Applications are now open for the 2026 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University in USA

Ednah Carrick June 3, 2025

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Closing Date: 8 October 2025

Applications are now open for the 2026 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University in USA

Overview

The application to join the 2026 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is now open! Join a multidisciplinary, multicultural community of graduate students at Stanford University who are united by independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and civic mindset.

A Multidisciplinary Cohort

Nearly 3,000 graduate students enroll at Stanford annually. Each year, up to 100 future global leaders 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.

A Multicultural Cohort

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

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program has no restrictions based on age, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration and encourage citizens and residents of all countries to apply. The committee do not require applicants to seek endorsements from colleges, universities, or other institutions.

Eligibility

There are two baseline eligibility requirements.

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 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.

NB: 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

Requirement 2: Undergraduate Degree Date

Second, you must have earned, in January 2019 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:
2026	January 2019 or later

For applicants who served in the military, eligibility window is extended by two years in acknowledgement of longer service commitments; you must have earned your degree in January 2017 or later to enroll in 2026. Current college students are eligible if you will earn your first degree by September 2026.