get honorary phd degree

Why award honorary doctorates, and what do the choices say about our universities?

Senior Lecturer in Contemporary History, Monash University

Disclosure statement

Kate Murphy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Monash University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

Universities like to associate themselves with exceptional individuals through the awarding of honorary doctorates, but this practice has often attracted controversy, creating headaches for university administrators.

Honorary doctorates highlight uncomfortable but important questions about the purpose of the university and its role in reinforcing and perpetuating social inequality.

The tradition and purpose of honorary doctorates

Honorary degrees (usually, though not always, doctorates) are awarded by universities to recognise outstanding achievement in a particular field, or service to the broader community.

While some universities have established separate honorary degrees, such as the “ Doctor of the University ” at Griffith University, most Australian universities have maintained the traditional system in which a range of degrees may be awarded honoris causa . This means no degree is actually undertaken, but the nominee receives the distinction in name anyway.

A committee, usually including members of the university’s senior executive, representatives of the university council and professors, receives nominations and determines which will be approved.

Universities gain a number of benefits from conferring honorary doctorates. The acceptance of an honorary degree by an exceptionally distinguished person often generates publicity and brings “reflected glory” on the university, in the words of one former Vice-Chancellor, preserved in the Monash University archives.

Honorary doctorates have long been used to foster advantageous connections with individuals, countries or organisations. The University of Oxford awarded the first recorded honorary doctorate in around 1478 to a brother-in-law of Edward IV in a clear attempt to “obtain the favour of a man with great influence”.

Honorary degrees have, unsurprisingly, usually been awarded to well-known individuals. The honouring of less-known individuals, and members of socially disadvantaged groups, has been much rarer.

Read more: Why do we still hand out honorary academic titles?

Controversy and protest

In Australia, especially since the post-World War II dawn of federal funding for universities, honorary doctorates have occasioned public debate and sometimes protest.

In August 1962, the Australian National University declined to award an honorary degree to King Bhumibol of Thailand, reportedly because of his lack of academic qualifications . This created diplomatic embarrassment for the Australian government in the context of an impending royal visit.

The University of Melbourne stepped into the breach to make Bhumibol an Honorary Doctor of Laws in September 1962, which was judged a bad look in university circles. The Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, Louis Matheson, commented a little smugly in an internal memo that “There is no subject to which a university should bring more delicacy and sureness of touch than the selection of its honorary graduates”.

Matheson was forced to eat humble pie when in 1967 a furore erupted over his university’s honouring of Victorian Premier Henry Bolte, shortly after Bolte had sanctioned the controversial execution of Ronald Ryan .

Monash’s staff and student associations alike opposed the move, and the ceremony took place off-campus to minimise the risk of disruption by students. At a faux awards ceremony held by students on campus, a degree was awarded to a piglet . “No pedigree for pigs” was inscribed on the campus lawn.

Read more: Honorary doctorates: well deserved, or just a bit of spin?

After the Bolte row, Monash determined to never again honour a politician in office. Other universities have discovered since that doing so doesn’t always end well. The University of Adelaide’s award of an honorary doctorate to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in 2017 was overshadowed by student protests about planned fee hikes and funding cuts for universities.

Undermining standards?

It is often said handing out “unearned” doctorates devalues the university’s highest academic qualification. The award of honorary doctorates to celebrities and especially sportspeople tends to raise eyebrows and draw bitter jokes from academics about when they should expect their honorary Olympic medal.

Swimmer Ian Thorpe was recognised in 2014 by Macquarie University for sport and philanthropy, the late Shane Warne had an honorary PhD , and cricketer Sir Don Bradman famously turned down more than one honorary doctorate.

Places of privilege

Recent public discussion of honorary degrees has focused on the diversity of recipients. The University of Melbourne was suspended from a lucrative research funding program earlier this year after awarding honorary doctorates to a group of six white men.

The under-representation of women among honorary degree recipients was highlighted by equal opportunity policies in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995 Monash acknowledged that since 1964 it had awarded honorary doctorates to 122 men and just 13 women. Along with other universities, it sought to correct this, aiming for equal gender representation among recipients - a target which remains far from being achieved .

The recent University of Melbourne controversy suggested to many that modern universities, despite their public relations nous, still carry echoes of the tone-deaf ivory tower.

Melbourne no doubt exposed itself to criticism through unfortunate optics and poor handling (the university claimed a larger group of intended recipients, including three women and an Indigenous man, were unable to attend the ceremony). However, the failure of such honours to represent the diversity of the community is a sector-wide problem.

Honorary doctorates have failed to cast off their function and reputation as a kind of academic peerage. They are uncomfortable reminders that our universities are still led and occupied, for the most part, by the socially privileged few.

Correction: this article originally referred to “John” Bradman rather than “Don”.

• Universities
• Higher education

Lecturer / Senior Lecturer - Marketing

Head of School, School of Arts & Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Clinical Teaching Fellow

Data Manager

• Photo Gallery
• Who Does What
• Admissions Officers
• Academic Affairs Officers
• Directors of Graduate Studies
• Directors of Graduate Certificates
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Honorary Doctoral Degrees

• Application Process
• Graduate Programs
• Graduate Certificates
• Living in Lexington
• Catalog (Bulletin)
• Graduate Catalog (Bulletin) Archive
• Degree Forms
• Student Forms
• Health Plan
• Thesis and Dissertation Preparation
• Graduate Student Travel Policies
• Scheduled Dissertation Defenses
• Graduate Student Resources
• Graduate Student Congress
• Graduate School Newsletter Archive
• Types of Assistantships
• Tuition Scholarship & Billing Information
• Fellowships
• External Funding
• Professional Enhancement
• Preparing Future Faculty
• Graduate Certificate in College Teaching & Learning (GCCTL)
• Kentucky Graduate Internship
• New Graduate Student Orientation
• Grad Student Pathways
• Career Resources
• Graduate Data Portal (login required)
• GS Staff Operations Data Portal
• For Directors of Graduate Studies
• For Directors of Graduate Certificates
• For College Deans
• For TA Coordinators
• For postdocs
• Graduate Council
• Graduate Faculty
• Faculty & Staff Forms

Nomination packages are accepted throughout the year. All instructions for lead nominators are below. 

An honorary doctorate is granted for the purpose of recognizing those persons who exemplify the ideals of the University of Kentucky through sustained achievement and distinction of national or international significance.

The University Joint Committee on Honorary Degrees solicits nominations for degrees to be awarded at the May and December Commencements. A complete nomination package (described below) is required in order for the Committee to consider a nominee. The Committee will take into account the criteria, principles, and guidelines approved by the elected Faculty Senators (11/13/2006) and Board of Trustees (4/24/2007) in the selection of honorees, as indicated below.

Nominations are accepted year round. Nominations usually take 4 to 12 months to make their way through the selection process, depending on the time of year the nomination is submitted and whether other nominees have already been selected for conferral at subsequent commencements. The number of Honorary Doctoral Degrees to be awarded per academic year is limited to five.   

In awarding Honorary Degrees, the University accomplishes several purposes: It pays tribute to those whose life and work exemplify professional, intellectual, or artistic achievement. It recognizes and appreciates those who have made significant contributions to society, the state, and the University. It highlights the diverse ways in which such contributions can be made and it sends a message that principles, values, and contributions are important. Well-chosen honorees affirm and dignify the University’s own achievements and priorities.

Honorary degrees may be conferred upon those who have achieved distinction through outstanding intellectual or creative achievements, or through outstanding leadership in education, business, or public service.

Eligibility Guidelines

• The honorary degree shall be awarded to recognize only exceptional accomplishments as outlined in the above principles. The nominee‘s special achievement or contribution to society shall be the fundamental consideration and shall be evaluated without regard to the nominee‘s attainment of influential position or financial status.
• The nominee shall have gained distinction worthy of recognition extending well beyond his/her own field of endeavor and geographical area of activity.
• Although it is recognized that it is desirable for the nominee to have a tie to the University of Kentucky or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, such a connection shall not be a requirement.
• As long as the nominee clearly meets the criteria, his/her selection shall not be affected by the number of previous similar honors received.
• Former faculty and staff of the University of Kentucky shall meet the same criteria as other nominees; current faculty and staff are not eligible.
• Elected or appointed officials of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall not be eligible as honorary degree candidates during their terms of office.
• Except on special occasions or in unusual circumstances, the number of honorary degrees awarded at any given ceremony shall be limited to four.
• The honoree must be present to receive the honorary degree.
• The honorary degree shall be conferred at one of the regular university graduation ceremonies or at a special assembly or convocation.

Nomination Requirements

Please include the following items in the nomination package:

• A cover page listing the primary contact person for the nomination, including address, phone number, email and a list of supporting materials included in the nomination package;
• A letter of nomination setting forth the nominee's qualifications relative to the principles stated above;
• Curriculum Vitae or Bio/professional resume or summary;
• A minimum of two letters of support in addition to the primary letter of nomination;
• Optional additional information which the nominator deems appropriate.

A complete nomination package is required for the nomination to be considered by the University Joint Committee on Honorary Degrees. Incomplete nominations will not be considered. 

Nominations must be uploaded as a single  pdf  (reduced-size file, if necessary)   here .  

NOTE: If you have trouble uploading the file or you get an error message, please email the file directly to [email protected] or mail it to the address below. Nominees selected by the University Joint Committee on Honorary Degrees are forwarded to the University Senate for consideration by elected Faculty Senators. Decisions are not released to the public until after a vote by the Board of Trustees. Nominators may not receive notification until the process is complete.

