Help us celebrate the work of someone who inspires you

We would love to hear your ideas for who you would like to be named as our Honorary Graduates and our Alumnus of the Year at our graduation ceremonies in 2027. We are also seeking your nominations for future Honorary Fellows.

Here is your chance to ask the University to officially recognise and celebrate the work of someone who inspires you. We try to make it as simple as possible, so it should only take a few minutes to nominate someone.

We are looking for change-makers, rule-breakers and world-shakers – people you think could help us promote our values and our commitment to excellence in education and research to the world.

Honorary Graduates

We’re seeking inspirational people who shape the world around them and help others to do the same. We hope they will also inspire our graduates and contribute their time, ability and experience for the benefit of our University community.

We’ll follow up your suggestions with further research so you will not have to do anything else, and do not worry, you will not have to deliver the speech at their graduation.

You just need to follow a few basic rules:

• The person you are nominating should not be made aware of the nomination.
• The person you nominate cannot be a current member of staff or student at the University or at any of our Partnership Institutes.
• You cannot nominate yourself.

Make your nomination now on our Honorary Graduates webpage.

Alumnus of the Year

The Alumnus of the Year award recognises the achievements of former students who have made a substantial contribution to the community; to the arts, to the sciences; to business, sporting, public or academic life; or in some other way made a positive impact to the lives of others.

Make your nomination now on our Alumnus of the Year webpage.

Honorary Fellowships

Our Honorary Fellowships are awarded at our Annual Meeting to someone who has distinguished themselves in the fields of study represented at the University, or who has given conspicuous and exceptional service to the University. In recent years Honorary Fellowships have been awarded to former officers of the University, long-serving members of staff and other members of the University community.

Make your nomination now on our Honorary Fellowship webpage. Please note that this link will take you to the Honorary Degree nomination form, which is used for the purpose of an Honorary Fellow nomination.

The nominations round for all awards is now open and the deadline for submitting your nomination is 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025. In accordance with Ordinance 32, all nominations will be considered by the Honorary Degrees and Honorary Fellowships Committee, and recommendations will be made to Senate and Council for approval.

Should you have any questions please contact the Honorary Degree and Honorary Fellowships Committee Secretary, Lucy Birch.