The US Capitol building in Washington DC viewed from the lawn.

United States 2027 cohort applications open July 2026 — close mid-October 2026

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is Stanford's flagship fully-funded graduate fellowship — launched in 2018 with a USD 750 million endowment, the largest of its kind. It funds up to three years of full-time graduate study at any of Stanford's seven schools, including MBA, JD, MD, PhD, MS, and MA programmes. The award covers tuition, a generous living stipend, and travel for an annual immersive leadership programme. Approximately 100 scholars are selected each year from a global pool of 8,000-9,000 applicants. Sri Lankan applicants compete on the same global merit basis as everyone else — no country quota — and at least one Sri Lankan has been selected in recent cohorts.

Stanford University

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Full Tuition + Stipend (~USD 90k/yr)

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Duration

Up to 3 Years (any Stanford grad degree)

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Cohort

~100 Scholars / Year Globally

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Stanford Graduate Programme Application

You must separately apply to and be admitted to a full-time graduate programme at any of Stanford's seven schools. Knight-Hennessy does not guarantee admission — it funds students who win Stanford admission on their own merit.

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Within 7 Years of Bachelor's

You must have earned your first/Bachelor's degree in 2019 or later (for 2027 entry). Mid-career professionals more than 7 years out are not eligible. Sri Lankan applicants typically apply 2-5 years post-Bachelor's.

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Open to All Nationalities

No nationality, citizenship, or residency restrictions. Sri Lankan citizens, dual nationals, and US permanent residents are all eligible to apply directly.

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Demonstrated Leadership + Impact

KHS seeks scholars with proven leadership, independence of thought, civic mindset, and the potential for purposeful career trajectories. Pure academic excellence alone is not sufficient — community impact, entrepreneurship, or public service matter.

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Apply to Stanford + KHS in parallel

Submit the Knight-Hennessy application (via the KHS portal) AND the relevant Stanford graduate programme application (e.g., Stanford GSB for MBA, Stanford Engineering for MS). KHS deadline is mid-October — earlier than most Stanford programme deadlines.

Submit KHS-specific materials

KHS application includes 2 essays (Statement of Purpose + 'Why Knight-Hennessy?'), 2 references (different from Stanford programme refs), CV, transcripts, and TOEFL/IELTS if needed. No GRE required for KHS itself (but may be required by your Stanford programme).

Round 1 + finalist interview

First round of selection happens in November-December — approximately 700-800 candidates are advanced to immersive 'Finalists Day' interviews in February (virtual or at Stanford). Final cohort selected in early March.

Confirm Stanford admission

KHS Scholars must also win admission to their chosen Stanford programme through that programme's separate process. If you receive KHS but not Stanford programme admission, the award is voided. Final scholar enrolment confirmed by mid-April.

Why Knight-Hennessy + Stanford?

Stanford is consistently top 3 globally and the undisputed leader in technology, entrepreneurship, and venture-backed innovation. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars community is a peer cohort of 100 future leaders from 60+ countries — they live together at Denning House, attend leadership programming together, and form one of the strongest global networks in graduate education.