Knight-Hennessy for International Applicants

No Citizenship Restrictions

Knight-Hennessy explicitly welcomes applicants from every country. Unlike Rhodes (which restricts to specific countries), Marshall (U.S. only), or Chevening (excludes UK citizens), KHS has no nationality requirements whatsoever. Your passport does not advantage or disadvantage your application. You need the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, earned in January 2020 or later for the 2027 cohort.

English Tests and Transcripts

You only send English-test scores to KHS if your Stanford program requires them. Where it does, most Stanford programs set minimums of TOEFL 90 (tests taken before 21 January 2026) or 5.5 on the new TOEFL scale (taken on or after 21 January 2026), and IELTS 7 — but check your program’s own requirement. Unofficial transcripts are fine for the KHS application.

Visa Process After Selection

1. 1
   Stanford issues the I-20 form

   After you accept both KHS and your Stanford program admission, Stanford's Bechtel International Center issues an I-20 form for your F-1 student visa application.

2. 2
   Pay the SEVIS fee and schedule an interview

   Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee (~$350) and schedule a visa interview at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Wait times vary significantly by country — some embassies have 2–3 month waits.

3. 3
   Visa interview

   Present your I-20, proof of KHS funding, Stanford admission letter, and passport. With full KHS funding documented, financial proof is straightforward. Most Stanford-bound students are approved.

4. 4
   Arrive and register

   You can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before your program start date. Stanford's Bechtel Center provides orientation specifically for international students.

New for 2027 entrants: a fixed period of stay

From 15 September 2026, new F-1 students are no longer admitted for “duration of status”. You are admitted until the program end date on your I-20, for at most four years. Many Stanford PhDs and some dual degrees run longer than that, so plan on filing an extension of stay with USCIS before your admission date runs out, and give yourself time: delays from academic probation are generally not accepted as a reason to extend.

The grace period to leave after you finish your degree or OPT is now 30 days (it was 60). The rule is subject to congressional review, so check the current position with Stanford’s Bechtel International Center. Source: DHS final rule, Federal Register, 17 July 2026.

Tax Implications for International Students

This is where international students face a significant and often unexpected financial issue. Scholarship funds exceeding tuition (primarily the living stipend) may be considered taxable income under U.S. tax law, and KHS does not reimburse taxes.

Tax treaty countries: if your home country has a tax treaty with the U.S. (UK, Germany, India, China, Japan, and many others), you may be exempt from some or all tax on the stipend portion. The specific exemption varies by treaty.

Non-treaty countries: if your country has no U.S. tax treaty (many African nations, some Asian countries), Stanford may be required to withhold 14% of the stipend for federal tax. This reduces your take-home stipend meaningfully.

Cost of living

The Bay Area is one of the most expensive regions in the U.S. The KHS stipend is designed for a comfortable graduate student lifestyle, but not luxury. A car is not necessary — Stanford's campus is bike-friendly and served by the Caltrain commuter rail.

Housing

Stanford guarantees housing for graduate students for the first year. After that, on-campus housing is available but competitive. Off-campus housing in Palo Alto and surrounding areas is expensive ($2,000–$3,000+/month for a studio or shared apartment).

Health insurance

Stanford's student health insurance is part of enrollment. For international students, it provides coverage comparable to good employer-sponsored plans in the U.S. Family members require separate coverage.

Social Security Number

As an F-1 student, you can apply for a Social Security Number if you have on-campus employment or OPT/CPT authorization. You'll need an SSN for tax filing and banking.

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