Menu
Published: 20 Sep 2023 1,521 views
As you consider whether Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the right complement to your Stanford graduate studies, we invite you to explore why we exist, who we are, what we do, where we do it, and how we financially support you. We also encourage you to consider the benefits of joining a multidisciplinary and multicultural cohort.
Nearly 3,000 graduate students enroll at Stanford annually. Next year, more than 80 (growing to 100 over time) will be Knight-Hennessy scholars. Knight-Hennessy scholars span all seven schools at the university and bring a wide array of diverse academic experiences prior to enrolling at Stanford. Knight-Hennessy scholars are surrounded by fellow Stanford graduate students solving complex problems from different disciplinary approaches.
Knight-Hennessy scholars have lived, studied, and worked in a wide array of communities and cities, colleges and universities, companies and organizations throughout the world. Knight-Hennessy scholars also bring varied cultural perspectives based on (but not limited to) sex and gender identity, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and more. Each cohort includes a breadth of backgrounds, beliefs, lived experiences, and aspirations. This is a multicultural community united by independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and civic mindset.
Stanford University was founded in 1885 by California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, “to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization.”
| Application Deadline | 01 Dec 2023 |
| Country to study | United States |
| School to study | Stanford University |
| Type | Postgraduate |
| Sponsor | Stanford University |
| Gender | Men and Women |
Knight-Hennessy scholars receive funding for up to three years for any graduate degree(s) at Stanford. This funding applies to the degree(s) to which scholars are preparing to enroll at the time of scholar selection.
During each of the first three years of graduate study, Knight-Hennessy scholars receive several types of funding:
Additional funding specific to certain years:
Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) provides funding for the degree program listed in the initial KHS admission letter. Scholars who wish to enroll in an additional graduate program may apply to KHS to receive additional funding up to the maximum of three years. This additional funding is not guaranteed.
If a scholar is admitted to a degree program that exceeds three years — such as an MD, PhD, or Stanford dual- or joint-degree program — then funding is based on the graduate degree program’s standard funding commitment. This varies by department and school, as indicated in the chart below. Please contact the graduate program with specific questions about their funding commitment.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars has 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.
There are two baseline eligibility requirements.
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:
There are no quotas by discipline or program. Note that we will give priority consideration to those who will spend at least two years studying at Stanford.
Please note that a small number of Stanford graduate degree programs are not eligible for Knight-Hennessy Scholars:
Second, you must have earned, in January 2017 or later, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.
| To apply to join the cohort in: | You must have earned your first bachelor's degree by: |
|---|---|
| 2024 | January 2017 or later |
For applicants who served in the military, we extend the eligibility window by two years in acknowledgement of longer service commitments; you must have earned your degree in January 2015 or later to enroll in 2024. Current college students are eligible if you will earn your first degree by September 2024. Within the eligibility window, we do not give preference based on recency of the degree.
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:
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.
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.
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.
We find evidence of these selection criteria throughout your application and, if you are invited to participate, in your video statement and at Immersion Weekend. We look forward to getting to know you, including what you have done, who you are now, and what you aspire to do in the future.
Note: Knight-Hennessy Scholars recognizes that the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, issued a ruling about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during the 2023-2024 admission cycle will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.
KHS Application Deadline:
October 11, 2023, 1:00pm Pacific Time
Stanford Graduate Degree Program Deadline for KHS Applicants: No later than December 1, 2023
KHS applicants must apply to the graduate program by this date or the program’s standard deadline, whichever is earlier.
For more details visit: Stanford University website.
