Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Applications are accepted from citizens of any country who intend to enroll in a full-time graduate degree program at Stanford (e.g., JD, MA, MBA, MD, MS, or PhD) or plan on pursuing one of Stanford's many joint- and dual- graduate degree options (e.g., MD+PhD, JD+MA, MBA+MS). Applicants who are not enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at the time of application must have completed their bachelor's degrees within the last five years. Applicants must otherwise meet all eligibility requirements for admission to their selected graduate program.

For further information visit the Admissions and Eligibility section of the Knight Hennessy website. 

Recipients are expected to complete their graduate program in-residence at Stanford University. This award may not be deferred.

From the Knight Hennessy Admissions Criteria section: 

The first and foremost criterion or selection is that the applicant be an excellent candidate for admission to his or her selected graduate program at Stanford. The Knight-Hennessy selection committee will evaluate candidates on the basis of three broad criteria:

1. Independence of Thought
   • Seeks out knowledge and new experiences
   • Full of original ideas
   • Makes sense of ambiguous situations
   • Can hold a contrarian or dissenting point of view
2. Purposeful Leadership
   • Ambitious, in the best sense of the word
   • Driven to improve self
   • Willing to take risks
   • Bounces back from adversity
3. Civic Mindset
   • Personally humble and kind
   • Inclusive
   • Open to differences
   • Concerned for and helpful to others