The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program at Stanford University is a prestigious and fully funded opportunity for graduate students worldwide, including those from Pakistan. Its goal is to cultivate a new generation of global leaders who can tackle complex challenges.
Eligibility Criteria for Pakistani Students
Admission to Stanford: You need to apply, be accepted, and enroll in a full-time graduate degree program at Stanford (such as DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD). The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship is separate from your admission to Stanford’s graduate program.
Undergraduate Degree Date: You should have earned your first bachelor’s degree in January 2019 or later to enroll in 2026. If you served in the military, the eligibility period extends by two years, meaning your degree should be from January 2017 or later. Current college students can apply if they will earn their first degree by September 2026.
No Restrictions: There are no age, college, field of study, or career aspiration restrictions. The program encourages applicants from all countries.
English Proficiency: If your previous degree was not from an institution where English is the main language of instruction, you will probably need to submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic). Check the specific requirements for your chosen Stanford graduate program.
Key Selection Criteria:
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program seeks evidence of three main criteria:
- Independence of Thought: Showing intellectual ability, clear thinking, curiosity, openness to new views, and the capacity to come up with ideas to solve problems.
- Purposeful Leadership: Exhibiting courage, ethical decision-making, resilience, a desire to achieve meaningful results, and the ability to inspire others to create positive change.
- Civic Mindset: Demonstrating humility, empathy, trustworthiness, a service-oriented approach, and a commitment to contributing to the greater good.
Scholarship Benefits (Fully Funded):
The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship fully funds and supports up to three years of your graduate education at Stanford, including:
This covers housing, Tution, food, personal expenses, books, academic supplies, and local transportation.
An economy-class ticket for one annual round trip to and from Stanford.
Extra funding for activities like conferences and research.
Participation in the King Global Leadership Program (KGLP), which includes workshops, lectures, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.
Application Process for Pakistani Students
The application process has two main steps: Concurrent Applications: You must submit two separate online applications:
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Application: This is for the scholarship program.
- Stanford Graduate Degree Program Application: This is for your chosen graduate program at Stanford.
- Online Submission: All materials for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars must be submitted online in English.
Application Steps
- Start Early: Begin your applications for both KHS and your Stanford graduate program as soon as possible.
- Create Accounts: Set up an account on both application portals.
- Enter Recommenders’ Information: Do this early so your recommenders have enough time to submit their letters.
- Complete Application Sections: Fill out all sections thoroughly, providing details about your activities, experiences, and interests beyond your resume.
- Submit by Deadlines: Make sure both applications are submitted by their deadlines.
- Update Test Scores (if applicable): If you receive new test scores after submitting your KHS application, you can update them through your application status page.
Required Documents
While specific requirements may change slightly depending on your chosen Stanford graduate program, generally you will need:
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Online Application Form.
- Resume/CV: Usually one page for each decade of experience after secondary school.
- Transcripts: From all post-secondary institutions attended, including the degree conferred and conferral date.
- Test Scores: Standardized test scores (like GRE, LSAT, or MCAT) as required by your specific program. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic) if necessary.
- Recommendation Letters: Generally, two letters are required, with at least one focusing on leadership.
- Essays and Short-Answer Responses: These are important for showing how you meet the KHS criteria (independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and civic mindset). The combined word limit for essays is around 1,750 words.
- Proof of application to a Stanford graduate degree program.
- Video Statement (if invited to Finalist Experience): Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a video statement.
- Video Statement (if invited to Finalist Experience): Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a video statement.
- In-person Assessment (if invited to Finalist Experience):Finalists will participate in an in-person assessment, usually at Stanford.
Important Dates and Deadlines (for 2025 Intake)
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Application Opens: June 1, 2025
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Application Deadline: October 8, 2025, 1:00 PM Pacific Time (This deadline is the same for all applicants, regardless of their Stanford graduate program).
- Stanford Graduate Degree Program Application Deadline: This varies by program but is usually no later than December 2, 2025. It is essential to check the specific deadline for your chosen graduate program at Stanford. For MBA applicants, meeting the Round 1 deadline is necessary to fit the KHS timeline.
- Notification Dates (KHS): Video statement invitations: Rolling basis throughout January 2026.
- Finalists notified: January 28, 2026.
- Scholars notified: March 17, 2026.
Tips for Pakistani Applicants
- Research Thoroughly: Understand the program’s values and criteria (Independence of Thought, Purposeful Leadership, Civic Mindset) and shape your application to reflect them.
- Highlight Leadership: Provide specific examples of your leadership experiences and the impact you’ve made.
- Demonstrate Impact: Show how you have positively affected your community or field.
- Authenticity: Be true to yourself in your essays and short answers, reflecting your genuine aspirations and motivations.
- Strong Recommendations: Choose recommenders who know you well and can discuss your academic abilities, leadership potential, and character.
- Proofread Meticulously: Make sure your application is error-free.
- Seek Feedback: Have mentors or advisors review your application materials.
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