Knight-Hennessy Scholars is Stanford University’s graduate fellowship, founded in 2016. Scholars study for a full-time Stanford graduate degree of their choice, from an MA or MS to a JD, MD, MBA or PhD.
Alongside the degree, scholars join a multidisciplinary cohort and the King Global Leadership Program of workshops, lectures and projects, based at Denning House on campus. The KHS application is separate from the degree application, and both are required.
Benefits & funding
- Tuition and associated fees paid by a fellowship, for up to three years of graduate study
- A stipend for living and academic costs, plus one economy round trip to Stanford each year
- A one-time relocation stipend for new scholars
- Degrees longer than three years (PhD, MD) continue on the department’s standard funding afterwards
- Stipends are taxable; KHS does not reimburse tax
Eligibility
- Citizens and residents of every country may apply, including undocumented and stateless applicants; no limits on age, field or university
- Must apply to, be admitted to and enroll full-time in an eligible Stanford graduate program starting in 2027; deferred admits and first-year Stanford PhD students also qualify
- First bachelor’s degree earned in January 2020 or later (January 2018 or later for military veterans); final-year students qualify if they graduate by September 2027
- Ineligible programs include coterminal degrees, the Master of Liberal Arts, the JSD and the MLS
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Submit the KHS application — resume, transcripts and test scores, short answers, an essay and two recommendation letters — by the deadline; KHS charges no fee.
- 2Apply separately to the Stanford degree program by its deadline for KHS applicants or 1 December 2026, whichever is earlier (MBA applicants: Round 1).
- 3Invited applicants send a two-minute video statement in January.
- 4Finalists sit an online interview and attend Immersion Weekend at Stanford, with travel paid by KHS.
Program timeline
Application deadline (1 pm Pacific Time; closed)
Oct 6, 2026
Latest date for the degree-program application
Dec 1, 2026
Finalists notified
Jan 27, 2027
Immersion Weekend
Mar 5, 2027 to Mar 6, 2027
Scholars notified
Mar 16, 2027