Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program at Stanford University in the United States is a prestigious graduate-level scholarship established in 2016, named in honor of former Stanford president John L. Hennessy and philanthropist Philip H. Knight. This program aims to attract and support outstanding students worldwide who demonstrate strong leadership qualities, academic excellence, and a dedication to addressing critical global challenges.

Host Country	USA
Host Institute	Stanford University
Funding	Fully Funded
Eligible Nationality	International
Degree Level	Postgraduate, Doctoral
Opening Date	Open
Deadline	October 8, 2025

Table of Contents

Stanford University, USA

Stanford University, officially known as Leland Stanford Junior University, is a prestigious private research institution located in Stanford, California. Consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, Stanford boasts an impressive legacy of excellence. As of April 2021, the university has been associated with 85 Nobel laureates, 29 Turing Award recipients, and eight Fields Medalists, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Renowned for its spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, Stanford is also recognized as one of the leading universities in generating funding for start-ups.

Funding & Benefits

The program provides up to three years of full financial support for any graduate degree(s) at Stanford University, covering the studies for which scholars are admitted at the time of selection.

Each year, for the first three years of graduate study, Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program receive comprehensive funding, which includes:

Full tuition and associated fees
A stipend to cover living and academic expenses (such as housing, meals, books, supplies, instructional materials, local transportation, and personal needs)
An annual travel allowance for a round-trip economy-class flight to and from Stanford

In addition, scholars benefit from extra financial support in specific years:

First-year scholars receive a one-time relocation grant to help with moving costs and/or technology purchases.
Second- and third-year scholars may apply for supplementary funds to support academic enrichment opportunities, such as attending conferences.

Programs Covered

The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship program builds and nurtures a diverse, interdisciplinary community of graduate students from around the world. The fellowship provides support for a wide range of Stanford graduate degree programs, including but not limited to MA, MBA, MFA, MPP, MS, JSM, MLS, LLM, JD, MD, PhD, DMA, JD/MBA, the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP, MD/PhD), as well as many other graduate programs.

Programs Not Covered

The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program does not accept applications from the following candidates:

Individuals applying to the Honors Cooperative Program
Individuals applying to the Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) program
Individuals applying to the Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) program
Current Stanford students seeking coterminal graduate enrollment
Current Stanford PhD students pursuing an MA or MS in their existing field of study

Who Can Apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Fellowship

The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Fellowship has broad eligibility criteria designed to attract talented students from around the world.

There are no restrictions based on age, university, field of study, or career aspirations.
Applicants from all countries are encouraged to apply.
Recommendations from colleges, universities, or other organizations are not required.
You must hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution, earned in January 2017 or later.

In addition, you must apply to, be admitted to, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program (such as DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD) alongside your Knight-Hennessy Scholarship (KHS) application. Eligibility requires meeting at least one of the following conditions:

You apply to KHS and a full-time Stanford graduate program at the same time, beginning both in the same academic year.
You have already been admitted to a full-time Stanford graduate program, chosen to defer your start date, and now apply to KHS to begin in the same year.
You are a current Stanford graduate student applying to add a second full-time graduate program, starting KHS and the new program in the same academic year.
You are in the first year of your Stanford PhD program and apply to KHS to begin the fellowship in your second year of PhD studies.

Required Application Materials

Resume: Submit a one-page resume highlighting your most relevant academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences in reverse chronological order. Be sure to include key achievements, interests, and activities.
Transcripts: Upload scanned transcripts from all undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) institutions where you studied for one academic year or more, showing your academic performance.
Test Scores:
- If your chosen Stanford graduate program does not require standardized tests, you do not need to submit any for the Knight-Hennessy application.
- If your program does require test scores (including English proficiency tests), you must submit them to Knight-Hennessy Scholars by the later of your graduate program’s deadline or the Knight-Hennessy application deadline.
Letters of Recommendation: Provide two letters from individuals who know you well, can speak to your qualifications, and are able to give a thoughtful, enthusiastic endorsement of your candidacy.
Short Answer Questions: Respond to a series of prompts designed to let you describe your experiences, values, and future goals in your own words. (See “Short Answers and Essay” for details.)
Essay: Write an essay reflecting on your personal journey, the people and events that shaped you, and the aspirations guiding your future path.

Application Deadline for Knight-Hennessy Scholars Fellowship

In addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy, each applicant must also apply to, be admitted to, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate program. Graduate program applications must be submitted by their respective program deadlines.

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How to Apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

If you have already received and deferred admission to a full-time Stanford graduate program for 2024, or if you are a Stanford PhD student who began in 2023 and will enter your second year in 2024, you only need to submit one application to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program.

All other applicants must submit two separate but concurrent applications: one to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program and one to their chosen Stanford graduate program. This applies to both new applicants seeking admission to their first Stanford graduate degree and current students adding a second graduate degree.

The online application form allows you to provide important details that give context to your academic and personal background. You will be asked to share your contact information, basic biographical and demographic details, a record of your experiences and interests, and other relevant information.

To get started, log in to your existing account or create a new one. Once signed in, you can begin your application.

👉 Apply Now for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Fellowship