Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Up to three years of funding for a Stanford graduate degree: tuition and fees, a stipend for living and study costs, a yearly travel stipend, and a one-time relocation stipend.

• Open to all nationalities, including DACA, stateless and undocumented applicants
• Must apply to, be admitted to and enrol in a full-time Stanford graduate degree programme
• First bachelor's degree earned in January 2020 or later for the 2027 cohort (January 2018 or later with military service)
• Final-year undergraduates can apply if they finish their first degree by September 2027
• Not eligible: Honors Cooperative Program, Master of Liberal Arts, JSD, MLS and coterminal degrees
• Selection based on independence of thought, purposeful leadership and civic mindset

Open to all nationalities. You must apply to, be admitted to and enrol in a full-time Stanford graduate programme, and your first bachelor's degree must be fairly recent (for the 2027 cohort, earned in January 2020 or later; two extra years if you served in the military). A few programmes, such as the JSD and MLS, are not eligible.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check eligibility and pick a programme

   Check that your first bachelor's degree falls within the date window, then choose a full-time Stanford graduate programme that KHS accepts.

2. 2

   Step 2: Submit the KHS application

   Submit the free KHS application with your résumé, transcripts, any test scores your programme requires, three short answers and an essay by the October deadline (1:00pm Pacific Time). Your two recommenders must submit by the same deadline.

3. 3

   Step 3: Apply separately to Stanford

   Submit your Stanford programme application by the programme's own deadline or 1 December, whichever is earlier. Each application must mention the other.

4. 4

   Step 4: Record a video if invited

   Selected applicants are invited to submit a video statement, on a rolling basis through January.

5. 5

   Step 5: Attend the Finalist Experience

   About 180 finalists (notified on 27 January 2027) have a recorded online interview in mid-February. They must also attend Immersion Weekend on 5–6 March 2027.

6. 6

   Step 6: Get your decision

   2027-cohort scholars hear on 16 March 2027. Your Stanford programme decides on your admission separately, and you need its offer too.

• Online KHS application form
• Résumé
• Transcripts
• Test scores, only if your programme requires them
• Two recommendation letters
• Essay (550 words) and three short answers
• Video statement (by invitation)

Deadline

The 2027-cohort application closed at 1:00pm Pacific Time on 6 October 2026; the 2028-cohort application opens in summer 2027.

Applications usually open in summer (around June) and close in early October (6 October 2026 for the 2027 cohort). You must also apply separately to your Stanford programme, by 1 December at the latest. The 2028-cohort application opens in summer 2027.