Honorary Awards Ceremony

Each year we are delighted to award a number of honorary doctorates and honorary fellowships to distinguished individuals who have made significant achievements; contributed on a local, regional, national or international level; and have a special affinity with the work and values of our University.

All staff, students, alumni and governors are invited to nominate suitable candidates for awards.

At each graduation ceremony, we celebrate their contributions to society alongside the achievements of our own outstanding graduating students.

2023 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Dr Brian Blake
Ashley Belal Chin
Miriam Rodway
Charles Williams MBE
Sara Autton
Norman Ackroyd CBE
Abolade Akinwale Abisogun OBE
Jerry Cope
Janet Fyle MBE
Dela Idowu

2022 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu CBE OM DBE FRCM - Honorary Doctor of Science
Dr Mark Williamson - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Kevin McGrath DL OBE - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Joseph Galliano - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Laura Sandys CBE - Honorary Doctor of Engineering
Bernardine Evaristo OBE - Honorary Doctor of Arts
Stephen Addison BEM - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Lord Rami Ranger CBE - Honorary Doctor of Business

2020 & 2021 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Rio Ferdinand - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Nazir Afzal OBE - Honorary Doctor of Law
Afua Hirsch - Honorary Doctor of the Arts
Cherie Blair QC - Honorary Doctor of Law
Douglas Denham St Pinnock - Honorary Doctor of Law
Professor Ewart Keep - Honorary Degree
Glenn Elliott - Honorary Doctor of Letters
James Timpson OBE DL - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Peter John OBE - Honorary Fellow
Lady Phyll - Honorary Doctor of Letters

2019 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Karen Blackett OBE - Honorary Degree
Robert Peston - Honorary Doctor of the University
Col. Hugh Purcell OBE - Honorary Fellow
Gary Stannett MBE - Honorary Fellow
Ruth Oshikanlu MBE - Honorary Doctor of the University
Jackie Malton - Honorary Doctor of the University

2018 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Lord David Blunkett - Honorary Doctor of Health and Social Care
David Longbottom - Honorary Doctor of the University
David Oyelowo - Honorary Doctor of Arts and Creative Industries
Edna Adan Ismail - Honorary Doctor of Health and Social Care
Graham Manly - Honorary Doctor of The Built Environment and Architecture
Sandie Okoro - Honorary Doctor of Law
Torie Chilcott - Honorary Doctor of Business
Usha Karu - Honorary Doctor of Law

2017 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Dame Carol Black - Honorary Doctor of Health and Social Care
Stephen Bourne - Honorary Fellow
Dame Linda Dobbs - Honorary Fellow
Ronald Dobson - Honorary Fellow
Baroness Margaret Sharp - Honorary Doctor of Applied Sciences
Tom Toumazis MBE - Honorary Fellow

2016 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Dr Sue Black OBE - Honorary Fellowship
Dr Rachel Gadsden - Honorary Doctor of the University
Dr Sadie Morgan - Honorary Doctor of the University
Lord Palumbo of Southwark - Honorary Fellowship
Mr Stephen Perry - Honorary Fellowship
Mr Patrick Regan OBE - Honorary Fellowship
Dr Barbara Stilwell - Honorary Doctor of the University
Prof Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub - Honorary Doctor of Science

2015 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Mr Derrick Anderson - Honorary Fellowship
Prof. Dame Ann Dowling - Honorary Doctor of Engineering
Mr Malcolm Garrett - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Tommy Geddes - Honorary Doctor of the University
Dr Kate Granger MBE - Honorary Doctor of Science
Mr Mick Jarvis - Honorary Doctor of the University
Ms Gillian Phillips - Honorary Doctor of Law
Sir Tim Wilson - Honorary Doctor of Science

2014 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Jane Cavanagh - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Patrick Clarke OBE - Honorary Doctor of Engineering
Abdulrahman Jawahery - Honorary Doctor of Engineering
Sir Paul Judge - Honorary Doctor of Laws
Prof. Diana Kloss MBE - Honorary Fellowship
Mr David Powell - Honorary Fellowship
Prof Peter Rees - Honorary Doctor of Science

2013 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Jude Kelly OBE - Honorary Doctor of Letters
Mr Greg Searle MBE - Honorary Fellowship
Michael Wilson OBE - Honorary Doctor of Letters

