The Knight-Hennessy Immersion Weekend

The Finalist Stage for the 2027 Cohort

1. 1
   27 January 2027

   Finalists notified

   About 180 applicants are told they are finalists.

2. 2
   Mid-February 2027

   Online individual interview

   A Zoom interview of up to 25 minutes. It is recorded, and the recording is evaluated by the scholar selection committee rather than by the person running the call.

3. 3
   5–6 March 2027

   Immersion Weekend at Stanford

   In person, full days on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 March. Attendance at the whole weekend is required to be considered, except for unforeseen circumstances or immediate family obligations.

4. 4
   16 March 2027

   Scholars notified

   Results go out ten days after the weekend.

What Happens During the Weekend

KHS lists four kinds of activity: faculty presentations, group activities, an evaluative group interview, and social events.

1. Travel and arrival (KHS pays)

KHS covers travel expenses within university guidelines, including airfare, lodging at Stanford and on-campus meals. International finalists receive visa support if needed. The logistics are handled by the KHS team — you just need to show up. KHS asks you to be available for the full days of 5 and 6 March; past finalists report arriving the evening before. Your travel details come from KHS once you are a finalist.

2. Faculty and program presentations

KHS lists faculty presentations as part of the weekend. This is both informational and evaluative — the committee is observing how you engage with the content, what questions you ask, and how you interact with faculty. Ask genuine questions. Don't ask performative ones designed to make you look smart.

3. The group interview (the main event)

This is the centerpiece. KHS confirms one evaluative group interview. Past finalists describe a small group of candidates discussing a prompt with no clear right answer for about 20 minutes; KHS does not publish the format, so treat those details as unconfirmed.

This is not a competition between you and the other candidates.

The committee is watching how you think, how you listen, how you build on others' ideas, and how you handle disagreement. The best performance is one where all three candidates elevate each other.

You don't know who your group members will be in advance. You don't know the prompt. You can't prepare for the specific content. What you can prepare is your mindset: be genuinely curious about the other candidates, listen more than you speak, and contribute thoughtfully.

4. Current scholars as facilitators

Current KHS scholars serve as facilitators and hosts throughout the weekend. They lead small group discussions, share meals with finalists, and answer questions about life as a scholar. These interactions are informal but genuinely valuable — the scholars remember what it felt like to be in your position, and most are remarkably open about their experiences.

5. Social events and informal assessment

Dinners, coffee breaks, and informal gatherings aren't just social niceties — they're part of the assessment. How you interact with fellow finalists when there's no formal structure reveals a lot about your character. Be yourself. Be kind. Be curious about others. Don't network aggressively or try to “perform” 24/7.

How to Prepare

Do

• Practice discussing complex topics with friends
• Read broadly in the weeks before (current events, ethics, technology)
• Be genuinely curious about the other finalists
• Get good sleep the night before the interview
• Bring your authentic self — the one that got you here

Don't

• Treat the group interview as a debate to win
• Dominate conversations or interrupt others
• Name-drop or constantly reference your achievements
• Treat social events as networking opportunities
• Obsess over what the “right answer” is

If you’re selected, the financial package is extraordinary. Here’s exactly what’s covered. Funding guide →