Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2026: Deadline, Eligibility, Benefits

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is Stanford University's flagship graduate scholarship, open to applicants of any nationality who are admitted to almost any full-time Stanford graduate degree program, including master's, JD, MD and PhD programs (a small number of programs, such as the Honors Cooperative Program and the Master of Liberal Arts, are excluded). Up to 100 scholars are selected each year. Candidates must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars and to a Stanford graduate degree program in the same cycle; admission to the degree program is required to receive the scholarship. Applicants must have earned their first bachelor's degree in January 2020 or later, or expect to earn it before September 2027 (a longer window applies to those with qualifying military service). Funding covers full tuition and fees for the degree listed in the scholar's admission letter, a stipend for living and academic expenses, an annual travel stipend for one round trip to Stanford, and a one-time relocation and technology stipend, for up to three years depending on the degree program. Scholars also take part in a leadership development curriculum alongside their degree. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars application for the class entering in 2027 closes 6 October 2026 at 1pm Pacific time, and the linked Stanford graduate program application is due by that date or 1 December 2026, whichever comes first.