Stanford University
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University aims to build a diverse, multidisciplinary community of future global leaders equipped to address society's most pressing challenges. The program imposes no restrictions on age, academic major, institution, career goals, or nationality. Students from all countries are encouraged to apply. Knight-Hennessy Scholars may pursue any full-time graduate degree at Stanford, including master's, doctoral, and professional certificate programs. Successful candidates receive comprehensive funding for up to three years, covering tuition, living expenses, and other academic expenses. The program offers an immersive personal and professional development experience alongside financial assistance. Scholars benefit from leadership training, global study trips, meetings with prominent leaders, workshops, and community-building initiatives, all aimed at broadening their horizons and deepening their impact.
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Application deadline:-
October 8, 2026
Study duration:-
Up to 3 years
material benefits
- Full tuition funding for up to three years.
- A living stipend to support academic and personal expenses.
- An annual travel grant to cover round-trip airfare to and from Stanford University.
- One-time transfer allowance for new scholars.
- Additional funding in subsequent years to support academic enrichment, such as conference attendance.
Eligibility and merit criteria:-
Each applicant must meet the following conditions:-
Knight-Hennessy Graduate Scholarship Program
- Apply to the scholarship program and a full-time graduate program at Stanford University at the same time, for two simultaneous start dates.
- The applicant must have already been accepted to a graduate program at Stanford University and will apply for the scholarship to begin both programs in the same year.
- Be currently enrolled in a full-time graduate program at Stanford University and plan to add another graduate degree, beginning both programs at the same time.
- Be a first-year doctoral student at Stanford, applying to the fellowship program in your second year.
- In addition, candidates wishing to join the Knight-Hennessy Program for the 2026 academic year must have obtained their first college degree (equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree) from an accredited institution in or after January 2019. For those who served in the military, the application period is two years, and they must have completed their first college degree by January 2017.
Knight-Hennessy Graduate Program
Other eligibility criteria can be found in detail in the Before Applying section of the scholarship website.
How to apply:-
To apply for a full-time graduate program at Stanford University in 2026, or if you are a doctoral student at the university, beginning your studies in 2025 and your second year in 2026, you must submit one application to the scholarship.
Otherwise, you must submit two separate applications: one for your chosen graduate degree at Stanford and one for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program. Each graduate program has its own deadline, usually before the Knight-Hennessy deadline. See Stanford's Graduate Admissions website for exact dates.
Separate committees review administrative grant applications and graduate admission applications independently. Stanford University will notify you of your admission decision separately, while the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship will notify finalists by late January 2026.
The Knight-Hennessy application includes five basic components: an online application form, a resume, transcripts and test scores, letters of recommendation, several short-answer questions, and a personal essay. For more information about each component, visit the scholarship website.
If you are shortlisted for the scholarship program, you may be invited to submit a video presentation and attend a weekend at Stanford University, scheduled for March 6-7, 2026, with all travel and accommodation expenses covered.
Scholarship Benefits
Knight-Hennessy Scholars can receive various benefits during their service.
Expenses:- Covers tuition fees for up to 3 years or during the course period.
Living Expenses:- The fund helps cover the costs of rent, equipment, transportation fees, books, and other expenses.
Airfare:- Annual round-trip airfare from your home country to the USA.
Selection process
The selection committee awards this scholarship to deserving candidates. Age, field of study, college/university previously attended, etc. are not taken into account by the university.
The candidate must have great leadership qualities and civic commitment.
You must have a minimum GPA of 3.7 to compete.
Test scores must be well above average.