The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program 2027 at Stanford University

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars application is now open. The deadline to apply for the 2027 cohort is October 6, 2026. 

Knight-Hennessy Scholars has no restrictions based on age, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration. We encourage citizens and residents of all countries to apply. We do not require applicants to seek endorsements from colleges, universities, or other institutions. Additionally, we have no quotas by discipline, program, or world region.

There are two baseline eligibility requirements. 

Please note the eligibility requirements below are for those applying to join the 2027 cohort and may change for future cohorts.

Requirement 1: Admission to Stanford

First, in addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS), you must apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program including, but not limited to, DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD programs. You must meet at least one of the following four conditions to be eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:

1. You are applying separately but concurrently to KHS and a full-time Stanford graduate degree program such that you will start both in the same year.
2. You have already been offered and deferred admission to a full-time Stanford graduate degree program, and will apply to KHS such that you will start both in the same year.
3. You are a current Stanford graduate student who will apply to add a new full-time Stanford graduate degree program, such that you will start both KHS and the new program in the same year.
4. You are a current Stanford PhD student in your first year of enrollment, and will apply to KHS such that you will start KHS in your second year of PhD enrollment.  

Please note that the following Stanford graduate degree programs are not eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:

• Honors Cooperative Program
• Master of Liberal Arts
• Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) and the Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
• Current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS degree in their PhD discipline
• Coterminal degrees (current Stanford students enrolled in a coterminal degree must be applying to a different full-time Stanford degree program to apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars)

Requirement 2: Undergraduate Degree Date 

Second, you must have earned, in January 2020 or later, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.

To apply to join the cohort in:You must have earned your first bachelor's degree by:

For applicants who served in the military, we extend the eligibility window by two years in acknowledgement of longer service commitments; you must have earned your degree in January 2018 or later to enroll in 2027. Current college students are eligible if you will earn your first degree by September 2027. Within the eligibility window, we do not give preference based on recency of the degree.

The Stanford education of Knight-Hennessy Scholars is fully funded. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program funds up to three years of your graduate education. If your degree program exceeds three years - such as an MD or PhD program, or a Stanford dual- or joint-degree program - then your Stanford home department will fund the remainder of your education to the extent consistent with its standard funding commitment for that program. 

As a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, you receive:

• a fellowship applied directly to cover your tuition and associated fees, and
• a generous stipend comprising your on-campus room and board; books, supplies, and instructional materials; health insurance and associated fees; travel to and from Stanford; local transportation; and reasonable personal expenses

Additional Funding for Special Situations:

If you engage in optional research projects during the summer, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program can provide summer funding. In addition, Knight-Hennessy Scholars pursuing positive impact through social entrepreneurship may be eligible to apply for seed funding.