Celebrating outstanding contributions to our society: our newest honorary grads
To mark 575 years since its foundation in 1451, the University awarded honorary degrees to seven individuals during its annual Commemoration Day ceremony in June, celebrating individuals whose talent, leadership and innovation continue to make a positive impact on society.
Internationally acclaimed actor Ncuti Gatwa was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the performing arts. Stuart Murdoch, musician, author and filmmaker best known as the founder and frontman of the band Belle and Sebastian, was recognised for his contribution to the arts and culture.
Award-winning broadcast journalist Sarah Smith and her sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, Advocate General for Scotland, were recognised for their respective contributions to journalism and to law and public service.
Other recipients included Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of Glasgow; Professor Guido Tabellini, Intesa Sanpaolo Chair in Political Economics at Bocconi University; and Dr Stuart Campbell, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at King’s College London. These awards recognise their outstanding contributions to civic leadership, academic excellence and advances in healthcare in the UK and internationally.
The University also awarded an honorary degree to acclaimed Scottish band Deacon Blue later in the summer, marking a significant moment in the University’s 575-year history as the band became the first recipients of a collective honorary degree. The honour acknowledges the band's enduring influence on Scotland's cultural landscape and their role in taking the story, spirit and sound of Glasgow to audiences around the world.
Since forming in Glasgow in 1985, Deacon Blue have established themselves as one of Scotland's most successful and beloved bands. Across four decades, they have produced a catalogue of acclaimed albums and enduring songs. The band's impact on Scottish culture was reflected in 2020 when their iconic anthem ‘Dignity’ was voted Scotland's greatest song in a nationwide public poll.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield added: "Deacon Blue's success is a testament not only to exceptional talent, but also to the power of music and performance to bring people together.
"As we celebrate 575 years of the University of Glasgow, it is fitting that Deacon Blue become the first group to receive an honorary degree from the University. The band has made a huge contribution to the cultural identity of the city and Scotland.”
This article was first published in October 2026.