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Each year Ulster University honours distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for achievement and distinction in a field or activity.

Our honorary graduates continue to make an impact on our society.

To nominate someone for an honorary degree, please fill out our online form.

Details on the Guiding Principles, against which nominations will be assessed, are available at: guidelines for nominations

View our honorary graduates on the Ulster University Alumni website

Honorary graduates conferred since 1985

* indicates deceased

A
NameAwardYear
Her Grace the Duchess of Abercorn * DUniv 2003
Sir Donald Acheson * DSc 1998
Professor Jennifer Adgey DSc 2007
Dr Maan Al Sanea DUniv 2008
Ms Darina Allen DUniv 2003
Ms Kate Allen LLD 2011
Ms Rachel Allen DSc 2012
Mr Gary Anderson DSc 2014
Mr Martin Amis DLitt 2007
Dr DB Archard DLitt 1993
The Rt Hon Lord Ashdown * LLD 2006
Wendy Austin DLitt 2005
B
NameAwardYear
Professor Sir George Bain DLitt 2002
Mr Brian Baird DUniv 2000
Mr Eamonn Baker LLD 2019
Professor Terry Baker DUniv 2002
Lord Ballyedmond * DSc 2008
Ms Helen Bamber * LLD 2000
Professor Christiaan Barnard * DSc 1994
The Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes DLitt 2005
Mr Colin Bateman DLitt 2010
Professor Rick Battarbee DSc 2007
Mrs Linda Beard DUniv 2007
Professor Samuel Beer * DLitt 1992
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell DSc 2019
Professor Hans Benedikt * DSc 1994
Professor Rafael BengoaDSc2022
Sir Gordon Beveridge * DSc 1994
Mr David BlevinsDLitt2022
Sir Louis Blom-Cooper * DLitt 1995
Ms May Blood * DUniv 1998
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield DLitt 2002
Mrs Wendy Blundell DSc 2017
Ms Sarah BoothDSc2023
Dr Dalil Boubakeur LLD 2002
Mr Tommy Bowe DSc 2014
Mr EW Boyd MA 1996
Mr F Boyd DUniv 2008
Mr Denis Bradley LLD 2005
His Grace Archbishop Sean Brady LLD 2002
Mr Paul Brady DLitt 2009
Ms Lisa BrankinDSc2023
Ms Enya Brennan DLitt 2007
Ms Loretta Brennan Glucksman LLD 2013
President Molly Corbett Broad DUniv 2005
Mr Malcolm Brodie * DUniv 1999
Ms Chris Browne DSc 2011
Dr Olive Buckley DSc 2015
Dr BP Burkitt * DSc 1989
Dr C Burns * DSc 1987
Mr Gerry Burns * LLD 2009
Ms Amanda Burton DLitt 2002
The Rt Hon Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss LLD 2004
Ms Margaret Byrne DSc 2015
C
NameAwardYear
Mr Trefor Campbell DSc 2004
Professor William Campbell DSc 2017
Mr Michael Canavan MUniv 1999
Mr Peter Canavan DUniv 2003
Miss Justice Mella Carroll * LLD 2003
Mr William Carson * DUniv 2000
The Rt Hon Lord Carswell * DLitt 1994
Ms Arlene Cassidy DUniv 2012
Dr Victor Chambers * DSc 1993
Mr Paul Clark LLD 2015
Mr Darren Clarke DUniv 2002
Lord Smith of Clifton * DLitt 2002
