- Fully FundedScholarship type
- Stanford UniversityHost institution
- Up to ~100 / yearAwards
- Any Stanford grad degreeScope
- Up to 3 yearsFunding duration
- Any nationalityEligibility
At a glance
full
Funding
€90k
Max amount
Oct 8, 2026
Deadline
Any country
Country
Stanford University
Provider
Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a fully-funded graduate scholarship at Stanford University, established in 2016 with a ~US$750 million endowment from Phil Knight (co-founder of Nike) and Stanford's former president John Hennessy. It funds up to ~100 scholars per cohort across any of Stanford's seven graduate schools, with the goal of developing a community of future leaders who address complex global challenges. Unlike single-degree scholarships, Knight-Hennessy supports almost any Stanford graduate program — MBA, MS, MA, PhD, JD, MD, and joint degrees — and layers on the King Global Leadership Program: a dedicated leadership-development experience of workshops, mentorship, immersion experiences, and a residential first year at Denning House. Scholars come from around the world and across disciplines, selected for independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset. The award covers tuition and a generous living and travel stipend for up to three years.
What's covered
- Tuition & fees — Full Stanford tuition and associated fees for your graduate program.
- Living stipend — A stipend for living and academic expenses (~US$45,000+/year, adjusted annually).
- Travel allowance — An annual allowance for one economy trip between your home and Stanford, plus academic travel.
- Academic enrichment — Funding for conferences, research, and the King Global Leadership Program activities.
- First-year residence — A vibrant first-year residential community at Denning House / graduate housing.
- Funding duration — Up to three years; for longer programs (e.g. PhD), Stanford funds the remaining years.
How to apply
Two parallel applications are required: the Knight-Hennessy application (with its own essays, recommendations, and a video) and the standard Stanford graduate program application(s). Both have their own deadlines.
- Check eligibility — Confirm the ~7-year degree-recency rule and that your target Stanford program is eligible.
- Build the Knight-Hennessy application — Complete the essays, short-answer questions, and the video introduction.
- Apply to a Stanford program — Submit the standard application to your chosen Stanford graduate school by its own deadline.
- Secure recommenders — Arrange Knight-Hennessy recommenders (separate from program recommenders).
- Submit by the deadline — Submit the Knight-Hennessy application by ~early-to-mid October.
- Interviews & selection — Finalists interview (~Jan–Feb); scholars are confirmed and must also gain Stanford admission.
Eligibility
NationalityCitizens of any country are eligible — there is no nationality restriction.
Degree recencyEarned your first/bachelor's degree within the ~7 years before applying (or earning it before you start at Stanford).
Stanford admissionApply to and gain admission to a full-time Stanford graduate program (any of the seven schools).
Two applicationsSubmit the Knight-Hennessy application and your Stanford program application(s) separately.
ExcludedPart-time, online, fellowship-only, and non-degree programs are not eligible.
You must be selected by Knight-Hennessy AND admitted to a Stanford graduate program to receive the award. PhD and other long programs are funded for up to three years, with Stanford covering the rest.
Eligible countries
Any country
Deadlines
2027 entry (Knight-Hennessy round)2026-10-08
Selection
Knight-Hennessy looks for three qualities: independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset — alongside academic excellence and the potential to use a Stanford education to better the world. After application review, finalists are interviewed. Receiving the award also requires independent admission to a Stanford graduate program.
Verified sources
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars — Admissionknight-hennessy.stanford.eduofficial
About the provider
Knight-Hennessy Scholars is based at Stanford University and was established in 2016 through a ~US$750 million endowment from Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Stanford's former president John Hennessy. It aims to build a multidisciplinary community of future leaders — selected from any country and any Stanford graduate program — equipped to address complex global challenges.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program?
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A fully-funded graduate scholarship at Stanford, founded in 2016 with a ~US$750 million endowment from Phil Knight and John Hennessy. It funds up to ~100 scholars per cohort in any Stanford graduate program plus a leadership-development experience.
Who is eligible?
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Citizens of any country who earned their first degree within the last ~7 years (or will before starting) and who apply to and are admitted to a full-time Stanford graduate program.
What does it cover?
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Full tuition and fees, a living stipend (~US$45,000+/year), a travel allowance, academic-enrichment funding, and a first-year residential community — for up to three years.
Which Stanford programs are eligible?
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Almost any full-time graduate degree — MBA, MS, MA, PhD, JD, MD, and joint degrees — across all seven schools. Part-time, online, and non-degree programs are excluded.
Do I apply twice?
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Yes. You submit the Knight-Hennessy application and, separately, the standard Stanford graduate program application. You must be selected by Knight-Hennessy and admitted to Stanford.
When is the deadline?
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The Knight-Hennessy application closes in ~early-to-mid October. Your Stanford program application follows its own (often December) deadline. Confirm both on the official sites.
How long does funding last?
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Up to three years. For longer programs such as a PhD, Knight-Hennessy funds the first three years and Stanford covers the remaining years.
How competitive is it?
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Highly — roughly 7,000+ applicants for up to ~100 awards (~1.5%). Selection weighs independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset alongside academics.
Can I apply for Knight-Hennessy and other scholarships?
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Yes, you can apply in parallel to other awards (e.g. Rhodes, Marshall), but each has its own requirements and you can only take up one that fits your study plan.
What is the King Global Leadership Program?
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A leadership-development experience exclusive to Knight-Hennessy scholars — workshops, mentorship, immersion trips, and community-building that run alongside your Stanford degree.
Do I have to return to my home country?
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No. There is no return-home requirement. Scholars pursue careers worldwide; the program aims to develop leaders who address global challenges wherever they work.
What essays and materials are required?
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The Knight-Hennessy application includes essays, short answers, a video introduction, two recommendation letters, and transcripts — separate from your Stanford program materials.