Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University

Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive funding for up to three years of full-time graduate study at Stanford University. The award covers tuition and associated fees, a stipend for living and academic costs, and a travel stipend for one annual economy-class trip to and from Stanford.

Scholars join a multidisciplinary community drawn from all 7 schools at Stanford. Through the King Global Leadership Program they take part in community experiences, workshops, meetings with leaders, domestic and global study trips, and personal development opportunities. The aim is to help them collaborate, innovate and communicate as they prepare to address complex challenges facing society.

• Host: Stanford University, USA
• Level: full-time Masters and PhD degrees
• Funding: up to three years, covering tuition and fees plus a living and academic stipend
• Also included: a travel stipend for one annual economy-class trip to and from Stanford
• Open to applicants from all countries
• Deadline for the Knight-Hennessy application: 6 October 2026, 1:00 pm Pacific Time
• Awards: up to 100 future global leaders will be Knight-Hennessy scholars each year

Stanford University in the USA.

Full-time Masters and PhD degrees in any subject offered at Stanford, for example DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS or PhD. Some exceptions apply. The following applicants are not eligible:

• Applicants to the Honors Cooperative Program
• Applicants to the Master of Liberal Arts
• Applicants to the Doctor of Science of Law (JSD)
• Current Stanford students applying for coterminal graduate study
• Current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS degree in their current discipline

Up to 100 future global leaders will be Knight-Hennessy scholars each year.

Applicants from all countries. There are no restrictions based on citizenship, age, field of study or career aspiration.

Funding runs for up to three years for any graduate degree(s) at Stanford. In each of the first 3 years of graduate study, Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive:

• 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

Some funding applies to particular years:

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

Fellowship stipends are taxable, but not subject to withholding (except for international students from a country without a tax treaty). Knight-Hennessy Scholars does not reimburse students for taxes.

There are two baseline eligibility requirements.

First, 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 also meet at least one of these four conditions:

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

Second, you must have earned a U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing in January 2020 or later. To apply to join the cohort in 2025, you must have earned a bachelor's degree by January 2020 or later.

You must apply separately and concurrently to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program and to your Stanford graduate degree program. The Knight-Hennessy deadline is 6 October 2026, 1:00 pm Pacific Time. The deadline for your Stanford graduate degree program varies by program, so check your desired program's website to confirm it. It is usually earlier.

Read the preparing your applications page and the official website (link below) for detailed guidance on how to apply.

• Who can apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars? Applicants from all countries, with no restrictions based on citizenship, age, field of study or career aspiration. You must also apply to, be accepted by and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program.
• What does the scholarship cover? A fellowship applied to tuition and associated fees, a stipend for living and academic expenses, and a travel stipend for one annual economy-class trip to and from Stanford, for up to three years.
• When is the deadline? The Knight-Hennessy application is due 6 October 2026 at 1:00 pm Pacific Time. Your Stanford graduate program deadline varies and is usually earlier.
• Do I need a separate application to Stanford? Yes. You must apply separately and concurrently to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program and to your Stanford graduate degree program.
• Which degree programs are excluded? The Honors Cooperative Program, the Master of Liberal Arts, the Doctor of Science of Law (JSD), coterminal graduate study for current Stanford students, and current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS in their current discipline.

• Read the official guidelines and the preparing your applications page before you start writing.
• Check your chosen Stanford program's deadline early, since it is usually earlier than the Knight-Hennessy deadline.
• Prepare your documents in advance so both applications can be submitted on time.
• Confirm that your degree program is not on the list of exceptions before you apply.