Many individuals are always focused on providing better life prospects to other living/ non-living beings. They are often left unnoticed as the community fails to recognize them. It could be either because of their age or educational qualifications. But it doesn’t faze them. They continue to provide for mankind until their last breath.
In the last few years, people who perform exceptional tasks for the betterment of mankind have been awarded a degree. However, many individuals are unaware of the same. It is an important degree not based on your academic achievements, but achievements based on the welfare of individuals.
In this article, we aim to provide you with basic knowledge about an Honorary Doctorate and how much value it holds in society. It gives individuals a sense of recognition while respecting their potential on an equivalent academic level.
Table Of Content
- ✔ What is an Honorary Doctorate Degree?
- ✔ Types of Honorary Doctorate
- ✔ Benefits of Honorary Doctorate
- ✔ Is there a difference between Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Honorary Doctorate?
- ✔ How to get an Honorary Doctorate Degree?
- ✔ People with an Honorary Doctorate Degree
- ✔ Conclusion
- ✔ Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Honorary Doctorate Degree?
An Honorary Doctorate Degree is a prestigious title given to an individual in order to recognize their exceptional contribution to a particular field/ society. It could be anything ranging from helping animals by providing shelter, or groundbreaking research in any subject, political science for instance, makes one eligible. They receive the title of “Dr.” before their name. The degree is Global Academic Recognition meaning it is even recognized and respected by other countrymen.
Some individuals have a notion believing only actors or famous personalities are awarded an Honorary Doctorate. But it is not true as the degree is not age or educational qualification constricted. Anyone with a protentional and a life achievement is capable of getting one, including a common man who worked for the welfare of the common good.
Types of Honorary Doctorate
While everyone gets the same globally recognized degree. The field of work is subdivided into various types as mentioned below. The list is exclusive, but more subdivisions exist.
1. Doctor of Laws (LL. D): Often awarded for contributions relating to public service or social service.
2. Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.): This is often awarded for contributions relating to arts, literature, and culture.
3. Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.): This award is awarded for contributions relating to arts like music, theater, dance, etc.
4. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.): Often awarded to individuals for their contributions in science, technology and engineering.
Benefits of Honorary Doctorate
1. Recognition: An Honorary Doctorate helps one achieve recognition based on the work they have performed. It is a Global Academic Recognition which helps an individual in many ways including how one country feels secure with a person who has an Honorary Doctorate if they want to plan a trip abroad.
2. Validation of Hard Work: When an individual is focused enough to make the world a better place, one eventually stops thinking about getting validation. For them, their work is everything even if the world doesn’t acknowledge them. But, when an Honorary Doctorate Degree, an individual feels assured about themselves and the work they are doing. It gives them hard-earned appreciation even if it comes after years, boosting their morale.
3. Respect and Value: With the title of “Dr.” one feels accomplished, while gaining a new kind of respect from everyone around them. If an individual running a company receives the honorary, chances of jobseekers getting attracted through the same is higher. The title helps you earn respect and value in society.
4. Networking and Career: For individuals who have done outstanding research in some specific field, they have the chance of having more networks around them. Making networks becomes an easy job for them. Along with that, many better career opportunities have become visible to them.
Is there a difference between Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Honorary Doctorate?
Individuals use the terms Ph.D. and Honorary Doctorate interchangeably, but they are both different degrees. The table below shows an association and differentiation of the same.
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | Honorary Doctorate |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy is one of the highest academic degrees wherein an individual researches and makes a thesis based on a particular specialization on any topic. | Honorary Doctorate Degree is a prestigious doctoral title given to recognize an outstanding contribution to a particular field/society. |
| The title of “Dr.” is awarded to individuals. | The title of “Dr.” is awarded to individuals. |
| Master’s from a recognized university is an essential criterion. Along with it, UGC NET exam is also considered important. | No prior degree or exam is required. |
| The degree spans a maximum of 6 years. | It only takes 3–4 months to get an Honorary Doctorate degree. |
| It is a doctorate with a dissertation. | It is a doctorate without a dissertation. |
How to get an Honorary Doctorate Degree?
A University Honorary Doctorate Degree is based on an individual’s achievements rather than their studies in a specific field. It provides one with global academic recognition. Along with that, the process of receiving an honorary doctorate is different than other degrees. It is based on a nomination process. Below is a short guide to help you gain insights about the same:
Step 1: Researching Institutions
Finding an institution that supports your accomplishment and is related to your field is important. Along with that, looking at history and past records can be helpful to realize if you want to go for the same institution.
Step 2: Nominator and Documents
Once you have decided on the institution you want to work with, the next step is to find a nominator. A nominator is someone belonging to the institution who can nominate the candidate. Along with that important document including letter of recommendation, CV, or relevant awards and certificates should be prepared.
Step 3: Nomination Statement and Submission
Once you are done with the above steps, you need to think of a nomination statement which suits your accomplishments and is bold enough to convey it properly. The final step is submission of these documents and nomination to be eligible.
Step 4: Award Ceremony
In the span of these 3-4 months, a committee sits down to check the valid documents and if your accomplishment is worth getting a degree. Once everything is approved, an email is sent to the candidates informing them about their selection. And an award ceremony is organized then or at a later period by the university where an Honorary PhD Award is given to the candidates.
People with an Honorary Doctorate Degree
The following is a list of people who received an Honorary Doctorate Degree:
1. Michelle Yeoh, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
2. Taylor Swift, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
3. Hillary Clinton, Honorary Doctor of Civil Law Degree
4. Erin Brockovich, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
5. Dr Manmohan Singh, Honorary Doctor of Civil Law Degree
6. Margret Atwood, Honorary Doctor of Letters
7. T. S. Eliot, Honorary Doctor of Letters, and many more.
Conclusion
Not only celebrity or literary figures are worthy of an Honorary Doctorate title, but the common man too. The Honorary PhD Award is given to individuals for their accomplishment and for a better recognition for the people who are working hard to make the world a better place, whether it is technologically, poetically or socially. The aim of an Honorary Doctorate holder is to teach individuals how sometimes excellence is recognized beyond formal education. Some things are beyond education.
