The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program identifies a group of up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world with demonstrated leadership and civic commitment to receive full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford University. The program is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. The program funds up to three years of graduate education, along with a stipend. If your degree program exceeds three years, then your home department will fund the remainder of your education (to the extent consistent with its standard funding commitment for that program). 

Institutional Nomination and Advising

Institutional nomination is optional for the Knight-Hennessy. We recommend that seniors or very recent alumni apply for institutional nomination IF they are applying for another fellowship (like the Rhodes or Marshall) that requires nomination. Students interested in applying to be among Temple University’s institutional nominees are encouraged to meet with Fellowships Advising and complete the Campus Application by the campus deadline. If you are selected as a nominee, you will be given instructions on how to apply for the national scholarship. Alumni and students interested in applying without nomination are encouraged to meet regularly with Fellowships Advising throughout the summer and fall.

Campus Application Deadline

June 1. (If you miss the deadline, please contact Barbara Gorka as soon possible to discuss your individual case) 

Campus Interviews

Early to mid-June 

Completed Scholarship Essays

Any time up until August 1. See the Campus Application for details.

National Deadline

Typically early October 

Graduate Program Deadline

Varies, from late September to mid-November. Check K-H website to confirm. 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria 

Open to students of any nationality who apply within six years after you earn your first bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your first bachelor’s degree before you enroll. Even if you have earned a graduate degree already, you remain eligible as long as you earned your bachelor’s degree within six years or applying. You must also meet the requirements of the Stanford graduate program(s) that you wish to pursue. You must complete the entire application process for your department—including any standardized test that your discipline requires (GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) and, if needed, an English proficiency test. 

Besides the basic eligibility requirements, the Knight-Hennessy program is looking for scholars who exhibit independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset. They are seeking candidates, “who can out-think, out-work, and out-care others.” Read more on their criteria page.  

Preference is given to students who will be at Stanford two years or more.