Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program Apply Online 2026
How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)
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**Review Eligibility & Criteria:** Carefully read the eligibility requirements, especially regarding your undergraduate degree date and the types of Stanford graduate programs that are eligible. Understand the three core selection criteria: Independence of Thought, Purposeful Leadership, and Civic Mindset.
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**Identify Stanford Graduate Program:** Research and select a full-time Stanford graduate degree program that aligns with your academic and professional goals. Confirm the program's specific admission requirements and deadlines.
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**Create Both Applications Concurrently:** Open an application account for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program and a separate one for your chosen Stanford graduate degree program as early as possible. You must indicate in both applications that you are applying to the other.
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**Prepare Required Documents:** Gather unofficial academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, prepare your one-page resume, and organize any standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) that your Stanford graduate program requires.
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**Secure Recommendation Letters:** Identify two recommenders who can provide specific examples of how you demonstrate the KHS criteria. Do not register your recommenders in the KHS system until you are ready for them to submit their final letters.
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**Draft Essays and Short Answers:** Dedicate ample time to crafting your KHS personal essay and three short answer responses. Ensure your responses are authentic, demonstrate the KHS criteria, and adhere strictly to the word limits.
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**Submit Stanford Graduate Program Application:** Complete and submit your application to your chosen Stanford graduate degree program by its specific deadline. **Crucially, for KHS eligibility, this must be by December 1, 2026, or an earlier program-specific deadline for KHS applicants.**
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**Submit Knight-Hennessy Scholars Application:** Complete and submit your KHS online application by **October 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time**. Ensure all required components, including your resume, transcripts, essays, short answers, and recommender information, are successfully uploaded.
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**Participate in Subsequent Stages (If Invited):** If shortlisted, you will be invited to submit a video statement. Finalists will then be invited to an immersion weekend at Stanford for interviews and further assessment.
FAQs for Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
Q.Do I need to be admitted to a Stanford graduate program before applying for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship?
No, you do not need to be admitted to a Stanford graduate program first. You must apply separately but concurrently to both the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program and a full-time Stanford graduate degree program. Both applications are reviewed by separate committees, and you must be accepted by both to become a Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
Q.Is there a minimum GPA or test score required to apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program?
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program itself does not have a stated minimum GPA or test score requirement. However, you must meet the minimum academic and test score requirements of your specific Stanford graduate degree program. While there's no official KHS minimum, competitive applicants generally have a strong academic record, with many competitive candidates possessing an undergraduate GPA of 3.7 or higher.
Q.What does 'fully funded' mean for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program?
Being 'fully funded' means the scholarship covers comprehensive expenses for up to three years of your graduate study at Stanford. This includes full tuition and associated fees, a stipend for living and academic expenses (such as housing, food, books, and personal costs), and an annual travel stipend for one round trip to and from Stanford. A one-time relocation stipend is also provided for newly enrolled scholars.
Q.Can current Stanford graduate students apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship?
Yes, current Stanford graduate students are eligible to apply under specific conditions. You may apply if you are deferring enrollment to 2027 or if you are applying for a *new* full-time Stanford graduate degree program that starts in 2027. If you enrolled in a graduate degree program at Stanford in 2025 or earlier, you are generally not eligible for consideration for your current degree program.