Please direct inquiries to

Dr. Morris  Grubbs , Assistant Dean The Graduate School, University of Kentucky, 103 Ezra Gillis Building, Lexington, KY 40506 [email protected] Phone: (859) 257-9725

Past Recipients (PDF)

Senate Rule on Honorary Degrees (PDF)

AR on Honorary Degrees (PDF )

• An Equal Opportunity University
• Accreditation
• Privacy Policy
• Accessibility
• University of Kentucky
• Lexington, Kentucky 40506

•  Delaware | USA
• +1 605 971 3344
• [email protected]

Mount Elbert Central University

An Honorary Doctorate is an academic award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to a specific field, society, or culture. Unlike traditional doctoral degrees, honorary doctorates are not earned through coursework or research, but are awarded based on the recipient’s achievements and contributions to society. In this article, we will explore what an honorary doctorate is and how you can achieve one. What is an Honorary Doctorate? 1. An honorary doctorate is a degree awarded to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in a specific field or has made significant contributions to society. Honorary degrees are not earned through traditional academic coursework or research, but are awarded by universities or colleges based on the recipient’s outstanding achievements in a particular field. 2. Honorary degrees are typically awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to society, such as public figures, artists, or philanthropists. The awarding of an honorary doctorate is a way for universities to recognize and honour the achievements of individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. Types of Honorary Degrees Honorary doctorates come in many different forms, depending on the field of study or the nature of the recipient’s accomplishments. The most common types of honorary degrees are: 1. Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D. or D.H.L.): Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts, humanities, or social sciences. 2. Doctor of Science (Sc.D.): Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of science, technology, or medicine. 3. Doctor of Laws (LL.D.): Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of law or public service. 4. Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.): Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts, such as actors, musicians, or visual artists. How to Achieve an Honorary Doctorate? Achieving an honorary doctorate is not an easy feat. It requires a significant amount of dedication, hard work, and achievement in a specific field or contribution to society. While there is no set formula for achieving an honorary doctorate, there are a few steps you can take to increase your chances of receiving one: 1. Make significant contributions to your field: One of the most important factors in receiving an honorary doctorate is to have made significant contributions to your field. This could be in the form of ground-breaking research, innovative ideas, or notable accomplishments in your profession. 2. Establish yourself as a leader: Honorary doctorates are often awarded to individuals who have established themselves as leaders in their field or have made significant contributions to society. To achieve an honorary doctorate, you should aim to establish yourself as a leader in your field, through publications, public speaking, or other forms of recognition. 3. Network with influential individuals: Another way to increase your chances of receiving an honorary doctorate is to network with influential individuals in your field or society. Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and make connections with individuals who may have influence over the decision to award an honorary doctorate. 4. Make a significant contribution to society: Honorary doctorates are often awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to society, such as philanthropy, activism, or public service. To increase your chances of receiving an honorary doctorate, consider dedicating your time and resources to a cause that aligns with your values and has a positive impact on society. In conclusion, achieving an Honorary Doctorate requires a significant amount of dedication, hard work, and achievement in a specific field or contribution to society. While there is no set formula for achieving an honorary doctorate, by making significant contributions to your field, establishing yourself as a leader, networking with influential individuals, and making a significant contribution to society, you can increase your chances. How to get Honorary Doctorate Degree from Mount Elbert University? Click on the link below to know more! Learn more: https://mecuniversity.us/honorary-doctorate/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges and Departments
• Email and phone search
• Give to Cambridge
• Museums and collections
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Fees and funding
• Postgraduate events
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement

Honorary degrees

• Cambridge at a glance
• How the University and Colleges work overview
• People overview
• Chancellor overview
• Former Chancellors
• Vice-Chancellor overview
• Former Vice-Chancellors
• Speeches overview
• List of speeches
• Pro-Vice-Chancellors
• Processes overview
• Honorary degrees overview
• The nomination and approval process
• Selected Honorands
• The ceremony
• Glossary of Cambridge terminology
• The University's mission and core values
• The University as a charity
• Cambridge University Endowment Fund overview
• The Investment Advisory Board
• Central bodies and main associated committees
• History overview
• Legacies of enslavement overview
• Vice-Chancellor’s response to the Legacies of Enslavement Advisory Group's report
• Annual reports overview
• 2022-23 highlights
• Financial statements 2022-23
• Previous reports
• Cambridge University Endowment Fund
• Legacies of enslavement

The University confers higher doctorates in Divinity (DD), Law (LLD), Science (ScD), Letters (LittD) and Music (MusD). These are either:

• full degrees by submission and assessment of major academic work
• titular degrees honoris causa – honorary degrees

Other doctorates, such as the PhD, are conferred only by submission and assessment. When higher doctorates are conferred honoris causa the recipients are individuals of outstanding national, or usually international, achievement in their field. Normally no more than eight honorary degrees are conferred in a year. Recipients can be of any nationality.

Occasionally the Master of Arts degree (MA) is also conferred as a titular honorary degree. This degree is for those who have made exceptional and direct contributions to the life of the University or the City of Cambridge.

Connect with us

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility statement
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Cambridge University Press & Assessment
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

• Utility Menu

GA4 Tracking code

• General Info
• Events Schedule

fa55cdb4b25fd32cc551956de922b361

Honorary degrees.

Conferring of Honorary Degrees

The tradition of bestowing honorary degrees began in European universities in the Middle Ages. In the seventeenth century there were very few special awards given at Harvard. In 1692, William Brattle, John Leverett, and Increase Mather received ceremonial sacred theology degrees for their stewardship of Harvard College. However, recognizing the contributions to the world outside of the University, the first true Harvard honorary degree awarded is generally considered to be the Master of Arts conferred in 1753 on Benjamin Franklin.

Sixteen presidents of the United States have received honorary degrees from Harvard, some before they became president. They include George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and George Herbert Walker Bush.

Harvard Honorary Degree Recipients 1983-2023 (sorted alphabetically)

Harvard University Honorary Degree Nomination

Please send all inquiries and correspondence regarding Honorary Degrees to:

Advisory Committee on Honorary Degrees Office of the Governing Boards Harvard University 17 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Thank you.  

Quick Links

Submit a nomination for an Honorary Doctorate Degree

The procedure for nominating a candidate to receive an honorary doctorate degree, including the criteria for an award and the nomination form..

• Honorary doctorate degrees

An honorary degree is one of Higher Education's most significant accolades. The University grants honorary degrees to individuals of superior merit. Awarding honorary doctorates supports the process of extending our network of prestigious contacts and supporters. The Committee particularly welcomes proposals that reflect the cultural diversity and international character of the University and promote its commitment to gender equality.

The Honorary Degrees Committee is a joint committee of Senate and Council and is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor. Senate will approve the awards.

• Who can nominate

The Committee invites staff, students and alumni to submit nominations for honorary doctorates. Nominations from external proposers cannot be accepted unless the nomination is supported by a University member of staff. Students should also seek a University staff member to second and support their nomination before submitting the form to the Committee.

• Nomination criteria and eligibility

The Committee will consider whether nominees meet the following criteria:

• Honorary doctorate degrees are an academic award celebrating excellence in thought-leadership and the resulting impact, in a field that is recognised nationally or internationally.
• Persons nominated should be active in an area of activity that is highly relevant to the University of Bath.
• Awards should reflect the values of the University.
• Awards should recognise the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity.

Further guidance on the above criteria is included within the nomination form

The following individuals are not eligible for honorary doctorate degrees:

• Serving Heads of Government
• Self-nominations (unless supported by a member of University staff)

Former staff (or those approaching retirement) and alumni are eligible for an award, provided they meet the criteria and have shown excellence in thought-leadership and impact on a national or international level. Individuals with celebrity status would require evidence of their personal, ongoing and longstanding commitment to relevant work or service.

Awards can be made posthumously.

Before submitting your nomination, you need to check whether a person has already received an honorary degree. You can review the University's directory of Honorary Graduates

• Make a nomination

Please do give thought to those whom you have encountered in your own sphere of work and who have made a significant contribution to the development of research, education, the arts, sciences, public services, business, student opportunity or supported our own institution.

You can submit a nomination using the nomination form . Guidance on completing the form can be found within the document.

Nominations can be made at any time during the year. The Committee meets twice per year to consider nominations, in March and October.

Find out more about recent honorary graduates and read their profiles .

Our honorary graduates 1966 to present .

• Other awards

Before submitting your nomination for an honorary doctorate degree, you may wish to consider the other awards that are bestowed by the University, as follows:

• Honorary Master’s Degrees are academic awards celebrating University staff who have made exceptional and direct contributions to the life of the University community, as perceived by its community.
• President's Awards honour individuals who have made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the University, the city of Bath or the region. The award also aims to recognise members of the University community who have had a significant impact on other people’s lives whether locally, nationally or internationally.

The Honorary Degrees Committee also recommends to Senate the award of the Chancellor’s Medal ; an annual award which rewards outstanding service to the University by individuals who have made a valuable contribution to its life and work that is not directly academic in nature.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Governance Team

On this page.

History of honorary degrees

Explore the gallery

Past recipients

Throughout our long history, Harvard has awarded hundreds of honorary degrees.

Learn more about Harvard’s honorary degrees

• Recognition

Honorary Doctorates

Purdue University Honorary Degree

The Honorary Degree is an academic degree for which Purdue University has waived the usual requirements. This degree is conferred in a way to honor those who have established a national reputation of accomplishment in their careers. Very often, these persons have been previously honored by national and international organizations; their work has been cited by peers, again on a national level, and in all cases the candidates are recognized as leaders from a very broad perspective.

