Stanford University Scholarships 2027-28 in USA | Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Stanford University Scholarships 2027-28 offer an outstanding opportunity for graduate students from around the world through the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. The program supports eligible students pursuing graduate study at Stanford University and provides financial support for up to three years, depending on the degree program.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 application is open to applicants from all countries. There are no restrictions based on citizenship, field of study, college or university, or career aspiration. However, applicants must also apply separately to an eligible full-time Stanford graduate degree program.

For the 2027 cohort, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application deadline is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time. Applicants must also meet the deadline for their chosen Stanford graduate program.

Stanford University Scholarships 2027-28 – Overview

What Is the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program?

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University is a multidisciplinary graduate scholarship program designed to bring together students from different academic, cultural and professional backgrounds.

The program combines graduate study at Stanford with leadership development and collaborative activities. Stanford states that scholars are selected based on evidence of independence of thought, purposeful leadership and a civic mindset.

The program is not limited to students from a particular country or academic discipline. Applicants from all countries are encouraged to apply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and gain admission to an eligible Stanford graduate program.

Financial Benefits of Stanford University Scholarships

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program provides financial support for graduate study at Stanford for up to three years, depending on the length and requirements of the student’s graduate program.

Support can include:

• Tuition support
• A fellowship for living and academic expenses
• Financial support associated with the graduate program
• An annual travel grant
• Leadership development and scholar programming
• Opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary and multicultural activities

The exact financial package can depend on the student’s Stanford degree program and period of study.

Is the Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Fully Funded?

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program provides substantial financial support toward graduate study and can cover tuition and living-related expenses according to the program’s funding structure.

However, applicants should not assume that every expense is automatically covered in every situation. Stanford determines the applicable support based on the graduate program and the scholar’s circumstances.

Fields of Study

Knight-Hennessy Scholars can pursue graduate study across Stanford’s participating academic schools and programs.

The program is multidisciplinary and does not impose a general field-of-study restriction. Stanford specifically states that there are no restrictions based on field of study or career aspiration.

Potential areas include:

• Engineering
• Business
• Education
• Humanities and Sciences
• Law
• Medicine
• Earth, environmental and energy-related fields
• Other eligible Stanford graduate programs

Applicants should check their intended Stanford graduate program separately because individual programs have their own admission requirements and deadlines.

Eligibility Criteria for Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027

To apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 cohort, applicants must meet the program’s baseline eligibility requirements.

1. Bachelor’s Degree Requirement

Applicants must have earned, or expect to earn, their first bachelor’s degree in January 2020 or later for the 2027 cohort.

Applicants who have served in the military receive a two-year extension, meaning their bachelor’s degree must have been earned in January 2018 or later. Current undergraduate students may also be eligible if they will complete their first degree by September 2027.

2. Admission to Stanford

Applicants must apply to and be accepted into an eligible full-time Stanford graduate degree program.

The Knight-Hennessy application and Stanford graduate program application are separate applications.

3. Nationality

Students from all countries are encouraged to apply. Stanford does not impose citizenship restrictions for Knight-Hennessy Scholars.

4. Academic Field

There is no general restriction based on academic field or career aspiration. However, applicants must meet the specific admission requirements of the Stanford graduate program they wish to enter.

What Does Stanford Look for in Applicants?

Knight-Hennessy Scholars evaluates applicants using three main criteria:

Independence of Thought

Applicants should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, openness to different perspectives and the ability to develop ideas for addressing complex problems.

Purposeful Leadership

Stanford looks for evidence of leadership, ethical decision-making, resilience and the ability to work with and inspire others.

Civic Mindset

Applicants should demonstrate qualities such as humility, empathy, integrity, accountability and a commitment to serving others.

Required Application Materials

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars application includes several key components:

• Online application form
• Resume
• Academic transcript
• Test scores, when required by the applicant’s Stanford graduate program
• Recommendation letters
• Short-answer questions
• Essay

Stanford currently lists these as the five main components of the KHS application.

Applicants should also note that a video statement is not a standard initial application requirement for everyone. Stanford indicates that video statement invitations are sent to selected applicants during the later stage of the process.

Application Deadline for Stanford University Scholarships 2027

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars application deadline is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time. This deadline is the same for all KHS applicants.

Applicants must also submit a separate application to their intended Stanford graduate program.

The Stanford graduate program deadline varies by program. For KHS applicants, the graduate application must generally be submitted by the earlier of the program’s KHS deadline or December 1, 2026. Applicants should confirm the exact deadline with their intended department.

Important Deadline

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Deadline:
October 6, 2026 – 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Do not wait until the final day to submit your application because you must complete the KHS application separately from your Stanford graduate program application.

Is There an Application Fee?

There is no application fee for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application.

However, this does not mean that Stanford graduate applications are automatically free. Applicants must pay any application fee required by their chosen graduate program unless they qualify for a fee waiver through that program. Stanford states that Knight-Hennessy Scholars does not provide fee waivers for graduate degree applications.

How to Apply for Stanford University Scholarships 2027

Applicants should complete the following steps:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Review the Knight-Hennessy eligibility requirements and confirm that your bachelor’s degree falls within the required eligibility period.

Step 2: Choose a Stanford Graduate Program

Find an eligible full-time Stanford graduate program that matches your academic and career goals.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Prepare your:

• Resume
• Academic transcripts
• Test scores where applicable
• Recommendation letters
• Essays and short answers
• Other documents required by your Stanford degree program

Step 4: Apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Complete and submit the KHS application before:

October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Step 5: Submit the Stanford Graduate Application

You must also apply separately to your chosen Stanford graduate program according to its applicable deadline.

Step 6: Monitor Your Application

Applicants should monitor their email and application account for updates, additional requests and information about the selection process.

Official Application Links

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Application:
Apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Stanford Graduate Admissions:
Stanford Graduate Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students apply for Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars?

Yes. Applicants from all countries are encouraged to apply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and the requirements of their intended Stanford graduate program.

What is the Knight-Hennessy Scholars deadline for 2027?

The deadline is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Is Knight-Hennessy Scholars fully funded?

The program provides financial support for graduate study for up to three years, including tuition-related and living/academic support according to the applicable funding structure.

Do I need to apply separately to Stanford University?

Yes. Applicants generally submit two separate applications: one for Knight-Hennessy Scholars and another for their Stanford graduate degree program.

Is there an application fee?

There is no application fee for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application. However, the Stanford graduate program may have its own application fee.

What bachelor’s degree year is required for the 2027 cohort?

Generally, applicants must have earned their first bachelor’s degree in January 2020 or later. Military applicants receive a two-year extension to January 2018.

Conclusion

The Stanford University Scholarships 2027-28 through Knight-Hennessy Scholars provide graduate applicants with an opportunity to pursue eligible full-time graduate study at Stanford while receiving significant financial support and participating in leadership and multidisciplinary activities.

The program welcomes applicants from around the world and does not restrict applicants based on citizenship, field of study or career aspiration. For the 2027 cohort, the most important date to remember is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time for the Knight-Hennessy application. Applicants must also complete a separate Stanford graduate program application by the applicable deadline.

Application link 

Apply now