The Honorable Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton           LLD 2004
The Honorable WJ Clinton DLitt 1995
Lord Sebastian Coe DUniv 2008
Dr John Cole * DLitt 1992
Ms Evelyn Collins LLD 2014
Mr John Connorton LLD 2003
Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy LLD 2010
Mr Ivan Cooper * LLD 2016
Dr Art Cosgrove DLitt 2002
Dr Paul Costello DLitt 1996
Mr Frank Cottrell-Boyce DLitt 2014
Dr Phil M Coulter DLitt 1988
Dr T Cowan * DSc 1989        
Ms Deirdre CoyleDUniv2023
Fr. Harry Coyle DLitt 2017
Mr Stephen Coyle LLD 2017
Mrs Elizabeth Craig MUniv 2000
Professor Anthony Cronin * DLitt 2003
Dr S B Crooks * DLitt 1986
Mr Terry Cross DSc 2016
Mr John Crosslé * DSc 2010
Dr J Perez de Cuellar DLitt 1995
Mr John Cullinane DSc 2001
Professor A C Cunningham DSc 1989
Mr Ed Curran DLitt 2012
Ms Sinead Cusack DLitt 2002
Mr Frank Cushnahan DSc 2011
D
NameAwardYear
Mr Kenny Dalglish DSc 2011
Dr Cahal Dallat * DLitt 1991
Professor Adele Dalsimer * DUniv 1998
Bishop Edward Daly* DLitt 1994
Father Brian D'Arcy DLitt 2009
Dr Colin DavidsonDFA2022
Sir Graeme Davies DSc 2004
Professor Seamus Deane * DLitt 1998
Hon. Mrs Justice Susan Denham LLD 2013
Dr Denis Desmond DSc 1991
Dr Rajammal P Devadas * DSc 1996
Dr P J Devlin * DUniv 1996
Professor Dermot Diamond DLitt 2018
Charles Dillon DLitt 2005
Mr Thomas Di Napoli LLD 2017
Dr James Doherty * DLitt 1990
Ms Moya Doherty DLitt 2002
Mr Paddy Doherty * LLD 2010
Mr Patrick Doherty * MUniv 2000
Mr Patrick DohertyDSc2022
Justice Teresa Doherty LLD 2011
Father Gary Donegan LLD 2017
Dr Patricia DonnellyDSc2022
Mr Sean Doran DFA 2017
Mr J Dornan DUniv 2007
Professor Patrick Dowling * DSc 1998
Ms Roma Downey DFA 2014
Mr Adrian Dunbar DLitt 2009
Very Reverend Dr John Dunlop LLD 2001
Mr Joey Dunlop * DUniv 2006
Mr Robert Dunlop * DUniv 2006
Mr Richard Dunwoody DUniv 2008
E
NameAwardYear
His Grace Archbishop Robin Eames LLD 2002
Professor Alfred Eder DSc 2000
Mr Jonathan Edwards DUniv 2006
Ambassador Richard Egan * LLD 2003
Mr F Alan Elliott DUniv 1998
Mrs Margaret Elliott LLD 2002
Professor Peter Elwood DUniv 2000
Ms Wilma ErskineDSc2022
Professor K G Emeleus * DSc 2005
F
NameAwardYear
HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal Al-Saud LLD 2010
Mr John Farrell DUniv 2015
Bishop Anthony Farquhar* DLitt 2016
Mr John Fawcett * MUniv 1999
Mr John Fay DSc 2013
Dr Charles Feeney LLD 2012
Sir David Fell DUniv 2003
Sir Alex Ferguson DSc 2014
Sir Brian Fender DSc 2001
Mrs D Ferran MFA 1996
Mr David Figgins DUniv 2001
Dr Garret FitzGerald * LLD 2003
Dr Peter FitzGerald DSc 2010
Mr Terence Philip Flanagan * DFA 2010
Professor James Flannery DLitt 2001
Mr Bill Flynn LLD 2012
The Hon T S Foley DLitt 1995
Dr Marye Anne Fox DUniv 2002
Professor Robin Fox DSc 1997
Mr Tom Frawley DUniv 2003
Mrs D A Frazer MEd 1996
