The goal of the Knight Hennessy Scholars Program is to develop a new generation of global leaders by choosing 100 exceptional students annually from throughout the world who have demonstrated civic engagement and leadership potential. The complete cost of these students’ graduate studies at Stanford University will be covered.
Knight Hennessy Scholars is an international graduate-level scholarship program at Stanford University. The program, which was established in 2016, prepares students to take on leadership roles in developing creative answers to urgent global issues.
Knight Hennessy Scholars Program Detail
| Host Country | USA |
| Host Institute | Stanford University |
| Scholarship Type | Fully Funded |
| No. of Scholarships | 100 |
| Eligible Nationality | All |
| Benefit | Fully Funded + No Application Fee |
| Opening Date | June 1, 2025 |
| Deadline | October 09, 2025 |
Inspired by programs such as the Rhodes Scholarship, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program seeks to attract students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition to their graduate studies, leadership development programs, and immersion study tours, scholars can get mentoring from influential figures in the government, nonprofit, and industry sectors.
At Stanford University, Knight Hennessy Scholars provide full funding for over 125 graduate programs in seven colleges, spanning the humanities, social sciences, engineering, business, law, medicine, and education. The program is open to applicants from all disciplines and places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.
Selected students receive support that includes tuition, fees, and a living allowance for a maximum of three years of study. They also have access to leadership development opportunities, a wide global network of researchers, and mentorship programs.
The selection process for the Knight Hennessy Scholars program is extremely tough. It evaluates applicants on the basis of their leadership potential, intellectual capacity, and demonstration of a commitment to helping others. People with a defined goal, intellectual independence, and a willingness to take risks and collaborate with others are sought after by the program.
Admission to Stanford
Knight Hennessy Scholars are not restricted by age, college or university, subject of study, or desired professional path. We invite all citizens and residents to apply.
To be eligible for graduate study at Stanford University, you must meet the prerequisites of the graduate program or programs you wish to pursue and hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution or university.
There are no restrictions on age, subject of study, college or institution, or chosen career path for Knight Hennessy Scholars All citizens and residents are urged to apply.
You must be enrolled in college right now to be eligible if you plan to finish your first degree by September 2025.
- In addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS), you must first apply to, be accepted into, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program, such as a DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD program. You must fulfill at least one of the four requirements listed below:
- You are submitting separate but concurrent applications to Stanford’s full-time graduate program and KHS in order to start both during the same academic year.
- Even if you have already been accepted into a full-time Stanford graduate program and have decided to postpone your start date, you will still apply to KHS in order to begin both in the same year.
Deadline for Knight Hennessy Scholars Program
On October 11, 2025, the KnKnight Hennessy Scholars Program application period will end at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Whatever Stanford graduate degree program you want to apply to, the KHS application deadline applies to all applicants.
Graduate program applications from KHS must be submitted by December 1, 2025, or before the program’s usual application deadline, whichever comes first.
Documents Required
Along with the online application for Knight Hennessy Scholars Program, you must provide your CV, test results and transcripts, recommendation letters, essays, and short answers.
Resumé
Make a one-page resume that highlights your experiences, hobbies, and educational background while showcasing your successes in reverse chronological order. Please list any relevant professional or extracurricular experience you may have. Please select a font size that will allow your text to be readable.
Test results and transcripts
Transcripts from each college you attended for at least one academic year, including your undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) grades, should be scanned and uploaded.
Suggestion Letters
Ask for two reference letters from people who are willing to write them, are qualified to do so, and have the time to create a compelling recommendation for you. These advocates need to be able to provide specific examples, tales, and evidence.
Essay & Short Answers
You are asked to explain in your own words your past experiences, present self, and future objectives in response to the short-answer questions.
Kindly answer the following three questions:
How will being a Knight-Hennessy Scholar prepare you to achieve your immediate and long-term objectives? (No more than 250 words)
Tell us about a moment when you: a) made someone very proud of you; b) overcame your biggest challenge; or c) fell short of expectations. (Word count total: 150)
Would you kindly tell us eight surprising things about yourself that are true? (Word count total: 150)
The essay challenge invites you to think carefully about the people, occasions, and circumstances that have shaped your life’s course.
Knight Hennessy Scholars Program Application Process
You must submit your Stanford graduate degree application and your Knight Hennessy Scholars Program application at the same time. This applies to both current Stanford graduate students adding a second graduate degree and candidates seeking to enroll in Stanford’s first graduate program. In contrast to the KHS application, which has a uniform deadline for all applicants, the Stanford application deadline varies by program.
If you have already been accepted and have been deferred admission to begin a full-time graduate program at Stanford in 2025, or if you are a Stanford PhD student who will begin your PhD in 2024 and begin your second year in 2025, you only need to submit one application to be considered for Knight-Hennessy Scholars.
Complete the online application for admission, providing your academic and personal information, among other things. We ask for your contact details, basic biographical and demographic data, and a summary of your interests, experiences, and activities, among other things, so that we can better understand you.
Although you may be tempted to omit or condense portions of your resume that include redundant information, we strongly encourage you to fully respond to all inquiries that ask for background information. We enjoy finding out more about your hobbies, career experiences, and extracurricular activities.
Knight Henne sy Scholars Program Although it is not necessary for scholars to pay an application fee, it is needed when submitting an application for a graduate program.
Knight Hennessy Scholars Program Apply here.
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