Registry

Ceremonial Events

Honorary Graduates and Fellows

The University of Glasgow awards Honorary Degrees and Honorary Fellowships to recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society, public life, education, research, the arts, industry, and the University community.

Current Honorary Graduands

Commemoration Day 17 June 2026

Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

Professor Guido Tabellini
Intesa Sanpaolo Chair in Political Economics at Bocconi University, Milan 

Doctor of Science (DSc)

Dr Stuart Campbell, FRCPEd, FRCOG, FACOG
Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
King’s College, London

Doctor of Music (DMus)

Stuart Murdoch
Musician

Doctor of the University (DUniv)

Ncuti Gatwa
Actor

Jacqueline McLaren
Lord Provost of Glasgow

Baroness Catherine Smith
Barrister and Life Peer, House of Lords

Sarah Smith
BBC North America Editor

 

Summer 2026 Graduations

Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

Antonia Lloyd-Jones
Translator

Professor Michael Spence
Economist

Doctor of Science (DSc)

Professor Carole Mundell
Director of Science at the European Space Agency (ESA)
Head of the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid

Professor Ntobeko Ntusi
Physician and Cardiologist

Doctor of Music (DMus)

Janet Eveline Beat
Musician

Deacon Blue
Musicians

Doctor of Engineering (DEng)

Dr. Mallik Tatipamula
Chief Technology Officer
Ericsson, Silicon Valley

Doctor of the University (DUniv)

Chris O’Shea
Chief Executive Officer Centrica

Dr Adam Posen, CBE
President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics

 
Winter 2026 Graduations

Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

David Pratt
Journalist, Photographer, Broadcaster, Painter

Doctor of Science (DSc)

Professor Joachim von Braun
Professor of Economics and Technical Change
Centre for Development Research (ZEF)
University of Bonn

Doctor of Music (DMus)

Eddi Reader, MBE
Musician

Honorary Graduates

The first recorded honorary degrees conferred by the University were on distinguished theologians in 1709.

The University has a long and illustrious list of Honorary Graduates from a range of diverse backgrounds and disciplines, who have distinguished themselves in their field. Our Honorary Graduates include:

Medical Explorer and Missionary David Livingstone (1854)

Physicist and Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein (1933)

Broadcaster and Naturalist Sir David Attenborough (1980) 

Author and Philosopher Dame Iris Murdoch (1990) 

Poet and Playwright Liz Lochhead (1992) 

Astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (1997) 

His Majesty King Charles III (2001)

 

Lists of Honorary Graduates from 2005 onwards can be found in PDF below:

Honorary Fellowships

The award of an Honorary Fellowship of the University is intended to recognise individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the University, whether over a number of years or through a particularly significant contribution over a shorter period.

Individuals upon whom an Honorary Fellowship has been conferred are designated Honorary Fellows of the University. The award does not confer any additional rights, privileges or status.

Additional Information

Honorary Degrees and Fellowships are overseen by the Graduation and Ceremonial Events Team in Registry. Enquiries can be directed to honorary-awards@glasgow.ac.uk.

Information on nominating individuals for Honorary Degrees and Honorary Fellowships can be found on the Nominations for Honorary Awards page.