Ms Sarah Friar DSc 2018
Dr B Friel DLitt 1986
G
NameAwardYear
Ms Bronagh Gallagher DLitt 2018
Ms C Gallagher MEd 1996
Sister Genevieve * DLitt 1988
Mr Terry George DLitt 2013
Mr Christopher Gibson DUniv 1999
Dr Alan Gillespie DUniv 2001
Dr J F Gillies * DSc 1985
Professor William Gillies DLitt 2006
Mr John Gilliland DSc 2007
The Hon Victoria Glendinning DLitt 1995
Mr Cathal Goan DLitt 2007
Reverend Harold Good DUniv 2008
Reverend Ken GoodDLitt2022
Sir Richard Greenbury * DSc 1993
Lady Sally Greengross DLitt 1994
Mr Harry Gregg * DUniv 2008
Lady Grey of Naunton * DLitt 1992
Miss M Grey DUniv 1999
Ms Orla Guerin DLitt 2009
Mr Suren Gupta DSc 2019
H
NameAwardYear
Sir John Habakkuk * DLitt 1988
Lord Hailsham of Marylebone* DLitt 1988
Reverend Professor James Haire DLitt 2006
Lady Brenda Hale LLD 2016
Lord Tony Hall DLitt 2018
Dr Alastair HamiltonDUniv2022
Sir George Hamilton LLD 2019
Sir Nigel Hamilton DUniv 2008
Dr Charles E Hamner DSc 1999
Mr Robert Hanna* DLitt 2002
Ms Janet Harbison DLitt 1999
Dame Joan Harbison * LLD 2005
Mr George Harkness * DUniv 2008
Dr Heather Harper DLitt 1991
Sir Martin Harris DLitt 2004
Mr Howard Hastings DSc 2011
Dr W G Hastings * DLitt 1986
Mr Philip Haughey DUniv 2005
Senator Maurice Hayes * DLitt 2003
Professor Seamus Heaney * DLitt 1992
Dr B Hegarty * DSc 1996
Professor J Hegarty DSc 2002
Ms Jackie HenryDSc2022
Senator Mary Henry DSc 1999
Mr Nick Hewer DSc 2014
Dr J Heylings DSc 1986
Mr Conleth Hill DLitt 2010
Professor Judith Hill DSc 2011
Mrs Sheelagh E Hillan DSc 2011
Sir James Hodge DLitt 2003
Mr David Holmes DLitt 2015
Mrs Margaret Holmes DUniv 1998
Dr Michael Holroyd DLitt 1992
Mr Tony Hopkins DUniv 2010
Dr B Hosking * DUniv 1996
Dr A N Howard DSc 1996
Ms Geraldine HughesDLitt2023
Mr John Hume * DUniv 1998
Mrs Pat Hume * LLD 2010
Mr David Humphreys DUniv 2003
Professor Chris Hunter DSc 2013
Mr John Hunter LLD 2019
Ms Betty Hutchon DSc 2016
Mr Michael Hutton DSc 2019
The Rt Hon Lord Hutton LLD 2004
I
NameAwardYear
Mr John Irvine DLitt 2017
Mr E Neville Isdell DSc 2007
J
NameAwardYear
Professor Mohammed Jalie DSc 2018
Dr K Jamison DLitt 1989
Professor A N Jeffares DLitt 1990
Mr Francis Jennings DSc 2006
Dr P Jennings DSc 1986
Dr P Joannon DLitt 2008
Dr Mike Johnston DSc 2013
Ms Marie Jones DLitt 2006
Crown Prince of Jordan DLitt 1996
Mr Eddie Jordan DUniv 2002
K
NameAwardYear
Father Myles Kavanagh DUniv 2004
Mr Fergal Keane DLitt 2014
Dr M N Keane DLitt 1989
Dame Geraldine Keegan DUniv 2006
Ms Claire Keatinge LLD 2016
Ms Kate Kelly DUniv 1998
Mrs Rosemary Kelly DLitt 2012
Mr Tom Kelly DUniv 2012
Mr Simon Kelner DLitt 2013
Mr Brian Kennedy DLitt 2006
Mr Kieran KennedyDSc2023
Lord Brian Kerr * LLD 2014
Mr Brendan KerrDSc2022
Dr E Kerr* DSc 1989
Sir Robert Kidd* DLitt 1985
