Benefits

Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive full funding for up to three years of graduate study:

• Full tuition and fees
• A living and academic-expenses stipend
• An annual round-trip travel stipend to Stanford
• A one-time first-year relocation stipend
• For longer programs (e.g. MD, PhD), base support for the first three years, with the relevant school funding any remaining years

How to Apply

Applicants must complete two separate but concurrent applications: one to a qualifying Stanford graduate program, and one to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program itself.

Application Steps

1. Identify a qualifying Stanford graduate degree program to apply to.
2. Prepare your Stanford graduate program application (transcripts, test scores if required, recommendation letters).
3. Create an account on the Knight-Hennessy Scholars online application portal.
4. Submit your resume, transcripts, recommendation letters, and short-answer/essay responses.
5. Submit your Stanford graduate program application by its own deadline, or by 1 December 2026, whichever is earlier.
6. If you advance in the selection process, submit a video statement when requested.
7. Await interview invitations and final admission/scholarship decisions.

Application Deadline

Deadline: 6 October 2026, 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

This is the deadline for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application itself; the separate Stanford graduate program application is due by that program’s own deadline or 1 December 2026, whichever comes first.

Important Information

• You must apply separately to both a Stanford graduate program and the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program
• Coterminal degree programs and a few other Stanford program types are not eligible
• No nationality or field-of-study restrictions apply
• A video statement is only requested from applicants who advance in the process

Official Application Portal

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Online Application

Official Sources

Applicants should always prioritize information published by:

• Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (Stanford University)
• Stanford University graduate admissions

Disclaimer: Scholarship availability, eligibility requirements, benefits, deadlines, and participating programs may change. Applicants should verify all information through the official sources before applying.