Fully-Funded Knight Hennessy Scholars Program for International Students at Stanford University in USA, 2023

Knight-Hennessy scholars receive funding for up to three years for any graduate degree(s) at Stanford. This funding applies to the degree(s) to which scholars are preparing to enroll at the time of scholar selection.

During each of the first three years of graduate study, Knight-Hennessy scholars receive several types of funding:

• A fellowship applied directly to cover tuition and associated fees
• A stipend for living and academic expenses (such as room and board, books, academic supplies, instructional materials, local transportation, and reasonable personal expenses)
• A travel stipend intended to cover an economy-class ticket for one annual trip to and from Stanford

Additional funding specific to certain years:

• Newly enrolling scholars receive a one-time relocation stipend intended to offset some of the costs associated with relocation to the area and/or technology purchases.
• Scholars in their second and third years may apply for supplemental funds to support academic enrichment activities  (e.g., conference travel).​

Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) provides funding for the degree program listed in the initial KHS admission letter. Scholars who wish to enroll in an additional graduate program may apply to KHS to receive additional funding up to the maximum of three years. This additional funding is not guaranteed. 

If a scholar is admitted to a degree program that exceeds three years — such as an MD, PhD, or Stanford dual- or joint-degree program — then funding is based on the graduate degree program’s standard funding commitment. This varies by department and school, as indicated in the chart below. Please contact the graduate program with specific questions about their funding commitment. 

Degree program	Quarters of KHS tuition & stipend	Years of funding	Degree program funds
MA, MBA, MFA, MPP, MS, JSM, MLS, LLM	Up to six academic quarters	1 – 2	N/A
JD	Nine academic quarters	1 – 3	N/A
MD	up to 11 quarters (does not include summer quarter of year 1)	1 – 3	Years 4 and 5*
PhD, DMA	up to 12 quarters: nine academic quarters (Autumn, Winter, Spring) and three summers	1 – 3	Year 4 and beyond
JD/MBA	Nine academic quarters	1 – 3	Need-based: apply to the graduate school’s financial aid
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP, MD/PhD)	Up to 12 quarters: nine academic quarters (Autumn, Winter, Spring) and three summers	1 – 3	Year 4 and beyond

*For MD students: 

• The Medical School will fund the remaining years, consistent with its standard funding commitment to MD students, which consists of tuition support and stipend. 

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What is Not Covered

• Fellowship stipends are taxable, but not subject to withholding (except for international students from a country without a tax treaty). Please carefully review the tax information at https://vpge.stanford.edu/fellowships-funding/policies#Taxes and be sure to budget accordingly for any tax responsibilities. Knight-Hennessy Scholars does not reimburse students for taxes.

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Resources

• Stanford Financial Aid Office graduate student budget
• Stanford Financial Services Tax Information
• Bechtel International Center Tax Information for International Students

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PIease contact KHS with any questions about how funding might apply to specific individual circumstances. 

Official website