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Stanford University: Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) – The Ultimate Guide 2026
Stanford University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, is synonymous with innovation, leadership, and prestige. While getting into Stanford is a feat in itself, funding a degree there can cost upwards of $100,000 per year. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) program was created to remove this financial barrier for the world’s most promising future leaders.
1. What is the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship?
The KHS is a fully-funded graduate fellowship. It is unique because it isn’t restricted to one field. Whether you want to pursue an MBA, an MFA in Arts, a PhD in Engineering, or a JD in Law, the Knight-Hennessy program covers it all, provided you are admitted to a graduate program at Stanford.
2. Financial Coverage: The “Platinum” Package
KHS scholars receive a financial package that covers every possible expense:
- Full Tuition: Covers the entire cost of your graduate tuition and associated fees.
- Living Stipend: A generous monthly allowance to cover on-campus housing, food, and personal expenses.
- Academic Travel: An annual travel grant to cover a return flight to your home country.
- Relocation Grant: A one-time payment to help you move to California.
- Leadership Development: Access to the Denning House (the KHS hub), global study trips, and workshops with world leaders.
3. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2026 cohort, you must meet two main requirements:
- Recency of Degree: You must have earned your Bachelor’s degree within 7 years of your application date (e.g., for the 2026 intake, you must have graduated in 2019 or later).
- Admission to Stanford: You must apply to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program and separately apply to the specific Stanford graduate program of your choice.
4. The Selection Criteria: The “Three Pillars”
Stanford does not just look for 4.0 GPAs. They look for:
- Independence of Thought: Are you a visionary? Do you challenge the status quo?
- Purposeful Leadership: Have you led a team or a movement? Do you seek to make a positive impact?
- Civic Mindset: Are you humble, empathetic, and dedicated to the greater good?
5. Required Documents
- Online Application: Submitted via the KHS portal.
- Resume/CV: One page only, focused on impact.
- Transcript: Academic records from all universities attended.
- Two Recommendation Letters: These should focus on your leadership and character rather than just grades.
- Short Essays: Including a “Connect the Dots” essay where you tell the story of your life.
- Video Story: A 2-minute video introduction where you introduce yourself to the committee.
6. Application Timeline (For Fall 2026 Intake)
- July 2025: KHS Application opens.
- October 2025: KHS Application Deadline (usually mid-October).
- December 2025/January 2026: Stanford Departmental admission deadlines.
- January 2026: Finalists are notified.
- February 2026: Immersion Weekend (Finalists fly to Stanford for interviews).
- March 2026: Decisions announced.
7. Pro-Tips for Success
- Be Authentic: Stanford values “The Real You.” Don’t try to sound like a textbook; tell your personal story—failures and all.
- Coordinate Deadlines: Remember, you have two applications. If you get into KHS but rejected by the department (or vice versa), you cannot become a scholar.
- Start the Video Early: The video story is your chance to show your personality. Practice your lighting, audio, and script.
Conclusion
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The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is more than just money; it is a community of 100+ global scholars who are working to solve the world’s biggest problems. If you have the ambition to lead and the academic rigor to thrive at Stanford, this is the most prestigious opportunity available in the USA today.
For more Stanford-specific essay tips and interview prep, keep following https://www.google.com/search?q=scholarship.porchabd.com!

