We designed the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application with two goals: to help you better know yourself — what you have done, who you are now, and what you aspire to do in the future — and also to help us know you better. We want to aid you in your planning and preparation, and we have organized our resources to help you through each stage of the application journey. We hope you find inspiration as you learn about our community, clarity as you explore our admission process, and reflection as you complete your application.
All Knight-Hennessy scholars apply and are selected for admission. Applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) is not simply checking off a list of requirements. There is no formula for admission, and there are no scores, achievements, or stories that automatically qualify you for admission. Instead, the KHS application is an invitation to show how you demonstrate our criteria in ways that are unique and distinct to you.
As you consider whether Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the right complement to your Stanford graduate studies, we invite you to explore why we exist, what we do (leadership development, community, and funding), and to consider the benefits of joining a multidisciplinary and multicultural cohort.
Eligibility
Knight-Hennessy Scholars have no restrictions based on age, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration. We encourage citizens and residents of all countries to apply. We do not require applicants to seek endorsements from colleges, universities, or other institutions. Additionally, there are no quotas by discipline, program, or world region.
There are two baseline eligibility requirements.
Please note the below eligibility requirements are for those applying to the 2026 cohort.
Requirement 1: Admission to Stanford
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:
- 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 second 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:
- Applicants to the Honors Cooperative Program
- Applicants to the Master of Liberal Arts
- Applicants to the Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) and the Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
- Current Stanford students pursuing coterminal graduate study
- Current Stanford PhD students adding an MA or MS degree in their current discipline
Criteria
Our criteria clarify what we seek in your application, help you assess your alignment with our values, and prepare you to demonstrate the criteria in your application.
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:
- Independence of Thought
- Purposeful Leadership
- Civic Mindset
Deadlines
Our dates and deadlines help you plan ahead for your applications.
Each incoming Knight-Hennessy scholar must also apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program(s).
If you have already been offered and deferred admission to enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate program(s) in 2026, or you are a Stanford PhD student who starts your PhD in 2025 and will begin your second year in 2026, then you must submit one application to Knight-Hennessy Scholars.Otherwise, you must submit separate but concurrent applications; one to Knight-Hennessy Scholars, and one to your Stanford graduate degree program(s).
This applies both to candidates seeking admission to their first Stanford graduate degree program, as well as to current Stanford graduate students adding a second graduate degree.
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