The Senate is empowered to award MA/MSc and DLitt/DSc degrees honoris causa as a means of honouring individuals who have distinguished themselves in a particular field or profession, or who have given meritorious service to the University.
Criteria for Nominations
The following criteria have been approved by the Advisory Committee for Awards and Honours:
The Honorary degrees of DLitt/DSc and MA/MSc are the University's public recognition of an individual's outstanding achievements or service at a local, national or international level. It is particularly appropriate if the achievements or service are directly related to Aston, or to the principles for which it stands: the advancement, dissemination and application of learning and knowledge, by teaching, scholarship and research, for the benefit of industry and commerce, and of the community generally.
- Honorary Degree of DSc/DLitt: A candidate must have made highly significant contributions at a local, national or international level, for example,
- an outstanding contribution to the university world, or to the advancement of education in its broadest sense, either by advancement of learning, or the application of existing knowledge in a particularly useful and innovative manner;
- (ii) an outstanding contribution in a field of activity supported by the University, or for notable achievement in a profession for which Aston educates students;
- (iii) generous contributions and service to the university world, and to Aston in particular, by leading public figures.
b) Honorary Degree of MA/MSc: Candidates must have made significant contributions, particularly in the local context of the City of Birmingham, the County of West Midlands, or of the University; for example, serving the local community or the University in a notable fashion over a long period."
Submission of Nominations
Nominations should be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Email: Emma Sutton, e.sutton@aston.ac.uk.) Those submitting nominations are asked to provide:
a) a clear statement of the grounds on which the candidate is being proposed related to the criteria stated above. It should be based, as far as possible, on personal knowledge of the candidate. In particular, the nominee's connection with the University must be clearly stated;
b) an up-to-date biographical note should also be provided. If, for any reason, this cannot be provided and details of the candidate are not available in standard reference books such as "Who's Who", a note should be given of people who can be contacted by the Advisory Committee to provide further information on the candidate.
Failure to provide all this information is likely to delay consideration of a candidate by the Advisory Committee.
Past honorary graduates are listed in the current Calendar.
Main University navigation links