• Jonathan W. Amy
• Scott P. Serota
• David S. Leckrone
• Ei-ichi Negishi
• Manju Sharma
• France A. Córdova
• Swaminathan Sivaram
• John Landis
• Jacek K. Furdyna
• Alan J. Levy
• Tan Sun “Mark” Chen
• Floyd D. Loop
• H. Richard Lawson
• Leroy Davis
• Endre A. Balazs
• Albert W. Overhauser
• David O. Siegmund
• John A. Smith
• Herman Cain
• Alumni Home
• Stay Connected
• Giving to Science
• Donor Recognition
• Impact Stories
• Matching Gifts
• Planned Giving
• Center for Career Opportunities
• Purdue Athletics
• Purdue Alumni Association
• Purdue Campus Map

Purdue University College of Science, 150 N. University St, West Lafayette, IN 47907 • Phone: (765) 494-1729, Fax: (765) 494-1736

Student Advising Office: (765) 494-1771, Fax: (765) 496-3015 • Science IT , (765) 494-4488

© 2023 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints

Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue ? Please contact the College of Science Webmaster .

What is an Honorary Doctorate or honorary PhD?

“The honorary doctorate or doctoral or PhD degree is given to someone for their outstanding achievement in their field.”

PhD is the utmost honor in the academic system, and obviously, hard to get. A student willing to go for PhD has to sacrifice a lot, he or she also has to overcome so many problems, hurdles and obstacles to get a PhD degree, moreover. Hence getting admission to a doctorate is a hard process but achieving a PhD honor is harder, indeed. 

So I can say those who are studious scholars can only dare to invest their 3 to 5 years for the prestigious label “Dr”. On the contrary, those who are impatient can go for jobs, because as aforementioned, getting a doctorate is a frustrating, lengthy and time-consuming process.  

The process itself takes around a year to ‘stamp’ the admission; students have to work for publication, lab work, reviews and thesis writing for the remaining tenure. And after all the hard work, if the external examiner suggests a re-review, one has to invest another year too.   

So it’s quite a frustrating process. But what if I tell you that universities can directly award someone a doctorate in no time and even without writing a thesis. Quite annoying, right! 

It’s true. 

There’s a special doctorate honor that can be given straight to the scholar without examination, synopsis, course work, article publication or thesis, it is known as an honorary PhD or honorary doctorate.     

Though the honorary PhD is given to reputed and well-known personalities for their outstanding achievements and contributions, what it is and how it is given, let’s find out. 

What is an honorary doctorate or PhD degree? 

When universities award someone a doctorate for their outstanding achievements, and groundbreaking contribution to a nation or world, such honor is referred to as an honorary PhD. 

Politicians, musicians, authors, philanthropists, actors, scientists, freedom fighters and other popular personals can be awarded by an honorary doctorate for their contribution to mankind.  

Technically, It is more of an award than a degree therefore abbreviated as “H.C”, not “Dr”. So Person with an honorary award can’t use “Dr” in their name. 

The abbreviation H.C means “ Honoris cause ” which literally means “ for the sake of the honor ” in the Latin language. 

In the usual process, universities conduct the honorary award session with the annual ceremony. So the honorary recipient will get the honor with other students. And give a small motivational speech to the students (this is the process actually).   

As universities honor PhD for achievements; usually it isn’t given to persons associated with the honorable university by any means. This means that universities can’t give honorary PhD to their own trustees or employees.  

The PhD or doctorate is not only an honorary degree, some universities also award honorary master’s degrees. Benjamin Franklin was honored with an honorary master’s degree by the college of Wiliam Mary in 1756. In 1759, the University of St. Andrews had given them honorary doctorates. 

The significant historical evidence of when it was started is less, but historical data manifest that the University of Oxford first awarded the honorary doctorate degree to Lionel Woodville in 1470. We can say Oxford university might have first initiated to reverence someone with an honorary award. 

The event of giving an honorary PhD became more popular during the 16 century; during that time, Oxford, Cambridge and other reputed universities across the world started awarding the honor. 

Common PhD criteria, as we stated above, like entrance exam, course work, research synopsis preparation, article publication, thesis writing and viva are not required here, and more to this, one should not need to pay fees and attend regular classes. 

The honorary degree as ‘more of an honor’ can’t be utilized for academic purposes and nurturing the research career. It is also important to know that only reputed and renowned universities can award the honorum . 

However, it is a kind of tradition in deemed and smaller universities nowadays to conduct an honorary doctorate ceremony as a marketing tool. Those are not considered valuable honors, indeed. Read further: A Complete Roadmap for Degree to PhD .

Criteria to award honorary doctorate: 

Universities don’t have specified criteria and requirements to honor a doctorate in this way, rather it is given by third-party nominations. Also, some universities accept applications for an honorary doctorate. 

However, a person who is selected for the present honor should be 

• Well known 
• National face
• A kind of celebrity 
• Should have outstanding contribution to their field or country 
• Achieved something extraordinary 
• Who is important for the nation or the world.

Moreover, the prominent criterion universities look for is that the nominee doesn’t have any criminal case or crime involvement. In those cases, universities have the right to revoke the award. Note that the recipient of the honor may get more than two or many honors but never from the same university. 

In addition, the present honor can’t be given to university employees, professors or blood relatives. The honor is given to a person, not to families, groups of people or organizations.

Do you know? 

Theodore Hesburgh has been awarded more than 150 honorary doctorates by various universities across the United States during his entire life. It was a world record itself. Moreover, universities honor a person only once.

These are some of the legal criteria or we can say a kind of requirement for an honorary doctorate degree for universities as well a person who is receiving it. 

Read more: How much does a PhD Degree Cost in the USA, UK and India?

Selection process: 

The selection process for the honor is not so complicated, unlike the PhD degree. I can say it is just a formality. The university honorary award committee reviewed the application of the third parties. 

The committee goes through their achievements and verifies all the documents (and nationality) and their criminal background. The selection procedure is based on the decision of the review committee.

Notably, the university has already decided for itself who will be awarded the honorary degree.

What are the differences? 

Now if you are a student of doctorate you may wonder how the two are different. 

Well, let me tell you that both honors is significantly different

With an academic PhD degree, you can apply for various positions and jobs, but the honorary one is an honor or just esteem and a kind of “thank you” for serving a nation, industry, culture or society. 

One with an honorary PhD or doctorate can’t use it as an educational qualification. Even to use “Dr” as a prefix is also not a good practice for an honorary PhD degree holder, in fact, it is not a degree! 

Dress wear during the annual occasion is also substantially different for both. The typical PhD or doctorate of philosophy degree holder wears a full gown with a hood. For an honorary PhD, a full dress without a hood is allotted by the University of Cambridge. 

The University of St Andrews allotted a black cassock for an honorary PhD holder instead of a normal PhD student gown. Nonetheless, there are no clear indications for using a dress, usually, an honorary PhD holder can wear a dress like a normal PhD holder. Read more: PhD in USA- Admission, Process, Universities, Salary and Jobs .

The misuse of honor: 

As we said, there are no strong rules or regulations to whom an honorary degree or honorary doctorate is to be given. It may vary from university to university. Originally, the concept was evolved to honor someone who is very special to the country or society. But unfortunately over a period of time, people started misusing it. 

Small and unrecognized universities started awarding the honorary PhD or doctorate on behalf of huge donations. 

Some even misuse the honor to take land for the university campus and other activities. This kind of misuse of the highest level of academic esteem is a shame for the honor and injustice for the normal PhD holder who has worked hard to take the privilege. 

Also, awarding such degrees to political figures raise questions about the stand of the university.  

Unfortunately, there are no specific authorities to monitor such types of activities. 

Some universities refuse to conduct such type of honorary degree activities to regulate their policies. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Cornell University are some of them. 

Related article: What is a Professional Doctorate Degree? How is it different from PhD?

Top Peoples who had been awarded an honorary doctorate: 

Dalai Lama: 

14th Dalai Lama was conferred with the honoris causa (honorary PhD) doctor of literature by the private university of India for their outstanding contribution to world peace and humanity. 

Morgan Freeman: 

Morgan Freeman was awarded with a Doctor of Humane Letters as an honorary PhD by the University of Boston in 2013. He was also awarded by honorary doctorate second time by Howard University in 2015 for their outstanding achievements in films. 

Meryl Streep: 

Yet another Hollywood celebrity Meryl Streep received a prestigious honorary doctorate four times from Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University and the Department of Fine Arts from Indiana University. 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: 

Indian Cricketer M. S. Dhoni was awarded an honorary doctorate in exemplary leadership skills by De Montfort University, Leicester. 

Maya Angelou: 

Filmmaker, historian, poet, civil rights activist and producer Maya Angelous received more than 30 honorary doctorate awards. 

Billy Taylor: 

Jazz pianist was awarded more than 20 different honorary awards during his lifetime in music. 

Daisaku Ikeda: 

The Buddhist philosopher and writer Daisaku Ikeda received more than 300 honorary awards from various universities across the world. 

