Two separate applications: one in the Knight-Hennessy Scholars portal by its October deadline, and one to whichever Stanford graduate programme you want to study on. There is no citizenship restriction. Message us on WhatsApp for help with programme choice and the essays.
United States · Fully funded
Knight-Hennessy Scholars — Full Funding at Stanford
A leadership-focused programme open across every Stanford graduate school. But it requires two entirely separate applications, and each is assessed on its own terms.
- 3 years
- Years funded
- Tuition
- Tuition and fees
- Annual
- Travel stipend
- All schools
- Scope
Overview
Knight-Hennessy Scholars is Stanford’s largest graduate fellowship programme, and its scope is unusual: it can be held on any programme in any of the university’s graduate schools, whether law, engineering or business.
The structure is dual, and it is the part most often misunderstood: being admitted to Knight-Hennessy is not the same as being admitted to Stanford. You must separately apply to a Stanford graduate programme and be selected there too. Failing either one ends the opportunity.
What the scholarship covers
- Tuition and associated fees paid directly in each of the first three years
- A stipend for living and academic expenses — room and board, books and academic supplies
- A travel stipend covering one annual economy round trip to Stanford
- A one-time relocation stipend for newly enrolling scholars
- The King Global Leadership Program — leadership development running alongside the degree
Eligibility
- No citizenship restriction — applications are open worldwide
- A parallel application to, and admission by, any Stanford graduate programme
- Typically a recent bachelor’s degree — the programme targets earlier-career candidates
- Evidence of leadership, independence of thought and purposeful direction
How to apply
The step-by-step application process for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars.
01.Apply to Knight-Hennessy
File the fellowship’s own application by the October deadline.
02.Apply to the Stanford programme
A wholly separate application, whose deadline can differ by programme.
03.Two independent assessments
The fellowship and the programme decide separately; you need both.
04.Interview and final selection
Shortlisting leads to interview, then the final scholar announcement.
Application cycles
Each cycle has its own page with that round’s dates, figures and changes — kept in step with the official notice.
Frequently asked questions
No, and this is the most consequential misconception. The fellowship and admission are two distinct decisions made by two distinct bodies. Winning the fellowship without being admitted to a programme means it cannot be taken up.
Want help winning the Knight-Hennessy Scholars?
Our counsellors help with course selection, essays and the application. Message us on WhatsApp for free guidance.