Apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 at Stanford University. Check funding, bachelor’s-degree eligibility, documents, dual-application rules and the 6 October 2026 deadline.
Who can apply
Applicants from all countries who are applying to, have deferred admission to, or meet one of the other approved entry routes into an eligible full-time Stanford graduate degree beginning in 2027.
Benefits
During each of the first three years, scholars receive:
•A fellowship applied directly toward tuition and associated fees
•A stipend for living and academic expenses
•A travel stipend intended to cover one annual economy-class trip to and from Stanford
•A one-time relocation stipend for newly enrolling scholars
•The possibility of applying for supplemental academic-enrichment funding during years two and three
For programmes longer than three years, including PhD, DMA and MD programmes, later funding depends on the standard funding commitment of the relevant Stanford school or department. Additional KHS funding for another graduate programme is not guaranteed. Stipends may be taxable, and KHS does not reimburse taxes. Official funding terms.
Eligibility
Applicants must satisfy both baseline requirements.
The applicant must apply to, be admitted to and enroll in an eligible full-time Stanford graduate programme.
Eligible degree categories include programmes such as:
•DMA
•JD
•MA
•MBA
•MD
•MFA
•MPP
•MS
•PhD
Applicants must satisfy one of Stanford’s approved application or enrolment conditions for the 2027 cohort.
2. Undergraduate-degree requirement
Most applicants must have earned their first bachelor’s degree—or its recognized equivalent—in January 2020 or later.
Exceptions and extensions:
Military-service applicants: January 2018 or later
Current undergraduate students: must complete the first degree by September 2027
Holding a newer master’s degree does not correct an ineligible first-bachelor’s date
No direct KHS restrictions
KHS states that it has no restrictions based on:
•Age
•Citizenship
•College or university
•Field of study
•Career aspiration
It also states that it has no quotas by academic discipline, graduate programme or world region. The bachelor’s-degree date rule still applies.
Ineligible Stanford programmes
Stanford lists the following as ineligible:
•Honors Cooperative Program
•Master of Liberal Arts
•Doctor of Science of Law
•Master of Legal Studies
•Certain current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS in their PhD discipline
•Coterminal degrees, except where the stated external-application exception applies
Applicants should verify their exact programme against the official KHS eligibility page.
Selection criteria
Knight-Hennessy evaluates applicants against three principal criteria:
•Independence of thought
•Purposeful leadership
•Civic mindset
There is no stated minimum KHS GPA or test score. Applicants must still meet any academic and test requirements imposed by their chosen Stanford programme. Official selection criteria.
Required documents and application components
The KHS application generally requires:
•Completed online application
•One-page résumé
•Academic transcripts
•Degree document where the transcript does not show the degree and conferral date
•Official English translations for non-English academic documents
•Two recommendation letters
•Three short-answer responses
•One 550-word essay
•Test scores when required by the chosen Stanford programme
The one-page résumé should not contain photographs or hyperlinks. Résumé instructions.
The current essay prompt is:
Connect the dots. How have the influences in your life shaped you?
Applicants invited to the next stage must submit a video statement. It is not part of the initial application for everyone. Application writing requirements.
Application steps
1.Confirm that the first bachelor’s-degree date meets the 2027 rule.
2.Select an eligible full-time Stanford graduate programme.
3.Check that programme’s qualifications, documents, tests, fees and KHS-specific deadline.
4.Create the KHS and Stanford program applications separately.
5.Register two KHS recommenders early.
6.Prepare the one-page résumé, transcripts, short answers, and essay.
7.Submit the KHS application by 6 October 2026 at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
8.Submit the Stanford programme application by its KHS deadline or 1 December 2026, whichever is earlier.
9.Monitor the KHS portal for possible video statements and finalist invitations.