2012 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Sir Michael Bear - Honorary Doctor of Sciences
Richard B Farleigh - Honorary Doctor of Laws
Mr Frank Brake - Honorary Fellow
Mr Graham Chase - Honorary Fellow
Mrs Marcelle de Sousa - Honorary Fellowship
Mrs Sarah Rose - Honorary Fellowship
Mr Hitesh Tailor - Honorary Fellowship

2011 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

David Adjaye OBE - Doctor of Science
Maggi Hambling CBE - Doctor of Letter
Peter Tatchell - Doctor of Law
Dame Karlene Davis DBE – Honorary Fellowship

2010 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Dr Ann Chant CBE - Doctor of Law
Dame Sue Ion - Doctor of Engineering
Dr Mee Ling Ng - Doctor of Science
James Smith CBE - Doctor of Science
Mr John Constable – Honorary Fellowship
Dame Kelly Holmes DBE – Honorary Fellowship

2009 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Lord Triesman of Tottenham - Doctor of Law
Dr John White - Doctor of Science
Dr David Lan - Doctor of Literature
Ms Camila Batmanghelidjh – Honorary Fellowship
Ms Christine Ace – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Joe Baden – Honorary Fellowship

2008 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Sir Graeme Catto - Doctor of Science
Dr Patricia Moberly - Doctor of Science
Dr Theuns Eloff - Doctor of Law
Dr Jane Newell OBE - Doctor of Law
Mr David Waboso – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Henry Stephenson – Honorary Fellowship
Mrs Lillian Stephenson– Honorary Fellowship

2007 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Sir Terence Conran - Doctor of Science
Professor Nathu Puri - Doctor of Science
Dr Gary Younge - Doctor of Letters
Lord Morris of Handsworth - Doctor of Literature
Mr Garth Crooks OBE – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Gary Phillips – Honorary Fellowship
Ms Julia Middleton – Honorary Fellowship

2006 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Sir Graeme Davies - Doctor of Letters
Dame Ruth Silver DBE - Doctor of Education
Dr Cliff Holden - Doctor of Letters
Dr Steven Curson – Honorary Fellowship
Ms Sandra Horley CBE – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Nitin Sawhney – Honorary Fellowship

2005 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler - Doctor of Literature
Sir Peter Mansfield - Doctor of Science
Prof David Grayson CBE - Doctor of Law
Dr Tyrone Goh PKepujian - Doctor of Science
The Rt Hon Lord Adebowale of Thomas CBE – Honorary Fellowship
Dame Anne Owers DBE – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Peter Kyle OBE – Honorary Fellowship

2004 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Professor Gerald Bernbaum - Doctor of Education
Dr George Barlow OBE - Doctor of Science
Mrs Tessa Sanderson CBE – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Michael Farmer – Honorary Fellowship
Sir David Bell – Honorary Fellowship

2003 Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

Lord Ouseley of Peckham Rye - Doctor of Law
Dame Cicely Saunders OM DBE - Doctor of Law
Dr Annette Zera - Doctor of Education
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi
Rt Hon Lord Krebs – Doctor of Science
Mrs Doreen Norton OBE – Honorary Fellowship
Mr Iain Tuckett MBE – Honorary Fellowship

Pre-2002 Fellowships (in alphabetical order)

Professor Sam Aaronovitch
Mr Ronald Edward Artus CBE
Dr John Beishon
Mr Fred Bentley MBE
Mr John Bevan OBE
Dr J C Cain OBE
Mr Anthony Carlisle
Mr Denis Coe
A J L Collinson
Sir David Clementi
Mr Gair Drake
Mr Terence Driscoll
The Very Rev David Edwards OBE
The Rt Hon Frank Field
Mr Dennis F W Hawes
E M Heap
The Rt Hon Mr Simon Hughes PC
Dr Douglas Hykin
Ms Sheila Jack
Baroness Jay of Paddington
Professor Chris Jennings
Mr Hugh Joseph
Ms Sally Keeble
The Rt Hon Lord Lloyd of Berwick PC, DL
Dr John Llewellyn
The Hon Dr Christopher McLaren
Mr Michael Mallinson CBE
Mr David Marsh CBE
Mr Stanley Mayne
Mr Vivian Pereira-Mendoza
The Rev Dame Sarah Mullally DBE
Sir Albert Mumford
Professor William George Overend
Professor Alfred Posamentier
Mr David Priest
Dr Rupert Prime
Mr Miles Peter Richmond
Sir Harold Shearman
Mr John A Spence OBE, DL
Mr Maxwell Smith
Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Tippet KCB
Dr J Topping
B D Vernon
Mr Bev Walters
F H J Wileman OBE

