Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate
Doctor Who Star Ncuti Gatwa to Receive Honorary Doctorate
The University of Glasgow will honor Ncuti Gatwa, known for his role as the Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series, along with Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian, during its upcoming ceremonies. These events, scheduled for June, will also recognize BBC journalist Sarah Smith and her sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, who serves as the Advocate General for Scotland.
Anniversary Celebration and Honorary Degrees
The university’s special Commemoration Day ceremony on 17 June will commemorate its 575th anniversary, tracing its origins back to 1451. This event will feature the first honorary degrees of the year, alongside other recipients such as musicians Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader, who will be honored at both summer and winter graduation events.
Baroness Catherine Smith, who studied history at the university and was appointed to her role in 2024, will share the honor with Sarah Smith, the BBC’s North America editor. Gatwa, who portrayed the Doctor for two seasons, will be awarded a Doctor of the University, as will Murdoch, who has led Belle & Sebastian since the 1990s, receiving a Doctor of Music.
Additional honorary degrees will be conferred on Prof Guido Tabellini, a political economics chair at Bocconi University, and Dr Stuart Campbell, an emeritus professor at King’s College London. The university emphasized that these honors aim to acknowledge individuals whose contributions have shaped their fields and society.
“Honorary degrees give us the opportunity to recognize individuals whose achievements have had a profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society,” said Prof Andy Schofield, the principal and vice chancellor. “Their work embodies values that continue to inspire our community. I am delighted to welcome our honorary graduates into the University of Glasgow community at such a significant milestone, and to celebrate them alongside our graduating students.”