Other Hollywood celebrities who received an honorary doctorate

• Denzel Washington
• J.K. Rowlings 
• Ben Affleck
• Dolly Parton 
• Robert De Niro 
• Orland Bloom
• Muhammed Ali 

List of the Honorary doctorate subjects: 

• Honorary Doctor of Science- Hon. D. Sc 
• Honorary Doctor of Divinity- Hon. D. D
• Honorary Doctor of Letters- Hon. Litt.D
• Honorary Doctor of Liberal Arts- Hon. D. L. A
• Honorary Doctor of Arts- Hon. D. A
• Honorary Doctor of Mathematics- Hon. D. Math
• Honorary Doctor of Laws- Hon. LL. D
• Honorary Doctor of Arts and Human Letters- Hon. D. A. H 

Read more: What is PhD?- History, Definition, Origin, Requirement, Fees, Duration and Process .

Conclusion: 

Giving the honorary doctorate degree to a person who is a well-known face, is an honor and esteem for both the university as well as the person. However, as we said, people also misuse honor. To maintain the dignity of the utmost academic honor- the PhD, universities have to make rules and regulations to award the honorary PhD degree. 

Dr. Tushar Chauhan is a Scientist, Blogger and Scientific-writer. He has completed PhD in Genetics. Dr. Chauhan is a PhD coach and tutor.

Share this:

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Linkedin
• Share via Email

About The Author

Dr Tushar Chauhan

Related posts.

Top PhD memes of 2021 (Updated)

Why is it called a Doctor of Philosophy?

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Honorary degree procedures and guidelines

I. criteria and guidelines.

Honorary degrees recognize those who have made profound and enduring contributions to scholarship, culture, and improved quality of life in society at large. Achievements of national or international significance deserve priority consideration. It is important that recipients be persons of great integrity, as the choices we make reflect our values as an institution.

There are some necessary restrictions to be considered:

In accordance with state statute, “No degree shall ever be conferred in consideration of the payment of money or the giving of property of whatsoever kind.” RCW 28B.20.130

Declared candidates running for public office are not appropriate nominees for honorary degrees.

Honorary degrees may not be conferred in absentia.

II. Titles of honorary degrees available for conferral

Doctor of Arts (D.A.) – Design, visual, and performing arts

Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) – Service to society (humanitarianism) and scholarship in the humanities (journalism, communication, history, philosophy, language, and literature) and social sciences

Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) – Law, public policy, and public service

Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) – Science, medicine, engineering, and related fields

III. Process for nominations

Nominations for candidates may come from a variety of sources, including individual faculty members, departments, programs, schools, colleges, or campuses. They must be submitted through the office of a dean or chancellor. Consultation with respective college councils or departmental faculties is recommended.

Nominations should be submitted to the special committee on honorary degrees at least 6 months in advance of the June commencement.

Initial nominations should give a brief summary of the individual’s accomplishments and reason for considering the individual for an honorary degree. After initial consideration, the special committee may request additional material in support of a nomination. The initial nomination should:

• Be signed by the proposer(s) and the respective dean or chancellor;
• Briefly describe the individual’s accomplishments, including contributions to society, culture, scholarship, science, or art; and
• If available, include a brief biography of the person.

Additional letters supporting the nomination may be included.

IV. Review, selection and notification

The special committee on honorary degrees will screen nominations and recommend, with supporting rationale, up to four finalists to the President, one for each of the four honorary degrees available.

The President will select the nominations to present to the Board of Regents.

Only the Board of Regents is authorized to award honorary degrees. Only after action by the Board of Regents should the nominee be informed of the honor; this will be coordinated by the Office of the President.

VI. Confidentiality

Every effort will be made to ensure that individual nominations and discussions of nominees be confidential throughout the process. No publicity shall be issued regarding the nominees until final approval by the Board of Regents.

Office of Ceremonies

Contact us: 206-543-2592 Email

Commencement - [email protected]

New Student Convocation - [email protected]

Faculty, staff, other - [email protected]

Be boundless

Connect with us:.

© 2024 University of Washington | Seattle, WA

Featured Topics

Featured series.

A series of random questions answered by Harvard experts.

Explore the Gazette

Read the latest.

Why row from Boston to London? Because it’s there.

Next up for House renewal: Eliot

FAS receives gift to bolster arts, humanities, and strengthen financial aid

Honorands awarded for achievements in law, art, education, science.

A field of stars to be recognized during Class of 2021 ceremony

The John Harvard Statue in Harvard Yard.

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard will recognize seven with honorary degrees during today’s Honoring the Class of 2021 ceremony.

Frances Hamilton Arnold

Doctor of Science

Recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry, Frances Hamilton Arnold has harnessed the principles of evolutionary biology to generate novel and useful enzymes and other proteins that touch millions of lives every day. Her pioneering methods of “directed evolution” have led to new means of manufacturing environmentally friendly fuels, pharmaceuticals, and other substances.

The Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology, Arnold is one of today’s foremost chemical engineers and a leader in both the public and private sectors. She was recently appointed by President Biden as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). She holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Her Nobel lecture cites nature as “a brilliant chemist and by far the best engineer of all time,” elucidating the awe-inspiring role of the process of evolution as a “grand diversity-generating machine” responsible for all life on Earth.

Arnold holds more than 60 U.S. patents and has co-founded three companies that focus on development of fuels, non-toxic pest controls, and sustainable development of medicines and chemicals. She is the first woman to have been elected to all three of the U.S. National Academies of Engineering, Medicine, and Science. A member of the American Philosophical Society, she has received honors including the Millennium Technology Prize, the Charles Stark Draper Prize, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Martin Baron

Doctor of Laws

One of the most widely respected editors in journalism, Martin “Marty” Baron is the former executive editor of The Washington Post. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Baron has also led such esteemed newspapers as The Miami Herald and The Boston Globe, and worked in leadership posts at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

A strong advocate for the press’ essential role in holding powerful institutions accountable and in contributing to the vitality of a democratic society, Baron has guided newsrooms in their coverage of numerous stories recognized with Pulitzer Prizes, Polk Awards, and other major honors. Among other things, in 2019 he guided The Post in publishing The Afghanistan Papers, and in 2014, he oversaw groundbreaking reporting that uncovered large-scale surveillance of civilians by the National Security Agency. The Post won 10 Pulitzers under his leadership.

During his 11-year tenure as the editor of The Globe, the paper won six Pulitzers, for public service, explanatory journalism, national reporting, and criticism. Most notably, The Globe won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2003 for its wide-ranging investigation into the Catholic Church’s pattern of concealing sex abuse by clergy. The investigation and its impact were portrayed in the Academy Award-winning movie “Spotlight.”

Baron was the principal speaker last May for Harvard’s celebration of the graduating Class of 2020. In his address, he urged graduates to respect and embrace “the always-arduous, often-tortuous, and yet essential pursuit of truth. It is the demand that democracy makes upon us. It is the work we must do. We will keep at it. You should, too. None of us should ever stop.”

Baron earned his bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from Lehigh University, and is the recipient of numerous honors include the Harvard Kennedy School’s Goldsmith Career Award for excellence in journalism, the National Press Club’s Fourth Estate Award, and the International Center for Journalists’ Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Arlie Russell Hochschild

A pathbreaking scholar of the sociology of emotion, Arlie Russell Hochschild is professor of sociology emerita at the University of California, Berkeley. During her distinguished career studying human emotions and their impact on belief systems and interpersonal interactions, she has written numerous books, articles, and essays on a range of contemporary sociological issues and has lectured at universities around the world.

Her studies have explored the “emotional labor” performed by workers such as flight attendants and bill collectors (“The Managed Heart”), the struggle faced by working parents in attending to housework and childcare (“The Second Shift”), the efforts of employees to deal with a corporate culture of workaholism (“The Time Bind”), and the nature of intimate life in market times (“The Outsourced Self”).

Her most recent book, “Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right,” explores the “deep story” of Americans on the right side of the political spectrum. Her book grew out of five years of research, including scores of intensive interviews of Tea Party enthusiasts in Louisiana and reflecting her commitment to “scaling the empathy wall” to understand how others quite different from herself think and feel about the world.

Hochschild earned her bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and went on to receive her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. A recipient of Guggenheim, Mellon, and Fulbright awards, she has been recognized with the Ulysses Medal from University College, Dublin, several honors from the American Sociological Association, and teaching awards from UC Berkeley. Four of her books have been named “notable nonfiction books of the year” by The New York Times, and two have given rise to a stage play and a musical. Her widely influential work appears in 17 languages.

Salman Amin Khan

An educator and entrepreneur, Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making high-quality online education available to people around the world. Today, Khan Academy counts more than 100 million registered users worldwide. Its offerings encompass a wide and growing range of subjects, for students at varying stages of learning, all in pursuit of the Academy’s mission “to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.”

Khan Academy began as a family affair. While working as a hedge-fund analyst in Boston, after receiving three degrees from MIT and an M.B.A. from Harvard, Khan began tutoring a young cousin in Louisiana who wanted help with math. Before long, he found himself tutoring various other cousins, and he began posting videos for them on YouTube. Word of the videos spread far and wide, and in time Khan left his work in finance and launched what has since become a valued educational resource for learners around the world. Videos produced by Khan Academy, many featuring Khan himself, have been translated into dozens of languages and have been viewed more than 1.8 billion times.

Renowned for his ability to make complicated subjects understandable for students at different levels and with different learning styles, Khan has been recognized with such honors as the American Academy of Achievement’s Gold Medal, the McGraw Prize in Education, and the Heinz Award for improving the human condition.

He is the author of “The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined,” founder of the Khan Lab School in Mountain View, California, and founding CEO of schoolhouse.world, a free online peer-to-peer tutoring resource meant to complement Khan Academy.