Ms Nicky Kinnaird DSc 2014
The Hon Justice Michael Kirby DLitt 1998
Mr David Kirk DSc 2010
Professor N Kirkwood DSc 2009
Professor K Kyle DLitt 1998
Mrs M Kyle DUniv 2006
L
NameAwardYear
Mr Kevin Lagan DUniv 2005
His Holiness, The Dalai Lama DLitt 2000
President Harold Martin Lancaster DUniv 2005
Mr J C Lapsley MSc 1995
Dr Lim Khaik Leang DSc 1986
Mr John Leckey LLD 2015
Lord Lester of Herne Hill DLitt 1998
Dr Helen Lewis * DLitt 1993
Dr Martyn Lewis DLitt 1994
Mr Daniel Libeskind DFA 2009
Mr Gary Lightbody DLitt 2012
Sir Norman Lindop DSc 1994
Professor Alan Livingston DFA 2018
Mr Alan Logan DSc 2019
Mr Michael LongleyDFA2023
Sir Desmond Lorimer DSc 1987
Sir Gerry Loughran DLitt 2004
Ms Agnes LunnyDUniv2022
President Gerald Lynch LLD 2004
Ms Susan Lynch DLitt 2011
Mr James M Lyons LLD 2002
M
NameAwardYear
Monsignor Liam Mac an tSagairt * DLitt 2005
Professor Proinsias MacCana * DLitt 1991
Mr Tony Macaulay DLitt 2019
Dr H Maguire DLitt 1986
Dr L Mathurin Mair * DLitt 1995
Mr Tommy Makem * DLitt 2007
Mr Gerry Mallon DSc 2015
Dr Beverly Malone DSc 2005
The Very Reverend John Mann DLitt 2018
Mr Michael Mansfield LLD 2006
Mrs Anne Marks DSc 2015
Professor Ed Marram DLitt 2018
Mr James MartinDLitt2023
Mr Stephen Martin DUniv 2001
Baroness Masham of Ilton DSc 1990
The Lady Jean Mayhew DUniv 1998
The Rt Hon Sir John Megaw DSc 1990
Mr David Mehaffey EdD 1998
Rt Reverend Dr J Mehaffey * DLitt 1999
Dr Sally Milbury-Steen LLD 2013
Dr Syd Millar * DSc 1990
Senator George Mitchell DLitt 2006
Ms Lyn MoffettDUniv2023
Professor Denis Moloney LLD 2010
Dr Maria Moloney * DUniv 2006
Mr John Montague * DLitt 2009
Mr Brendan Mooney DSc 2013
George Moore * DSc 2005
Mr Richard Moore LLD 2011
Mr Christopher Moran LLD 2014
Dr Ivan Morrison DLitt 1992
Very Reverend Dr Trevor Morrow DLitt 2004
Reverend Dr John Morrow * DLitt 2006
Sir Brian Morton * DSc 1987
Reverend Dr William Morton DLitt 2018
Dr Jean Muir * DLitt 1987
Professor Paul Muldoon DLitt 2001
Ms Katie Mullan DSc 2019
Mrs Mary Mullan MSc 1993
Mr Raymond Mullan DUniv 2006
Mr T Wilfred Mulryne EdD 1998
Reverend Fredrick Munce DUniv 2003
Dame Iris Murdoch * DLitt 1993
Mr Danny Murphy * DSc 2012
Dr M H F Murphy DUniv 1995
Professor Patrick Murphy EdD 1998
Ms Anne Murray EdD 1998
Mc
NameAwardYear
Her Excellency, President Mary McAleese DLitt 2001
Ms Charlotte McArdleDSc2022
Dr Fergus McArdle EdD 1998
Dr J I McCabrey DSc 1994
Professor Eamon McCartan DUniv 2009
Dr W T McCarter DSc 1994
Dr T H McCartney DSc 1994
Mr Rhys McClenaghanDSc2023
Mr A McClure DUniv 1998
Lady Anne McCollum DLitt 2001
Mr Feargal McCormack DSc 2018
Inez McCormack * LLD 2013
Dr W J McCourt * DSc 1989
Mr AP McCoy DSc 2014
Mr Jim McCusker DUniv 2011
Mr Graeme McDowell DSc 2011
Major Thomas McDowell * DLitt 2001
Mr Bro McFerran DSc 2010
