Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford): funding, eligibility and deadlines

What the funding covers

Tuition for up to three years of graduate study at Stanford.
A stipend for living and academic expenses.
A travel stipend for one annual trip to and from Stanford.
The King Global Leadership Program — a leadership curriculum alongside your degree.

Cost	Who pays
Tuition for up to three years of graduate study	The scholarship
Living and academic expenses	The scholarship stipend
One trip a year to and from Stanford	The travel stipend
Knight-Hennessy application	Free — there is no application fee
Your Stanford degree programme's application fee	You — pay it when you apply to the programme
US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge	You, before you travel

Applicants of any nationality applying to a full-time graduate degree at Stanford (master's, PhD, MBA, JD, MD and more).
For the 2027 cohort, a first bachelor's degree earned in 2020 or later (current students who graduate by September 2027 are eligible).
Selection looks for independence of thought, purposeful leadership and a civic mindset.

The Knight-Hennessy online application form and a résumé
Transcripts, and any test scores you have — you can apply without scores and add them later
Recommendation letters, submitted by your recommenders by 6 October 2026
Short answers and a personal essay reflecting on your life's journey
A video statement — only if invited; about 500 applicants are asked in January

Submit the Knight-Hennessy application by 6 October 2026 at 1 pm Pacific Time.
Separately apply to your Stanford graduate programme — by 1 December 2026, or the programme's own earlier deadline — to stay eligible.
Finalists attend an immersion weekend at Stanford in the new year; offers follow in the spring.

The Knight-Hennessy deadline (early October) comes months before most Stanford programme deadlines.
You must be admitted to the Stanford programme too; the scholarship does not guarantee admission.
The bachelor's-degree year window moves forward each cycle — check it for your cohort.

Is there an application fee?

Not for Knight-Hennessy. You still pay whatever fee your Stanford graduate programme charges when you submit that application.

Can I combine it with a Stanford MBA?

Yes, but only the MBA's Round 1 deadline fits the Knight-Hennessy timeline — apply in Round 1.

Do I need test scores before I apply?

No. You can submit the Knight-Hennessy application without scores and add new or updated scores after you submit.

Counting back from the next typical deadline (Oct 6, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.

Jul 14, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document

Jul 28, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)

Aug 11, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose

Aug 25, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test

Sep 8, 2026 · NOWSecond draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically

Sep 22, 2026 · NOWFinalise every document and complete the online form

Sep 29, 2026Submit — never on the last day

Oct 6, 2026Typical deadline

Page reviewed Sep 25, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.