Margaret Hilary Marshall

Margaret Hilary Marshall is former chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, the first woman to serve in that role in the 328-year history of Massachusetts’ highest court. During her 11-year tenure as chief justice, she earned esteem as a champion for an independent judiciary, an advocate of equal access to justice, and a leader in promoting administrative reforms within the judicial branch. She led the SJC in issuing a wide range of important opinions, including her majority opinion in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which in 2003 made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to recognize a constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry.

A native of South Africa, Marshall received her bachelor’s degree from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, where she was an anti-apartheid activist and served as president of the National Union of South African Students. After moving to the United States, she received her Ed.M. from Harvard and her J.D. from Yale before entering the practice of law. She rose to become partner at the Boston law firm Choate, Hall & Stewart, as well as president of the Boston Bar Association, before serving from 1992 to 1996 as Harvard’s vice president and general counsel. She became an associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1996 and served as chief justice from 1999 until 2010. She is past president of the United States Conference of the Chief Justices, former senior fellow of the Yale Corporation, and now senior counsel at Choate, Hall & Stewart.

Among her many honors are the American Bar Association’s Pursuit of Justice Award, the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Chief Justice Edward F. Hennessey Award for outstanding leadership in the administration of justice, the Boston Bar Association Award for Judicial Excellence, and the 2021 Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law.

Sebastião Salgado

Doctor of Arts

Sebastião Salgado is an illustrious photographer known for ambitious projects that document the plight of people living amid hardship and that tell stories intended to draw attention to pressing societal challenges.

A native of Brazil and longtime resident of France, he received a master’s degree in economics from the University of São Paulo and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Paris. After early work as an economist, he launched his career as a professional photographer in 1973.

He has since traveled to more than 100 countries for his renowned photographic projects, focused on such subjects as people stricken by drought and famine, mine workers, migrants and refugees, rural workers displaced by industry, indigenous communities, rising threats to the natural world, and Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. His black-and-white photographs powerfully depict the dignity of each human being as well as the beauty and fragility of nature.

Salgado’s works have been published in numerous volumes and continue to be presented in museums and galleries worldwide. His life and career are chronicled in the documentary film “The Salt of the Earth,” which received a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival and France’s César Award for best documentary film.

A UNICEF goodwill ambassador, Salgado has been recognized with prestigious honors in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Monaco, and his native Brazil, among other countries. Earlier this year he received the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for his leadership in addressing issues of inequality and sustainability.

He and his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, are co-founders of the Instituto Terra, which promotes reforestation, conservation, and environmental education in Brazil.

Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith is an actor, playwright, author, and educator known for creating a powerful new approach to theater. Her work combines a journalist’s adroitness in conducting revealing interviews with diverse subjects, a playwright’s craft in weaving those interviews into compelling theater pieces, and a performer’s skill in bringing those pieces vividly to life.

She has created numerous one-person shows based on hundreds of interviews. Her early play “Fires in the Mirror” explores racial and ethnic tensions through interviews with a wide array of people who experienced or observed the 1991 riots in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Her most recent play, “Notes from the Field,” examines the U.S. public school system and the “school-to-prison pipeline.” Among her other theater pieces are “Let Me Down Easy,” focused on illness and the health care system; “House Arrest,” about the U.S. presidency and the press; and “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992,” about the riots following the verdict in the beating of Rodney King.

A past MacArthur Fellow and recipient of the National Humanities Medal, Smith was selected in 2015 by the National Endowment for the Humanities to deliver the Jefferson Lecture, the federal government’s highest honor in the humanities. Her numerous other honors include the George Polk Career Award in Journalism and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for artistic contribution to the enjoyment and understanding of life.

Smith received her bachelor’s degree from Arcadia University and went on to earn an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theater. Today, Smith is a University Professor at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she is founding director of the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue. She has also appeared in such television series as “For the People,” “Black-ish,” “Nurse Jackie,” and “The West Wing,” as well as films including “The American President,” “Philadelphia,” and “Rachel Getting Married.”

Share this article

You might like.

Spaulding Rehabilitation physiatrist, team taking new route, aim to set records 

Building refresh aims to boost accessibility, preserve historic character

Business leader Joseph Y. Bae ’94 and novelist Janice Y. K. Lee ’94 expand upon three decades of supporting academic excellence, opportunity at Harvard

When should Harvard speak out?

Institutional Voice Working Group provides a roadmap in new report

Had a bad experience meditating? You're not alone.

Altered states of consciousness through yoga, mindfulness more common than thought and mostly beneficial, study finds — though clinicians ill-equipped to help those who struggle

Finding right mix on campus speech policies

Legal, political scholars discuss balancing personal safety, constitutional rights, academic freedom amid roiling protests, cultural shifts

Our websites may use cookies to personalize and enhance your experience. By continuing without changing your cookie settings, you agree to this collection. For more information, please see our University Websites Privacy Notice .

Honorary Degrees

• Criteria for Selecting Honorary Degree Recipients
• Honorary Degree Nomination Procedures
• Past Honorary Degree Recipients
• Honorary Degree Nomination Form

On recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee and the President, the Board of Trustees may vote to confer honorary degrees on distinguished individuals. The Board should award an honorary degree only in recognition of extraordinary and lasting distinction. The award should represent the highest intellectual and moral values; it should reflect the very character and quality of the University itself.

• The awarding of an honorary degree is recognition of a person whose life and achievements serve as examples of the University’s aspirations for its students. It should be offered well before the end of a career, while the accomplishments are recent and the activities worthy of highest commendations.
• An honorary degree may be offered to a person who has contributed significantly to the cultural, scientific, and/or social development of the State, nation, or world. The contribution should be sustained over a period of years and should be lasting in nature. One should be able to document the national or international impact of the contributions. The mere holding of an executive position, public office, or professorship for many years is not sufficient. The creativity of the individual and the extraordinary character of the contributions must be evident.
• The individual receiving an honorary degree should have a sustained reputation over a period of years. The reputation should extend beyond the boundaries of the University and the state and preferably should extend nationally or internationally. Letters of recommendation should manifest the broadness of that reputation. Affiliation or relationship to the State of Connecticut should be regarded as an especially favorable factor, but should not be a sufficient condition for the awarding of an honorary degree.
• The activities of the individual should contain outstanding contributions in scholarly research, teaching and learning, the arts, public service, or business. The person might be a distinguished scholar in the natural, physical or social sciences, the arts or humanities, or a distinguished person in public life, business, the professions, or the performing arts. Evaluation will be based on the level of intellectual and professional attainment and the significance of the contributions to the enrichment and/or welfare of the state, nation, or world.
• The Committee will seek to maintain a balance among various fields of activity, both in a given calendar year and in a cycle of years. A program in the awarding of honorary degrees should maintain a reasonable balance between academic and non-academic recipients, and various fields of endeavor.
• The Committee will make an effort to recognize the achievements of women and minorities, consonant with the equal opportunity goals of the institution.
• An honorary degree cannot be awarded to an active member of the University faculty, administration, staff, nor to an appointed or elected official of Connecticut state government. Persons in these categories are eligible for nomination three years after retirement or resignation from their positions at the University or in state government.
• A member of the Board of Trustees can be awarded an honorary degree from the University of Connecticut providing said Trustee has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for a period of at least 15 years. Said honorary degree to be awarded to the recipient by the Board of Trustees upon retirement from the Board of Trustee.

6 Free Honorary Doctorate Degrees Online

Several institutions are issuing free honorary doctorate degrees online which we will be bringing to your notice in this article. Honorary degree certifications are awarded to people in recognition of their life experiences, generosity, or major contributions to the schools, or society and not necessarily academic feats.

If you still want to put in some effort to acquire a degree, there are some free online degree courses for international students , provided by one of the best open universities, or even take advantage of some other online programs .

Thanks to these accredited universities offering free honorary doctorate degrees, it has made it possible for more people to receive these awards regardless of their financial stability, and geographical area.

Before we list these Honorary Doctorate Degrees, let’s first deeply understand what an honorary degree certificate is.

What is an Honorary Degree Certificate?

An honorary degree is given to a person as an honor, rather than through the completion of academic requirements.

They are mostly given to those who have made major contributions to a certain field or as a ‘Thank You’ to those who have made large donations to the institutions.

A person does not have to be an alumnus of the school; they receive awards based on generous and philanthropic actions towards the school.

These beneficiaries often make use of the title–Dr, though they may not have completed a doctoral program. It’s still not a bad idea to get a doctorate or an online Ph.D. program within a year .

What are Some of the Honorary Degrees that I can Find?

Here below are some examples of honorary doctorate degrees you can acquire.

• Doctor of Humane Letters: This degree acknowledges academic distinction
• Doctors of Laws: This degree is awarded to professionals in the field of law
• Doctor of Science: This degree recognizes revolutionary scientific research and discovery
• Doctor of Fine Arts: This degree is conferred primarily to musicians, actors, architects, and artists.
• Doctor of Divinity: This degree is bestowed upon exceptional religious figures.

Let’s get started with this list

Free Honorary Doctorate Degrees Online

Here in this section, you’ll find some of the notable schools offering free honorary doctorate degrees.

Please do well to read to the end, perhaps you may become the next beneficiary.

1. Abide University Free Honorary Doctorate Degrees

Abide University issues free honorary doctorate degrees online without any study or qualifications.

They provide their beneficiaries with their degrees, who in turn study and contribute to their knowledge base, journals, and other publications and forums.

