Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027: Stanford University, USA (Fully Funded)

Applications are open for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 programme at Stanford University in the United States. The fully funded graduate scholarship welcomes talented applicants from every country, academic discipline, and professional background.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars supports students pursuing eligible master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees at Stanford University. In addition to graduate funding, scholars participate in the King Global Leadership Program, where they develop practical leadership skills, build relationships across disciplines, and work with other emerging leaders addressing complex global challenges.

Stanford selects scholars based on three principal qualities: independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset. There is no citizenship restriction, regional quota, or preferred academic discipline.

What It Covers

• Stanford tuition fees
• Associated university and programme fees
• Living stipend
• Academic expenses stipend
• Accommodation and personal expenses
• Books and required study materials
• Local transportation
• Annual travel allowance for one economy-class return trip
• Leadership-development activities
• Mentoring and professional-development opportunities
• Access to the international Knight-Hennessy community

Knight-Hennessy Scholars normally provides financial support for up to three years of graduate study. Scholars pursuing degree programmes lasting longer than three years may receive additional funding from their Stanford department or graduate programme after Knight-Hennessy funding ends.

Who Can Apply

Applicants may apply regardless of their nationality, country of residence, age, academic discipline, career aspiration, religion, gender, previous university, or field of professional experience.

• Apply for admission to an eligible full-time Stanford graduate programme
• Meet the academic and admission requirements of the selected programme
• Have earned a first bachelor’s degree in January 2020 or later for the 2027 cohort
• Complete the first degree before enrolling at Stanford
• Demonstrate independence of thought
• Show purposeful leadership
• Demonstrate a strong civic mindset and commitment to benefiting others
• Submit both applications before their respective deadlines

Eligible military applicants receive an additional two-year extension to the undergraduate-degree eligibility window. Current university students may apply if they will complete their first bachelor’s degree before beginning their Stanford programme in 2027.

Eligible Programmes

• Master’s degrees
• PhD programmes
• Master of Business Administration
• Juris Doctor
• Medical degrees
• Joint and dual graduate degrees

Some Stanford programmes, including certain part-time, coterminal, and non-standard degrees, are not eligible. Applicants should confirm their programme’s eligibility before applying.

Study Levels: Master’s, PhD, and eligible professional degrees
Host Institution: Stanford University
Host Country: United States
Funding Type: Fully Funded
Knight-Hennessy Deadline: October 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

The separate Stanford graduate application must be submitted by the programme’s Knight-Hennessy deadline or December 1, 2026, whichever occurs first. Stanford MBA candidates must apply during the eligible first-round application period.

Application Requirements

• Online application form
• One-page résumé
• Academic transcripts
• Standardised test results where required
• Recommendation letters
• Short-answer responses
• Personal essay
• Video statement
• In-person or virtual assessment for shortlisted applicants

The chosen Stanford graduate programme may request additional documents, tests, portfolios, writing samples, or professional experience.

How to Apply

1. Submit the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application through the official application page.
2. Apply separately to an eligible Stanford graduate programme.

The documents submitted to Knight-Hennessy do not automatically form part of the Stanford admission application. Candidates must meet both sets of requirements and deadlines.

Applicants do not need a nomination or endorsement from their current university. There is no fee to submit the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application, although the selected Stanford programme may charge an admission application fee.