Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Academic Discipline

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Business, Management & Finance, Education & Human Development, Law, Policy & Governance, International & Global Studies

Award Type

Graduate School Scholarship

Award Location

USA

When to Apply

Senior Year, Alumni, Graduate Student

Eligibility: Citizenship

Non-U.S. Citizen, U.S. Citizen

Knight-Hennessy fully funds up to three years of a graduate program at Stanford. Scholars will be part of a cross-disciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Knight-Hennessy Scholars may pursue their graduate education in any of Stanford’s graduate programs (and must be admitted to that graduate program in a separate but parallel application process).

Application Components:

Deadline: October 8, 2025, no later than 1:00pm, Pacific US Time (departmental deadlines may vary)

Additionally, applicants must apply to your Stanford graduate program of choice by that department’s deadline (departmental deadlines may vary).

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an upcoming Knight-Hennessy information session (including targeted sessions for applicants pursuing specific degree types of graduate degrees).

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program requires that applicants select two individuals who know you well to write recommendation letters that provide specific examples, anecdotes, and evidence of your ability and determination to make a difference. Applicants should refer your Knight-Hennessy referees to the detailed criteria listed here and to ask your Knight-Hennessy referees to follow the Knight-Hennessy guidelines listed below:

Please explain how you know and interact with the applicant.
We seek visionary thinkers who demonstrate independence of thought. Describe how the applicant demonstrates intellectual curiosity and creativity to address challenges.
We seek courageous leaders who demonstrate purposeful leadership. Describe how the applicant takes initiative to achieve meaningful results and effect positive change.
We seek collaborative community members with a civic mindset. Describe how the applicant acts in service of others to elevate the greater good.
Is there anything else — positive or negative — that we should know about the applicant?

Eligibility:

First, in addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS), you must apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program including, but not limited to, DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD programs. You must meet at least one of the following four conditions to be eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:

You are applying separately but concurrently to KHS and a full-time Stanford graduate degree program such that you will start both in the same year.
You have already been offered and deferred admission to a full-time Stanford graduate degree program, and will apply to KHS such that you will start both in the same year.
You are a current Stanford graduate student who will apply to add a new full-time Stanford graduate degree program, such that you will start both KHS and the new program in the same year.
You are a current Stanford PhD student in your first year of enrollment, and will apply to KHS such that you will start KHS in your second year of PhD enrollment.

Please note that the following Stanford graduate degree programs are not eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:

Honors Cooperative Program
Master of Liberal Arts
Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) and the Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS degree in their PhD discipline
Coterminal degrees (current Stanford students enrolled in a coterminal degree must be applying to a different full-time Stanford degree program to apply for Knight-Hennessy Scholars)

Second, you must have earned, in January 2020 or later, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.

Selection Criteria:

There is neither a typical nor a prototypical Knight-Hennessy scholar. Each cohort is diverse by design; no two candidates are equally strong across all criteria, and you may demonstrate different strengths in different ways. As we evaluate and select Knight-Hennessy scholars, we look for evidence of three criteria:

1. Independence of Thought

We seek visionary thinkers who are curious, open-minded, analytical, eager for cross-cultural perspective, and genuinely excited to boldly and creatively address our world’s important challenges.

Demonstrates intellectual ability and clear thinking
Communicates clearly based on reflection and introspection
Seeks out new knowledge, perspectives, and experiences
Makes sense of ambiguous circumstances
Generates ideas to solve problems

2. Purposeful Leadership

We seek courageous leaders who are ethical, decisive, resilient, driven to achieve meaningful results, and motivated to inspire others to effect positive change at scale.

Achieves impactful results
Confronts challenges with courage, persistence, and resilience
Includes and inspires others to effect change
Makes decisions in accordance with values

3. Civic Mindset

We seek collaborative community members who are humble, empathetic, trustworthy, oriented to act in service of others, and deeply passionate about contributing to the greater good.

Demonstrates humility, integrity, and accountability
Makes a habit of serving and helping others
Thoughtful and considerate of others’ perspectives
Embraces difference and celebrates varying opinions and experiences
Strives to make our world a better place