Honorary Degrees

Nominations may be proposed by students, alumni, members of staff, including honorary members of staff, or Lay Members of the Council of the University.

An honorary degree is the highest honour the University can bestow on an individual and is normally conferred at one of our Degree Congregations in July or December at which the recipient makes a speech to graduating students and their guests. In conferring the honour, we bring interesting people into the University as a basis for further development of their relationship with the University and to provide an inspiration to graduating students.
As such, Public Honours or other forms of recognition (such as the Guild Awards or various staff and alumni awards) may be a more appropriate form of recognition in some cases.

The University is a global community. We believe our diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of our academic mission. The University welcomes nominations for honorary degrees for a diverse range of people.

In this environment, freedom of speech is fundamental – the ability of all our members freely to challenge prevailing orthodoxies, query the positions and views of others, and to put forward ideas that may sometimes be radical or dissenting in their formulation, all within an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Nominations must demonstrate:

• particular eminence in, and an exemplary contribution of high international, national, or regional significance to, their field, noting that an honorary degree is the highest honour the University can bestow and the recipient normally makes a speech to graduating students and their guests;
• the ways in which the nominee embodies the University’s values: ambitious, innovative, open, collaborative, responsible.

Nominations should also normally demonstrate:

• clear links with, or contribution to, the University, the City of Birmingham, or the West Midlands. Alternatively, demonstrate clear links with, or a contribution to, the University’s research specialisms or its activities overseas;
• clear evidence of a significant continuing relationship or clear potential for a significant future relationship between the nominee and the University.

To avoid possible misconceptions, the University does not:

• consider nominations on the basis of:
  • celebrity status or popular appeal alone;
  • a financial relationship with the University, its subsidiary companies, or related organisations;

• consider nominations for currently serving politicians, civil servants, Heads of State, and individuals who have, or could be perceived to have, direct or significant influence over decisions relating to higher education-related policy and funding (including research) in the UK or overseas;

• normally consider conferring a second honorary degree from the University of Birmingham on the same individual, nor reconsider nominations considered previously unless circumstances and achievements have changed significantly;
• consider nominations for currently serving members of Council, unless they have indicated an intention to step down. The University will consider nominations for current or former members of staff (including honorary staff) or former members of Council for activities which meet the criteria for the award of an honorary degree in addition to significant service to the University, noting the risks of actual or perceived conflicts of interest and the need to consider carefully timing of the award and conferment of the honorary degree. By convention, the University awards honorary degrees to retiring Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors, and Vice-Chancellors.
• consider nominations for those who are not ‘fit and proper persons’ as defined in University Ordinance 4.8, namely a person who is convicted of a criminal offence triable on indictment; or whose name has been removed for misconduct by a properly constituted legal authority from any official register or roll of members of the profession to which they belong;
• consider nominations from or for close friends, partners, or family members;

• consider nominations from individuals nominating themselves.

Process

1. Please read the guidance and complete the form above.
2. Honorary Degrees Committee considers eligible nominations against the criteria above. The nominations which the Committee supports are recommended to The Senate for approval.
3. If the nomination is approved by Senate, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal normally writes to the nominee on behalf of the University. This initial contact includes the full range of graduation dates and seeks details of the nominee’s availability.
4. If the nominee accepts, arrangements will be made for the conferral of the honorary degree.

All business relating to Honorary Degrees is conducted in the strictest confidence. To avoid embarrassment, no mention should be made to the nominee. The whole process is confidential, and no names are published unless and until the nomination has been approved by the University and the nominee has accepted the University’s offer. For this reason, the University does not provide feedback on nominations and will not enter into correspondence on unsuccessful nominations. 

Contact details

Chris Ellison
Governance Officer
E-mail: c.ellison@bham.ac.uk