Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Key facts

What the Knight-Hennessy Scholars covers — and why it's worth applying

Stanford's elite fully-funded graduate scholarship across all schools. The award (Fully funded) is aimed at Master's & PhD study in USA, and goes to Any graduate programme at Stanford; strong leadership.

Beyond the money, prestigious scholarships like this strengthen your CV, open alumni and professional networks, and can make your visa application stronger by proving your funding. Even if you're unsure you'll win, applying costs nothing here and the process sharpens your SOP for every other application.

How to apply (and stand out)

1. Confirm you meet the eligibility: Any graduate programme at Stanford; strong leadership.
2. Read the official criteria carefully and note exactly what the scholarship values.
3. Secure your university admission or nomination first, where it's required.
4. Write a specific, story-led SOP that ties your goals to the scholarship's mission — build and refine yours free with our SOP tool.
5. Line up strong, tailored recommendation letters early (referees need 2–3 weeks).
6. Highlight leadership, impact and a clear plan for how you'll use the opportunity.
7. Submit well before the October deadline, and prepare for an interview if you're shortlisted.

Always verify amounts, eligibility and deadlines on the official scholarship website — these change every year.