Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2026
About this scholarship
Knight-Hennessy Scholars is Stanford University’s flagship graduate scholarship, funding high-achieving students from around the world to pursue graduate study at Stanford with leadership development support.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a prestigious graduate scholarship programme at Stanford University in the United States. It is designed to support talented students from all nationalities who want to pursue a graduate degree at Stanford while joining a multidisciplinary leadership and community experience.
The programme is open to students applying for eligible Stanford graduate degrees, including master’s and doctoral programmes. Based on the reference postings, the scholarship is fully funded and typically covers up to three years of graduate study. Support generally includes tuition, a living stipend, and travel funding, with health insurance also commonly included in summaries of the award package.
A key requirement is that applicants must separately apply for and gain admission to an eligible Stanford graduate programme. The Knight-Hennessy application is therefore linked to Stanford graduate admission rather than functioning as a standalone degree application. Selection is highly competitive and usually focuses on academic excellence, leadership potential, independence of thought, and a commitment to positive impact.
The scholarship is suitable for both domestic and international applicants, and it is one of the most prominent opportunities for graduate study in the United States. Because eligibility details, deadlines, and required materials can vary slightly by admission cycle and by the Stanford degree programme, applicants should review the official Knight-Hennessy and Stanford admissions pages carefully before applying.
- Host institution: Stanford University
- Host country: United States
- Study levels: Master’s and PhD/doctoral graduate study
- Typical coverage: tuition, stipend, travel, and related graduate-study support
Eligibility
Who can apply for this scholarship
Open to applicants of any nationality who are seeking admission to an eligible graduate degree at Stanford University. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen Stanford graduate programme and the separate Knight-Hennessy Scholars selection criteria. The programme is competitive and generally seeks strong academic achievement, leadership potential, and civic or professional impact.
Requirements
Documents typically needed to apply
Language requirements
Must meet the English-language requirements of the chosen Stanford graduate programme; tests such as TOEFL or IELTS may be required depending on the programme and applicant background.
Where you can use this
Open positions accepting Knight-Hennessy Scholars.