Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Overview

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is Stanford University's flagship graduate scholarship program and a global community of emerging leaders. Named after Nike founder Phil Knight and former Stanford President John Hennessy, the program was established with a $750 million endowment and selects up to 100 scholars each year from around the world. Unlike most scholarships tied to specific programs, Knight-Hennessy Scholars can enroll in any graduate program at any Stanford school, including the business school (MBA), law school (JD), medical school (MD), school of education, school of engineering, and all other schools. The scholarship covers tuition, stipend, and travel, alongside an intensive 3-year leadership development curriculum.

What You Can Find Here

• Full tuition funding for any Stanford University graduate program
• Annual stipend for living expenses during study at Stanford
• Up to 3 years of funding (for programs of 3 years or longer)
• Immersive leadership development curriculum including King Global Leadership Program
• Global cohort community of scholars from over 40 countries
• Mentorship, speaker series, and alumni network of Knight-Hennessy Scholars
• Access to the full breadth of Stanford's academic, research, and entrepreneurial resources

Who Should Use This

• Outstanding graduates from anywhere in the world seeking Stanford graduate education
• Future leaders with demonstrated purpose, leadership, and civic orientation
• Applicants seeking any Stanford graduate degree: JD, MBA, MD, PhD, MS, MFA, MPP, and others
• Individuals with a clear vision for how they will use their education to address real-world challenges

How to Get Started

1. Step 1: Visit knighthennessy.stanford.edu to confirm eligibility and read the selection criteria
2. Step 2: Apply simultaneously to the KHS program AND to your chosen Stanford graduate program (separate applications)
3. Step 3: KHS application includes essays about leadership, purpose, and global vision plus academic information
4. Step 4: Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews (typically in January-February)
5. Step 5: KHS selection decisions are made in coordination with Stanford school admissions in March-April

Things to Check Before Applying

• You must apply to both KHS and your Stanford graduate program separately - KHS award is conditional on Stanford program admission
• KHS is a highly competitive program - past cohorts have included 100 scholars selected from thousands of applicants
• The leadership curriculum and community participation are a core expectation, not optional
• KHS is open to international students as well as US students - nationality is not a factor in selection
• The scholarship covers enrollment in one primary Stanford program - dual degree programs have additional requirements

Frequently Asked Questions