However, you should note that Abide University is not accredited.

2. Berkshire University

Berkshire University awards individuals with free honorary doctorate degrees online as an expression of the University’s appreciation of outstanding contributions made by the individual in certain areas.

They also have doctoral programs available for those who want to conduct advanced academic or professional studies. Just like Abide University, Berkshire University is also not accredited.

3. Global Human Peace University

Global Human Peace University honors both those who have excellent academic accomplishments and have important contributions to peace and human advancement. Their honorary doctorate program is free for eligible candidates.

One of their eligibility includes giving outstanding contributions in the sciences, humanities, and professions in which the University itself is active amongst other requirements. This is among the few free honorary doctorate degrees online that are provided by an accredited institution.

4. Newport University Free Honorary Doctorate Online Degrees

Newport University may not provide a totally free honorary doctorate because they use the program to raise funds to support the “Tuition Free Education for the Deprived Citizens around the World” project. 

One of the reasons I love their honorary doctorate is because they believe that this honor shouldn’t only go to the rich and famous, but also to those who have contributed to their nation, society, education, and scientific work in a low geographic location.

That reminds me of some people who weren’t recognized for their achievements just because they didn’t make a news headline. Newport University Honorary Doctorate Degree is more like a solution to those people.

5. American Trinity University

American Trinity University now offers several paths to their doctorate degrees. Below is a list of free honorary doctorate degrees offered online by this university:

• Doctors of Letters may be awarded for community achievements and a commitment to reconciling science and religion.
• Doctor of Divinity (D.D) may be awarded for achievements in ministry and community service.
• Legum Doctor in Cannon Law (LL.D.) may be awarded for achievements in policymaking favoring religion, or legislature, judicial, or government success in advocating religion and community service.

6. Abdul Kalam University

AKU doesn’t only offer free honorary doctorate degrees online, but it also offers all their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in all provided disciplines for free. They don’t charge you for tuition, for exams, not even for certificates, nor have any hidden fee.

It grants honorary degrees based on past accomplishments and competencies and will be done on an individual basis by qualified experts. Also, they are accredited so you don’t need to be scared of their programs.

Key Takeaway

One of the things you should avoid while getting a free or very cheap honorary doctorate online is that the institution is not a diploma mill – an institution that awards several educational degrees based on inferior education. 

We ensured that none of the free honorary doctorate degrees on our list were diploma mills. That’s why they are very few.

Author’s Recommendations

• 50 Harvard Free Online Courses With Certificates .
• 15 Free Bible Schools Online with Certificates .
• 25 Free Printable Bible Study Lessons with Questions and Answers PDF .
• Top Free Online Beauty Courses with Certificates .
• 15 Websites for Free College Textbooks PDF Download

I love how quickly your platform releases scholarship updates.

Thanks for all you do with Study Abroad Nations

Can I get one? For more than 40 years, I have focused on people’s development. All my activities just to develop people. Can I get an honorary degree for this type of effort?

How do I obtain an Honary Doctorate in Bussiness Administration. This would enhance my status since I am already retired and a freelance Consultant

• Pingback: 21+ Free Honorary Doctorate Degrees Online For Anyone 2022

I am surprised with so many valuable information on this website. Will you send us list of schools offered Certificate, diploma, bachelor, Master and doctorate degree free? We are curious to know those schools and how they grant these credentials to people.

Dear GOD/GODS and/or anyone else who can HELP ME (e.g. MEMBERS OF SUPER-INTELLIGENT ALIEN CIVILIZATIONS):

The next time I wake up, please change my physical form to that of FINN MCMILLAN of SOUTH NEW BRIGHTON at 8 YEARS OLD and keep it that way FOREVER.

I am so sick of this chubby Asian man body!

– CHAUL JHIN KIM (a.k.a. A DESPERATE SOUL)

Bolehkah saya mendapatkan satu? Selama lebih 20 tahun, saya memberi tumpuan kepada Kebajikan rakyat. Semua aktiviti saya hanya untuk membangunkan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat dan orang kurang upaya Bolehkah saya mendapatkan ijazah kehormat untuk usaha jenis ini?

Anda boleh menyemak pilihan di atas untuk melihat sama ada anda boleh dipertimbangkan untuk ini.

Comments are closed.

Last Updated on November 8, 2023 by SAN

Home Certificate Faculty Accreditation Contact

• (B.Th) Biblical Studies
• (B.Th) Christian Counselling
• (B.Th) Christian Education
• (B.Th) Christian Social Work
• (B.Th) Ministry
• (M.Th) Christian Counselling
• (M.Th) Christian Education
• (M.Th) Ministry
• (M.Th) Theology
• (D.Th) Theology
• (D.Min) Ministry
• (D.D) Divinity
• (Ph.D) Christian Apologetics
• (Ph.D) Christian Biblical Studies
• (Ph.D) Christian Counseling
• (Ph.D) Christian Education
• (Ph.D) Christian Social Work
• (Ph.D) Christian Ministry
• (Ph.D) Systematic Theology
• (Ph.D) Christian Theology
• Certificate
• Accreditation
• "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19-20:

Honorary Degree Programs

Honorary Degrees

Get the prestige and credibility when representing yourself as a man of god..

Unfortunately, when you minister to people without a degree behind your name, people don’t take you seriously. For this reason, we are offering honorary degree credentials to deserving Christians with deep biblical knowledge. The prestige of being honored with this degree gives you credibility, it is not issued for employment purposes - it is honorary. An Honorary degree is not an earned degree, you did not earn it by completing the required hours and courses required for an earned degree. It is an honor being bestowed on you because we believe you have deep knowledge of the bible based on the score you archived on your evaluation test.

Doctor of Divinity Degree (DD)

With this honorary degree, you can legally use, "Dr." as your title any where in the world. For Example, Dr. Emeka Johnson, D.D. A evaluation test administration consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary doctorate degrees require that you have a Master’s degree from any field. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 11 x 14

Doctor of Ministry Degree (Dmin)

With this honorary degree, you can legally use, "Dr." as your title any where in the world. For Example, Dr. Emeka Johnson, Dmin. A evaluation test administration consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary doctorate degrees require that you have a Master’s degree from any field. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 11 x 14

Doctor of Theology Degree (ThD)

With this honorary degree, you can legally use, "Dr." as your title any where in the world. For Example, Dr. Emeka Johnson, ThD. A evaluation test administration consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary doctorate degrees require that you have a Master’s degree from any field. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 11 x 14

Master’s in Christian Education Degree (MTH)

A evaluation test administration consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary master’s degrees require that you have a bachelor’s degree from any field. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 11 x 14

Master’s in Christian Counseling Degree (MTH)

Master’s in ministry degree (mth).

A evaluation test administration fee consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary master’s degrees require that you have a bachelor’s degree from any field. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 11 x 14

Master’s in Theology Degree (MTH)

Bachelor’s in theology ministry degree (bth).

A evaluation test administration fee consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary bachelor’s degrees require that you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 8 x 11

Bachelor’s in Theology Degree (BTH)

$250.00 evaluation test administration fee consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary bachelor’s degrees require that you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your $250 administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined.

Bachelor’s in Theology Degree Christian Social Work (BTH)

Bachelor’s in theology degree christian education (bth).

A evaluation test administration fee consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary bachelor’s degrees require that you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your dministrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 8 x 11

Bachelor’s in Theology Degree Christian Counseling (BTH)

Bachelor’s in theology degree biblical studies (bth), doctor of philosophy biblical studies phd.

A evaluation test administration fee consisting of 73 biblical questions. Our honorary bachelor’s degrees require that you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. In addition to this, you would be required to take an online honorary degree evaluation test regarding the bible. You will have three attempts to pass this test. Should you fail to score above 60% on your third attempt, your administrative test fee would be refunded to you and your request for an honorary degree would be declined. Click here to view a sample diploma Size 11 x 14

Doctor of Philosophy in Apologetics (PhD)

Doctor of philosophy christian counseling (phd), doctor of philosophy christian education (phd), doctor of philosophy christian social work (phd), doctor of philosophy christian theology (phd), doctor of philosophy christian ministry (phd), doctor of philosophy systematic theology (phd).

+91 70143 22350

DLF Phase IV, Sector 28, Gurugram

[email protected]

The Values of Honorary Doctorate Instantly

An honorary doctorate is a prestigious title that recognizes an individual’s contributions to society, specific areas and the world at large.

A Few Words About The Council

All India Council of Honorary Doctorate (AICHD), was established under the aegis of RSM Foundation (Trust), section 4(10) of Act 2012. RSM Foundation is a non-profit organization registered with the Rajasthan & India Govt. and Approved by the Government of India’s NITI Aayog and a member of the Quality Council of India (An Autonomous Body of the Government of India), it is also ISO 9001:2015 certified organization. AICHD is dedicated to recognizing and honoring exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to their profession, industry, or society.​.

AICHD has a national existence, and we are committed to recognizing and honoring outstanding individuals from all over world who have made a positive impact on their communities and the world at large. Through our work, we provide a platform for these exceptional individuals to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights, and to inspire others to make a difference in their own fields and communities​.

Our mission at All India Council of Honorary Doctorate is to recognize and honor exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to their profession, industry, or society as a whole. We aim to provide a platform for these outstanding individuals to share their knowledge

Our vision at All India Council of Honorary Doctorate is to be a globally recognized and respected organization that celebrates and honors exceptional individuals who have made a positive impact on their communities and the world at large.

