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United States · Stanford University

Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

IELTS Requirement & Application Guide

IELTS
7
Components
L 6.5 / R 6.5 / W 6.5 / S 6.5
Level
PG, PhD
Deadline
May–October

Last verified: 2026-03

About Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

The Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is one of the world's largest fully endowed scholarship programmes. It supports approximately 100 scholars per year to pursue any graduate programme at Stanford University, covering full tuition for up to three years, a living stipend, graduate housing, and travel. The programme seeks students who demonstrate independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

Official Website

IELTS Required

OverallLRWS
76.56.56.56.5

Accepts: Academic / General

Also accepted: TOEFL iBT 100

Tips for Meeting the Requirement

  1. 1Stanford requires IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each band. As one of the world's top universities, exceeding the minimum score strengthens your application significantly.
  2. 2Knight-Hennessy scholars come from diverse graduate programmes — law, medicine, business, engineering, humanities. Tailor your IELTS preparation to the academic vocabulary of your intended programme.
  3. 3The programme's emphasis on leadership and civic engagement means your interview performance matters greatly. Practice articulating your vision and experiences fluently in the Speaking component.

Frequently Asked Questions

What IELTS score is required for Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholarship?
Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars must meet Stanford's English language requirement of IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component. TOEFL iBT (100+) is also accepted.
How competitive is the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship?
Knight-Hennessy is extremely competitive, selecting approximately 100 scholars per year from thousands of global applicants. Selection is based on independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.
What programmes can Knight-Hennessy Scholars pursue at Stanford?
Knight-Hennessy Scholars can pursue any graduate programme at Stanford University, including degrees in the Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Humanities & Sciences, Law, Medicine, and Sustainability.

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