Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027
- August 2, 2026
- 6:51 am
Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) is Stanford University’s fully funded graduate fellowship, covering up to three years of study across any of Stanford’s graduate schools. It is open to applicants of every nationality, age, and academic background. For the 2027 cohort, the program funds tuition, a living stipend, and travel costs for students admitted into a Stanford master’s, MBA, JD, MD, or PhD program. With no quotas by field or region, KHS remains one of the most flexible and well-funded graduate scholarships in the world.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what the scholarship actually covers (with current 2025–26 figures), who is eligible, how to apply, what selectors look for — and crucially, what happens after Oxford, including your UK visa options once the scholarship ends.
Table of Contents
Key Facts at a Glance
- Host Country
- United States
- Host Institution
- Stanford University
- Study Level
- Master's, MBA, JD, MD, PhD, DMA, MFA, MPP and other full-time Stanford graduate degrees
- Funding Type
- Fully funded, up to three years
- Eligible Countries
- Open to citizens and residents of all countries
- Application Deadline
- October 6, 2026, 1:00 PM Pacific Time
- Duration
- Up to three years, aligned with the length of the Stanford degree program
- Official Website
What is the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship?
Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate scholarship housed at Stanford University. Every incoming scholar receives up to three years of financial support while pursuing a full-time Stanford graduate degree, alongside a structured leadership development program that runs alongside their coursework.
Since welcoming its first cohort, the program has supported 682 scholars representing 85 countries of citizenship across 119 Stanford degree programs. Close to half hold a non-U.S. passport, and about one in five scholars is a first-generation college graduate. These figures come directly from Stanford’s official program overview.
The program exists to build a community of scholars who can work across disciplines to address complex global challenges. It has no formula for admission and no quota by field of study, region, or background. Instead, KHS looks for applicants who show independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset, regardless of what they plan to study.
Anyone eligible for admission to a full-time Stanford graduate program should consider applying, whether the intended field is engineering, medicine, law, business, education, or the humanities. There is no requirement to have any prior connection to Stanford.
Scholarship Benefits
Knight-Hennessy Scholars covers the core cost of a Stanford graduate degree — tuition, living expenses, and one annual trip to campus — for up to three years.
Financial Coverage
- Tuition fellowship applied directly to Stanford graduate program costs, for up to three years
- A stipend covering living and academic expenses, including room and board, books, and instructional materials
- A one-time relocation stipend for newly enrolling scholars
- Supplemental funds that second- and third-year scholars may apply for to support conference travel and academic enrichment
Travel & Health
- One economy-class round-trip ticket to Stanford, funded annually
- Travel stipend covers one trip per year only, economy class
- No separate health/medical coverage specified by KHS
- Health insurance requirements set by Stanford, not KHS — confirm with Vaden Health Services
- Visa-related travel and appointment costs are not covered by KHS
Eligibility Criteria & Required Documents
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to all nationalities, no restriction
- Bachelor's degree earned January 2020 or later (2018 for military veterans)
- Current undergrads eligible if graduating by September 2027
- No age limit, no minimum GPA published
- Must also apply to, and enroll in, an eligible Stanford graduate program
- DACA/undocumented students eligible
Required Documents
- Completed online KHS application form
- Resume or CV
- Academic transcripts
- Standardized test scores, only if the chosen Stanford graduate program requires them
- Two recommendation letters from individuals who know the applicant's work closely
- Short answers and a personal essay addressing the KHS selection criteria
Application Timeline & How to Apply
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
|
KHS Application Opens |
June 1, 2026 |
|
KHS Application Deadline |
October 6, 2026, 1:00 PM Pacific Time |
|
Stanford Graduate Program Deadline |
Varies by program; earlier of the program’s KHS-specific deadline or December 1, 2026
|
|
Video Statement Invitations
|
Sent on a rolling basis throughout January 2027
|
|
Finalists Notified
|
January 27, 2027
|
|
Scholars Notified |
March 16, 2027 |
|
Cohort Begins at Stanford
|
September 2027
|
Step by Step
- Apply to KHS and your Stanford graduate program separately, starting early.
- Register your two recommenders inside the KHS application right away.
- Complete your resume, transcripts, short answers, and essay.
- Check your Stanford program's deadline — apply by December 1, 2026, if it falls later.
- Submit both applications on time, even if recommendation letters are still pending.
- Update test scores later via your KHS status page, if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit to apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars?
No. The program has no age restriction. The only date-based requirement concerns when you earned your first bachelor’s degree, not your age at the time of application.
Do I need a minimum GPA to be considered?
The official scholarship guidelines do not publish a minimum GPA requirement. Selection is based on demonstrated independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset, evaluated across the full application.
I earned my degree outside the United States. Can I still apply?
Yes. KHS welcomes applicants from all countries. You must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing, as defined by Stanford’s Office of Graduate Admissions.
What if I earned my bachelor's degree before 2020?
If your first bachelor’s degree was earned in 2019 or earlier, you are not eligible for the 2027 cohort, even if you later completed an additional degree after 2020. Military veterans receive a two-year extension on this window.
Can I defer my Knight-Hennessy Scholars offer to a later year?
No. KHS does not defer scholar offers. If you cannot enroll after being selected, you would need to reapply for the year you intend to start.
Are undocumented or DACA students eligible to apply?
Yes. Applicants with DACA status or who are otherwise undocumented are eligible to apply for both graduate study and Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford.
Do both my recommenders need to be different from the ones I use for my Stanford program application?
Not necessarily. You may use the same recommenders for both applications, but KHS recommends tailoring each letter separately, since the two applications are reviewed by different committees with different criteria.
Is there an application fee for Knight-Hennessy Scholars?
There is no fee to apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars. However, most Stanford graduate degree programs charge their own separate application fee, and KHS cannot provide fee waivers for those.
I am already a Stanford graduate student. Can I still apply?
Only in specific cases: first-year Stanford PhD students may apply to start KHS in their second year of enrollment, and current students may apply if they are adding a new full-time degree program that begins in the same year as their KHS award.
Quick Links
Important Dates
-
Applications open :
June 1, 2026 -
Application deadline :
October 6, 2026, 1:00 PM Pacific -
Results announced :
March 16, 2027 *