Mr Seamus McGarvey DFA 2015
Ms Lisa McGeeDFA2022
Mrs Aideen McGinley DUniv 1998
Mr B McGinnis DUniv 2008
Mr John McGinnis DUniv 2009
Dr J C McGough DSc 1987
Mr Harvey McGrath DUniv 2009
Mr Ewan McGregor DLitt 2001
Mr J R McGuigan * MSc 1996
The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuiness DLitt 1998
Mr Frank McGuinness DLitt 2000
Mrs F Jill McIvor * DUniv 1997
Sir Ian McKellen DLitt 2013
Susan McKenna-Lawlor DSc 2005
Mr Patrick McKillenDSc2022
Mr Andy McMorran DUniv 2012
Mr Desmond McMullan * DUniv 2000
Mr Peter McNaney LLD 2014
Ms Anne Marie McVickerDUniv2023
Mr Paul McWilliams DUniv 1998
N
NameAwardYear
Dr Martin Naughton DSc 2002
Lord Grey of Naunton * DLitt 1985 
Congressman Mr Richard Neal LLD 2019
The Rt Hon Sir Richard Needham LLD 2010
Dr J H Nelson * DLitt 1993
Mr James Nesbitt DLitt 2003
Professor Nancy Netzer DLitt 2000
Rabbi Julia Neuberger DSc 1994
Professor Howard Newby DLitt 1994
Sir Richard Nichols * LLD 2002
O
NameAwardYear
Padraig O Baoighill DLitt 2005
Dr G Max O'Brien DUniv 2005
Dr Miriam Hederman O'Brien * LLD 2002
Dr M V O'Brien * DSc 1995
Ms Miriam O'Callaghan DLitt 2011
Mr Dáithí O'Ceallaigh DLitt 2017
Proinsias O Conluain DLitt 2005
Brian Damian O'Connor DUniv 2005
Mr Tim O'Connor LLD 2009
Dr S O'Dwyer DLitt 1997
Mr PJ O'Grady DUniv 2012
Mr Len O'Hagan DSc 2011
Miss Kate O'Hanlon DSc 2009
Dr D O'Hare DSc 1994
William Gerard O'Hare DLitt 2004
Sister Michelle O'Leary * DUniv 2003
Dame Nuala O'Loan LLD 2008
The Baroness O'Neill DLitt 2003
Mr Martin O'Neill DSc 2017
Mr Michael O'Neill Dsc 2017
Ms Sally O'Neill * LLD 2017
Mr Thomas P O'Neill III LLD 2015
Sir Hugh Orde LLD 2010
Mr David Orr DSc 2017
Commissioner Nóirin O'Sullivan LLD 2015
P
NameAwardYear
Dr T F D Pakenham DLitt 1993
Dr John Parker DSc 1992
Dr John Parkes DLitt 1991
Mr Richard Parkes DLitt 2019
Ms Sandra Peake DSc 2016
Ms Nancy PelosiLLD2023
Professor Hildegard E Peplau * DSc 1994
Mrs Rosemary Peters-Gallagher DSc 2016
Miss Oonah Pim * DUniv 2003
Professor Robert Pinker * LLD 2016
Dr G Player DSc 1997
Ms Martha Pope LLD 2019
Mr J Poston DUniv 1999
Rt Reverend Dr S G Poyntz DLitt 1995
Baroness Usha Prashar LLD 2000
Ms Jenny PyperDUniv2022
Q
NameAwardYear
Sir George Quigley * DUniv 1998
Mr Peter Quinn DUniv 2004
R
NameAwardYear
Mr Sean RaffertyDLitt2023
Lord Diljit Rana DUniv 1999
Sir Desmond Rea LLD 2010
Mr Jonathan Rea DSc 2018
Stephen Rea DLitt 2004
Professor Lesley Rees DSc 1994
Father Alec Reid* DUniv 2008
Dr W A Reynolds DSc 1996
Dr B L Riley DLitt 1986
Professor Dame Janet Ritterman DLitt 2004
Professor Sir Gareth Roberts * DSc 2003
Dr G Robinson * DLitt 1997
Dr J Rocha DLitt 1994
Mr Jim RoddyDUniv2022
Mr Brendan Rodgers DSc 2014
Mr Patsy Dan Rodgers * MUniv 1997
Rt Hon The Lord Jenkin Roding DSc 2001
Mr Jay Roewe DLitt 2019