We believe that by recognizing and honoring outstanding individuals, we can inspire others to achieve greatness in their respective fields and contribute to positive social change. We are proud to be a recognized non-profit organization approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India

Honorary Doctorate

Reasons for honorary doctorates.

The bestowing of an honorary degree is a significant milestone in the history of the Council / University as an institution.

Obtaining An Honorary Doctorate

Request an Application Form: The first step to obtaining an honorary doctorate is to contact the Council or University you are interested.

Honorary Doctorate Help

Honorary doctorates in India can have several benefits for individuals, particularly in the field of social work, academics and research.

Why Choose Us

Recognition.

We provides honorary doctorates to deserving individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.

Receiving an honorary doctorate is a recognition of one's achievements, and it brings prestige and honor to the recipient.

Career Advancement

An honorary doctorate can help recipients stand out in a competitive job market, especially in social work, academia or research positions.

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals

Our purpose to achieve excellence in the field of individual’s contributions to society, specific areas and the world at large. 

Our Great Achievement

Honorary doctorate importance of a honorary degree.

Honorary Doctorate, no matter how you refer to it, is a greater example of honoring a notable person for an outstanding contribution to the society. You might be thinking that it is generally offered to celebrities just because they are famous and wealthy. Such negative affirmations of people are not valid in most cases because such honors are often given to those who have made outstanding contributions to a certain field. We all need to change our negative approach towards honor. If you go through the info graphic below, you will be able to clear your mind that why an Honorary Doctorate is being awarded every year globally. It might influence your perspective for good!

• Historical Significance
• Positive Attitudes
• Biggest Community

500+ Community Member

Registered with

Honorary Doctorate is a prestigious title, which is given to deserving individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective fields. 

Quick LInks

• Verification
• What is Honorary Doctorate
• Disciplines Offered
• Honorary Doctorates FAQ's
• Honorary Doctorate Benefits

Copyright © 2023 AICHD. All rights reserved.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Fat Joe Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lehman College

The "All the Way Up" rap icon also delivered a speech at the Bronx school's commencement ceremony on Thursday

Mireya Acierto/Getty

Hip-hop icon Fat Joe now has a new accolade to add to his legacy .

On Thursday, May 30, the “All the Way Up” rap star, 53, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Lehman College, recognizing “his ongoing commitment to uplifting the Bronx community and his profound impact on hip-hop culture,” according to the school .

The New York native, born Joseph Cartagena, attended the school’s 56th annual commencement ceremony as a special guest and delivered an impassioned speech to the graduating class of 2024 about his career rise and how it led to his latest honor.

“I could’ve been a doctor, but I didn’t have the patients,” he began. “Now they gave me a doctorate, and I give power to the patience.”

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Fanatics

Referencing his iconic phrase, “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price,” the “Lean Back” rapper went on to share with students how his humble beginnings still paved the way for monumental success in music and beyond.

“People try to block your blessings at every corner, everywhere you went,” Fat Joe continued. “Sometimes you ask God, ‘Why me, God? Why is this happening to me?’ But if you didn’t die, it’s truly a blessing ‘cause you’re learning from the lessons, so someday in the future, you could apply that to your life and your success.”

He added, “You're just beginning your lives... Some of you been around, but I'm telling you, success never stops. There is no age limit to being successful."

The hip-hop legend then reflected on how people used to advise him to “save [his] money” in his early career days because “rappers don’t make it this long.” “Now I’m more successful than I’ve ever been in my life,” he declared.

Celebrating his doctorate on Instagram the next day, Fat Joe posted photos of himself wearing his graduation regalia , captioned, “Still!!!!! Unbelievable God is the greatest 🙏🏽❤️.” 

As evidenced by his new doctorate degree, Fat Joe has used his hip-hop influence throughout his decades-long career to give back to not only his community but also others far and wide. Earlier this month, he partnered up with Food For the Poor and fellow rapper Zoey Dollaz to launch a relief fund for Haiti’s humanitarian crisis.

The Terror Squad artist also extended his philanthropic efforts to the ongoing fight for healthcare price transparency in the U.S. by supporting a Power to the Patients event held in Washington D.C. in March.

The rapper last released a single with AZ, “How We Get It,” in November 2023, which appeared on the latter’s Truth Be Told album.

Related Articles

• The-Dream Accused of Sexual Abuse, Trafficking and More by Former Protégé
• Drake Covers ‘Hey There Delilah’ and Fans Question if it’s Him or AI
• Academy Award Nominee Colman Domingo Joins New Netflix Comedy Series ‘The Four Seasons’ 
• Reebok Teams With Ariie West For New “Ariie-Plugged” Sneaker Art Project

Fat Joe Gets His Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lehman College

Hip-hop icon Fat Joe was bestowed with a prestigious honor during the Lehman College commencement ceremony, marking a momentous occasion for the acclaimed rapper and the cultural recognition of the genre itself. The ceremony witnessed a fusion of academic tradition and urban culture as Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Fat Joe’s journey from the streets of the Bronx to receiving such distinguished recognition is a testament to the power of perseverance, talent, and reinvention. Born and raised in the South Bronx, a hotbed of hip-hop culture, Fat Joe emerged as a prominent figure in the genre during the 1990s. With his distinctive flow, lyrical prowess, and authentic storytelling, he carved a niche in an industry that often overlooks voices from marginalized communities.

Throughout his career, Fat Joe has left an indelible mark on the music scene and has been a philanthropist and community leader. His commitment to giving back to his roots and uplifting the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs is commendable. From supporting local initiatives to advocating for social justice causes, Fat Joe has used his platform to effect positive societal change.

As Fat Joe stood on the stage, clad in academic regalia, it was a moment of triumph for him and an entire community that has often been overlooked and underestimated. It serves as a reminder that greatness knows no boundaries of race, class, or background and that talent, hard work, and dedication can transcend any obstacle.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAT JOE (@fatjoe)

• Music Videos
• International Music
• Latest Trends
• Sports News
• Source Latino
• From the Issue
• Shop Merchandise
• Advertise With The Source
• Privacy Policy

Browser does not support script.

• Writing opinion articles
• Latest news
• Video and audio
• LSE News FAQs

LSE awards honorary degree to founder of girls’ education organisation

Safeena Husain is a champion for the pressing cause of girls’ education and a pioneering social entrepreneur .

LSE has conferred an honorary doctorate to alumna Safeena Husain, Founder and Board Member of Educate Girls, in recognition of her exemplary service to society.

Educate Girls, an Indian nonprofit founded in 2007, is dedicated to expanding access to girls’ education in India’s underserved villages. Under Husain’s leadership, the organisation has mobilised over 1.8 million girls for school enrolment and provided remedial learning support to 2.2 million students, through the efforts of nearly 20,000 community-based gender advocates in India’s most marginalised communities.

Husain’s innovative approach combining door-to-door engagement with advanced analytics and technologies has propelled Educate Girls to the forefront of global development. The organisation has garnered numerous accolades, including the NITI Aayog Women Transforming India Award and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. It has also received recognition from the World Bank, USAID, and King Charles.

Most recently, in 2023, Husain became the first Indian woman to be named a WISE Laureate, one of the most prestigious awards in the global education landscape. This honour recognises her unwavering commitment to girls’ empowerment through education and her efforts to expand her organisation’s reach. Within the next ten years, Safeena aims to enhance access to quality education for 10 million learners.

Following the conferral of the honorary doctorate, Husain sat down with LSE President Larry Kramer for an in-depth discussion of the transformative power of education and its role in achieving gender equality.

“I have experienced the power of education, and my education is what has made me who I am today,” Husain said. “I truly believe that we women will not be equal unless that last girl has equality. That is why we have to ensure that every girl accesses her right to an education.’’

The honorary doctorate ceremony took place at LSE on May 29, featuring opening remarks from LSE President Larry Kramer and oration by Professor Stephan Chambers, Director and Professor in Practice at the Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship.

In his opening remarks, Kramer highlighted Husain’s global impact: “Under Safeena’s guidance, Educate Girls has become a leading force globally, harnessing innovative financing and technology to bridge the gender gap in education and now using machine learning to accelerate progress’’.

The awarding of an LSE Honorary Doctorate allows us to recognise extraordinary distinction and accomplishment in an area of scholarship or public activity in line with our guiding principles and vision: to be a “community of people and ideas, founded to know the causes of things, for the betterment of society.”

Kramer has shared that “Safeena Husain is a champion for the pressing cause of girls’ education and a pioneering social entrepreneur – in the language of LSE’s 100x Accelerator, she has built a “social unicorn,” or an enterprise that, through its combination of technical innovation and cultural intelligence, is making a significant positive impact on society on a massive scale. LSE could not be prouder of her, both as an alum and as a humanitarian fulfilling the promise of our School’s mission”.

Fat Joe Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree: 'Success Never Stops'

Fat Joe can officially add "Doctor" to his title after he received an honorary doctorate degree.

The veteran artist was awarded with an honorary degree from Lehman College in his hometown of The Bronx. Dr. Joseph "Fat Joe" Cartagena received a Doctorate of Human Letters degree during the college's 56th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 30. After he received the degree, Don Cartagena gave a five-minute speech in which he uplifted all of graduates and emphasized the importance of giving back to his community.

"You're just beginning your lives," Joe said. "Some of you have been around, but I’m telling you success never stops. There is no age limit to being successful.”

