Application Planning

This roadmap for funding for graduate/professional study provides step-by-step advice and detailed timelines.

Timeline overview for application process:

• March 18, 2024: opt in to the Postgrad Fellowships Spring Prep, which includes customized timelines, reminders, and planning!

• April: (i.e. the spring before the fall application deadline): 

  • Consider postgraduate plans, explore deadlines for the coming academic year, and book a Fellowships advising appointment.

  • Learn about the Scholarship, attend an information session on campus or sign up for official online info sessions, scholar panels, and application workshops  (see official website for dates)

• By May 1: opt-in to Postgraduate Fellowship Summer Support program by submitting this Getting Started worksheet to this form to help plan and build your applications (outlining, essay review, choosing recommenders, etc.)

• June: Start to plan for your application, including talking with people you might ask to write letters of reference. (Pro-tip: folks travel over the summer, whether for work or vacation, and may be hard to reach, so don’t wait to reach out!)

• July 24: Optional Draft Deadline for postgraduate fellowships—submit drafts to guarantee draft review appointment before relevant fall deadline.

• October 9, 2024 by 1:00 pm PT (Pacific Time): Knight-Hennessy application deadline - and remember also to apply for the degree program of your choice at Stanford by that program’s deadline to be considered for the Knight-Hennessy (note that for some degrees, this is earlier than the deadline for the Knight-Hennessy)

• February: Finalists will have virtual interviews.

• March: Finalists attend immersion weekend at Stanford, and interview for the program (travel expenses covered by Knight-Hennessy). All finalists should hear results shortly thereafter.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

• The competition is open to citizens of any nation. (Undocumented students are eligible to apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, but must meet eligibility for their Stanford graduate program, including any work requirements. For more information, please see the official Knight Hennessy and Stanford websites.)

• Applicants may be graduating seniors or graduates who have received their bachelor’s degrees within the last six years (in 2024, those who received their bachelor’s degrees in January 2018 or later, without an age restriction).

• All applicants must be good candidates for the degree program of their choice at Stanford.

• See the Knight-Hennessy website for full eligibility details and for selection criteria.

Where can I learn more?

• There is a wealth of helpful information provided on the official website.  

• Sign up for official online info sessions, scholar panels, and application workshops (see official website for dates)!

• Book a Fellowships advising appointment via Handshake, for application advice, feedback on essays, interview preparation, and more.

How do I apply?

Applications for the Knight-Hennessy should be submitted directly via the official website and all applicants must in addition apply for the graduate or professional degree of their choice at Stanford by the appropriate deadline to be eligible for the Knight-Hennessy; see official website for details.