Dr R D Rolston * DSc 1993
Ambassador Daniel Rooney  * LLD 2013
Mr Denis Rooney DSc 2010
Mr Robin Ruddock DSc 2016
Dr Louden Ryan DSc 1990
Mr Michael Ryan DSc 2015
S
NameAwardYear
Justice Albie Sachs LLD 2008
Professor Peter Sachs DSc 2017
Mrs Olive Sayliss EdD 1998
Dr R L Schierbeek * DSc 1986
Mr Joe Schmidt DSc 2016
Professor Martha Schwartz DSc 2007
Professor John Scott * DSc 2004
Sir Peter Scott * DSc 1987
Ms Zoe Seaton DFA 2018
Dr S Semple * DUniv 1997
Mr John ShielsDSc2022
Professor Elizabeth Shannon DUniv 1998
Mr Feargal Sharkey DLitt 2010
Professor Noel Sharkey DSc 2006
Fiona Shaw DLitt 2004
Reverend William Alexander Shaw LLD 2015
Ms Clare Short LLD 2009
Dr Anthony Shriver LLD 2003
Mr Richard Simms DSc 2017
The Very Reverend Dr Thomas Simpson * DLitt 1992
Mrs R Skeffington MEd 1996
Mr Joe Sloan DSc 2013
Mr Paul Smith DSc 2012
Mrs Janice Smyth DSc 2015
Mrs Joan Smyth LLD 2000
Dr Seamus Smyth DUniv 2004
Dr John Spence DSc 1991
Professor Roy Spence LLD 2009
Dr Stephen Spinelli DLitt 2016
Professor Dr Ing Johannes Steinbrunn Dsc 2008
Professor G Steiner DLitt 1993
Mr Gerry Storey DSc 2015
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi LLD 2009
Ms Ingrid Surgenor DLitt 2018
Dr Helen Suzman * DLitt 1990
Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer * DSc 1991
T
NameAwardYear
Mrs Ann Tate DUniv 2007
Sir William Taylor DUniv 2000
Dr G Thompson * DLitt 1987
Dr N R Todd MSc 1996
Mr William Todd DSc 2000
Ms Maire ThompsonDUniv2022
Mr Colm Tóibín DLitt 2008
Mr Harry Toner * MUniv 2000
Dr Yan Pascal Tortelier DLitt 1992
Sr Mary Turley DUniv 2016
Mr Martyn Turner DUniv 1998
His Grace, The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu LLD 2007
V
NameAwardYear
Lord Vallance of Tummel DSc 1992
Mr Foy Vance DLitt 2017
Ambassador Melanne Verveer LLD 2013
William Vincent LLD 2005
W
NameAwardYear
Sir Christopher Walford LLD 2000
Dr A S Walsh DSc 1988
Dr E Walsh DSc 1997
Professor E T S Walton * DSc 1988
Dr Margaret Ward LLD 2014
Baroness Mary Warnock DUniv 2005
Ms Elaine Way LLD 2018
The Hon Sir Ronnie Weatherup LLD 2014
Ms Karen WeekesDSc2022
Lord Weinstock of Bowden * DSc 1987
Ms Maureen Wheeler DLitt 2001
Dr Roger Whitehead DSc 2000
Dr Susan Whoriskey DSc 2012
Professor Myles Wickstead LLD 2011
Professor Robin Williams DSc 2003
Dr David Williamson DSc 1990
Baroness Williams of Crosby DLitt 1997
Dr W B Wilson DSc 1988
Ms Monica Wilson LLD 2001
Mr Bill Wolsey DSc 2011
Mr M A Wood MSc 1994
His Excellency James Wright DUniv 2008
Mr William Wright DSc 2009
Y
NameAwardYear
Dr Priscilla Young DLitt 1987
Mr Patrick Yu LLD 2017

In this section

Guidance for nominators

The Honorary Degrees Committee has asked that in submitting nominations for honorary degrees, should conform with the arrangements set out below.