2002 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Benjamin Zephaniah - Doctor of Letters
Dr Adrian Perry - Doctor of Education
Dr Polly Toynbee - Doctor of Law
Dr Elizabeth Filkin - Doctor of Law

2001 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Trevor Phillips OBE - Doctor of Literature
Professor Sir David Cannadine - Doctor of Literature
Sir John Bond - Doctor of Law
Dr DeAnne Julius - Doctor of Law

2000 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Jessica Huntley - Doctor of Literature
Dr Desmond Wilcox - Doctor of Literature
Dr Esther Rantzen - Doctor of Literature
Sir Satcam Boolell - Doctor of Law

1999 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Valerie Masterson CBE - Doctor of Literature
The Hon Dr Christopher McLaren - Doctor of Law
Professor Sir Cyril Chantler - Doctor of Science

1998 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Tommy Steele OBE - Doctor of Literature
Professor Linda Colley CBE - Doctor of Literature
Lord Harris of Peckham - Doctor of Law
Lord Lester of Herne Hill - Doctor of Law

1997 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Julia McKenzie - Doctor of Literature
Rev Brother Dr Prathip Martin Komolmas - Doctor of Literature
Sir Mike Heron - Doctor of Literature
Lord Giddens of Southgate - Doctor of Literature
Dr Robert Hawley CBE - Doctor of Engineering
Rt Rev Roy Williamson - Doctor of Literature
Lord Bragg of Wigton - Doctor of Literature

1996 Honorary Doctorates

Sir Nicholas Serota - Doctor of Literature
Dame Diana Rigg DBE - Doctor of Literature
Lord Rogers of Riverside - Doctor of Literature
Professor Sir Tony Atkinson - Doctor of Law

1995 Honorary Doctorates

Professor Sir David Weatherall - Doctor of Science
Dr Zoë Wanamaker CBE - Doctor of Literature
Sir Bob Reid - Doctor of Law
Sir Michael Perry GBE - Doctor of Law
The Rt Hon Lord Jenkin of Roding - Doctor of Law
Professor Geoffrey Howson - Doctor of Science
Baroness Howe of Idlicote, CBE - Doctor of Law
Sir Brian Hill - Doctor of Law
Professor Stuart Hall - Doctor of Literature
Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde - Doctor of Law
Dr Thomas H Collins - Doctor of Science
Dr Michael Cassidy CBE - Doctor of Law

1994 Honorary Doctorates

Most Reverend Desmond Tutu - Doctor of Law
Baroness Prashar of Runnymede CBE - Doctor of Law
Baroness Perry of Southwark - Doctor of Law
Lord Moser KCB - Doctor of Science
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE - Doctor of Literature
Professor Michael Mansfield QC - Doctor of Law
Professor Sir Hans Kornberg - Doctor of Science
Dr Marion Frank OBE - Master of Science
Sir Richard Eyre CBE - Doctor of Literature
Sir Michael Caine CBE - Doctor of Literature
Dr Richard Briers CBE - Doctor of Literature
Sir Christopher Bland - Doctor of Law
Chief Emeka Anyaoku - Doctor of Law
The Rt Hon Lord Sheppard of Didgemere KCVO- Doctor of Law
Professor Sir David Davies CBE - Doctor of Engineering
The Rt Hon Lord Morris of Handsworth OJ, DL - Doctor of Law

1993 Honorary Doctorates

Mr Kenneth Stoneley
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw CBE - Doctor of Literature
Sir Graham Day - Doctor of Law
Professor Robert Churchhouse CBE - Doctor of Science
Ms Ainna Fawcett-Henesy - Master of Science
Dr Brian Fuller CBE, QFSM - Doctor of Science
Dr Mike Hanson - Doctor of Science
Dr Clive H Lewis - Doctor of Literature

1992 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Ted Watts - Doctor of Science
The Rt Hon Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG - Doctor of Literature
Dr Sheila Innes - Doctor of Literature
Dr Nobuhiro Iijima - Doctor of Science
Dr Bill Cory - Master of Science
Dr Stephen Sheung Yu Cheung - Doctor of Science
The Rt Hon Baroness Boothroyd OM, PC - Doctor of Law
Sir Howard Newby CBE - Doctor of Literature
Dr A Massey - Doctor of Literature

1989 Honorary Doctorates

Dr Miriam Stoppard OBE - Doctor of Science

1985 Honorary Doctorates

Mr Stanley Mayne - Master of Arts

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