"God is the Greatest!" he wrote in his Instagram caption. "I promised my moms a Diploma & who would have thought i would have a Doctorate. I’d like to thank Lehman College for this humbling experience 🙏🏽"

Fat Joe received the honor for his continuous contributions to the music industry as well as his philanthropic work. 30 years after he dropped his debut album Represent, Joey Crack has dedicated his life to expanding his résumé beyond music by becoming an entrepreneur and an author. Last year, Fat Joe released his first book, The Book of Jose: A Memoir which he wrote alongside veteran music journalist Shaheem Reid.

The multiplatinum-selling artist has also been heavily involved with national efforts like Power To The Patients. The Terror Squad leader has hosted several events for the non-profit organization that aims to ensure all hospitals follow the law by publicly post the prices of all of their services. Last year, he held a major benefit concert with French Montana , Rick Ross , Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star . He's also met with lawmakers in our nation's capitol, and recently attended the 2024 State of the Union address.

Check out more scenes from the graduation ceremony below. Congratulations Fat Joe!

Employer Tuition Assistance

Does your employer offer assistance with financing education for employees? The answer may surprise you. Many organizations financially contribute to their employees’ education as part of a competitive benefits package, and yours might be one of them. Tuition remission, tuition benefits, or tuition reimbursement, is when an employer provides some form of financial support for educational coursework. It can have many forms and your employer will stipulate the terms of the benefit, including how much they cover, how to apply, when you are eligible to begin receiving the benefit, and what coursework is covered.  

If you are considering going back to school for a degree like the  NYU School of Global Public Health Master of Public Health (MPH), here are some ways to get started:

First, research whether your employer regularly offers education benefits, or if you will be blazing a new trail. If your company has an existing policy, you can often find information about it in your employee handbook or human resources (HR) website. If an employer reimbursement plan is not something that has been offered in the past, that does not mean it is not possible. 

Whether your employer has a set policy or not, you will want to gather a variety of materials before approaching anyone, so that you know exactly what your needs will be throughout your program. Spend some time gathering information on how many courses you need to take, what the tuition and fees for the program are, and what deadlines the program has for financial aid applications and payments. For cost information on NYU School of Global Public Health’s degree programs, visit our  tuition and financial aid page .

Once you have decided to apply to a part-time MPH program, you will want to inform your boss of your plans. However, HR is the best first stop for information on fringe benefits like tuition reimbursement programs.

More than anyone else at a company, HR understands the benefits that are available to employees and can help you strategize the best way to use them. Make sure you are upfront with them about the program and how many courses you are expected to take in a year. Your employer may only cover a certain number of credits, so letting them know the details of the program can help them make sure that you are able to best utilize your tuition remission.

Although many organizations have a tuition reimbursement benefit, some may require you to make a case for why you are eligible. For example, your company may only cover your tuition if your degree is in the same field as your organization, or if it will better prepare you to do your job. 

To make a business case for tuition reimbursement, find ways to link your current and future role and responsibilities to your organization’s strategic priorities. Being able to explain the specific additional value you can add with a degree from NYU GPH is critical to gaining support.

Laying out all you hope to gain from the degree, and how it will directly benefit your employer, can help you make a case to HR and your boss for why they should provide some tuition assistance. For example, as healthcare becomes more and more competitive and transitions from a fee-for-service to a value-based model, leaders will be required to have a broader understanding of the business. In particular, healthcare leaders will need to be very well-versed in the relationship between payer and provider. It is exactly this sort of broad understanding that an MPH can help provide.

Most organizations understand that offering tuition reimbursement benefits help to reduce turnover and improve employee morale, but you can focus on how what you are learning will allow you to do more for the company and move ahead in their ranks.

A master’s degree is a big undertaking, and your employer will want to know you can handle the challenge on top of your usual workload. Make sure to address these concerns head on, by showing how you have been able to multitask at work in the past, and explaining all the ways that your graduate degree will benefit the company in the short- and long-term.

Another issue that might arise? Your loyalty to the company. Organizations sometimes worry that they may invest in an employee who then leaves for another opportunity. To help address these concerns up front, you may formally commit to a number of years post-graduation. For example, if you receive $20,000 in tuition support, you might commit to staying at the organization for a minimum of two years post-graduation. 

If, after taking all the steps above, the answer is “no,” do not lose hope. There are  other options for financial aid and you can always try again next semester, in case anything has changed. Some employers may not offer tuition reimbursement programs, but can help you obtain your degree in other ways, like providing tuition assistance in the form of low-interest education loans or giving you a more flexible schedule.

If the answer is yes, now is the right time to work with HR in order to figure out exactly how your education benefits work. Make sure you understand how the benefit funds are disbursed, when it is processed, and if it is taxed—and if so, how much will come out of your paycheck and when. Studying the benefit terms and conditions will help you utilize the benefit effectively, and starting early will allow you time to figure everything out before you begin classes. 

Investing in an MPH degree can be a wise decision with an excellent ROI for both you and your employer. From an organization’s standpoint, offering tuition reimbursement helps reduce turnover and improves their workforce, by helping employees build their knowledge and skills in the field. For an individual, it is a higher education degree that can be obtained while they continue to work and move forward in their healthcare careers.

If you are interested in pursuing your MPH, please  contact us with any questions you may have. Our Admissions Ambassadors are here to help you with your questions about tuition assistance and financing your degree.

• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

BME Hosts Graduation Reception for Class of 2024

May 9, 2024 — Today the Department of Biomedical Engineering recognized the graduating Class of 2024 at a reception for graduates, faculty, staff, family members, and guests at McNamara Alumni Center.

Participants were welcomed to the reception by Brenda Ogle, Professor and Head of the department. The program included a student address by 2024 graduate Riley Duryea and a keynote address by Phil Ebeling, Chief Operating Officer of Inspire Medical Systems.

In addition, the reception individually recognized several graduating students, two teaching assistants, and one faculty member for their achievements:

• Niyati Alluri, Sydney Beck, Maya Johnson, Allison Lundborg, and Daniel Russell — First Place Senior Design Showcase Project, “FetalFocus: An Ultrasound Transducer Positioning Aid for Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring”
• Ahad Kaleem, Rocco Marcaccini, Elizabeth Milker, Karson Scherer, and Ola Skibicki — Second Place Senior Design Showcase Project, “DermaRelief: Targeted Vibration and Pressure for Alleviating Pain During Anesthetic Injections”
• Adam Boeckermann, Emma Bouwman, William Christenson, Danielle Lundtvedt, and Alexis Theis — Third Place Senior Design Showcase Project, “ALIAS: Automated Laser Integrated Alignment System”
• Hammer Kuo and Noah Nathan Kochen — Class of 2024 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
• Professor Kyoko Yoshida — Class of 2024 Award for Outstanding Faculty Member

Congratulations to these award winners and the entire Class of 2024!

• Future undergraduate students
• Future transfer students
• Future graduate students
• Future international students
• Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities
• Learn abroad
• Living Learning Communities
• Mentor programs
• Programs for women
• Student groups
• Visit, Apply & Next Steps
• Information for current students
• Departments and majors overview
• Departments
• Undergraduate majors
• Graduate programs
• Integrated Degree Programs
• Additional degree-granting programs
• Online learning
• Academic Advising overview
• Academic Advising FAQ
• Academic Advising Blog
• Appointments and drop-ins
• Academic support
• Commencement
• Four-year plans
• Honors advising
• Policies, procedures, and forms
• Career Services overview
• Resumes and cover letters
• Jobs and internships
• Interviews and job offers
• CSE Career Fair
• Major and career exploration
• Graduate school
• Collegiate Life overview
• Scholarships
• Diversity & Inclusivity Alliance
• Anderson Student Innovation Labs
• Information for alumni
• Get engaged with CSE
• Upcoming events
• CSE Alumni Society Board
• Alumni volunteer interest form
• Golden Medallion Society Reunion
• 50-Year Reunion
• Alumni honors and awards
• Outstanding Achievement
• Alumni Service
• Distinguished Leadership
• Honorary Doctorate Degrees
• Nobel Laureates
• Alumni resources
• Alumni career resources
• Alumni news outlets
• CSE branded clothing
• International alumni resources
• Inventing Tomorrow magazine
• Update your info
• CSE giving overview
• Why give to CSE?
• College priorities
• Give online now
• External relations
• Giving priorities
• CSE Dean's Club
• Donor stories
• Impact of giving
• Ways to give to CSE
• Matching gifts
• CSE directories
• Invest in your company and the future
• Recruit our students
• Connect with researchers
• K-12 initiatives
• Diversity initiatives
• Research news
• Give to CSE
• CSE priorities
• Corporate relations
• Information for faculty and staff
• Administrative offices overview
• Office of the Dean
• Academic affairs
• Finance and Operations
• Communications
• Human resources
• Undergraduate programs and student services
• CSE Committees
• CSE policies overview
• Academic policies
• Faculty hiring and tenure policies
• Finance policies and information
• Graduate education policies
• Human resources policies
• Research policies
• Research overview
• Research centers and facilities
• Research proposal submission process
• Research safety
• Award-winning CSE faculty
• National academies
• University awards
• Honorary professorships
• Collegiate awards
• Other CSE honors and awards
• Staff awards
• Performance Management Process
• Work. With Flexibility in CSE
• K-12 outreach overview
• Summer camps
• Outreach events
• Enrichment programs
• Field trips and tours
• CSE K-12 Virtual Classroom Resources
• Educator development
• Sponsor an event