The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford 2025-26 Apply Now) Deadline: Not Specified

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) program at Stanford University addresses this urgency by nurturing a new generation of graduate-level leaders equipped to tackle complex problems across disciplines and across borders.

What Is Knight-Hennessy?

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural scholarship and leadership development program. Each scholar receives up to three years of financial support to pursue a graduate degree at Stanford, along with a robust set of co-curricular offerings to sharpen their leadership skills. Scholars join the KHS community while enrolling in one of Stanford’s seven schools, so they remain fully embedded in a normal graduate degree program.

The program is underpinned by a bold vision: to support scholars who are not only outstanding in their academic fields, but also determined to become ethical, courageous, and collaborative leaders. The emphasis is on cultivating independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

Pillars of the Scholar Experience

1. Leadership & Enrichment Programming
Over the course of up to three years, scholars engage in a structured leadership curriculum that complements their academic studies. This programming centers on real-world application, collaborative problem solving, and reflective growth.

2. A Diverse, Cohesive Community
Each cohort is globally diverse, bringing together talented individuals from different disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds. Together, they collaborate on projects, exchange perspectives, and build a network of support. The community aspect is central — scholars are expected to grow not just individually, but nurture one another’s progress.

3. Generous Financial Support
In addition to covering tuition, the fellowship provides living stipends, travel funding, and other academic expenses. Scholars may also be eligible for funds to travel to and from Stanford annually. This financial backing frees scholars to focus on impact, rather than financial constraints.

Who Makes a Good Knight-Hennessy Scholar?

The program seeks candidates who combine academic excellence with leadership potential and a commitment to service. Ideal applicants exhibit:

• Independence of thought: curiosity, open-mindedness, intellectual courage
• Purposeful leadership: resilience, decisiveness, integrity
• Civic mindset: humility, empathy, orientation toward strengthening communities.

These traits ensure that scholars are not only capable of generating ideas, but of mobilizing them for positive change.

Why It Matters — And Why You Should Consider It

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is more than a scholarship: it’s a transformative journey. It bridges rigorous academic inquiry with leadership development and global collaboration. Scholars are empowered not just to thrive in their own careers, but to catalyze progress in their home communities and around the world.

For prospective applicants, KHS offers the chance to pursue any accredited graduate program at Stanford while belonging to a supportive, visionary community. The deadline for the 2026 cohort application is October 8.

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