Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate

Doctor Who Star Ncuti Gatwa Honored with University of Glasgow Doctorate

Later this year, the University of Glasgow will present honorary doctorates to notable figures, including Ncuti Gatwa, who gained fame as the Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series, and Stuart Murdoch, lead singer of Belle and Sebastian. Additional recipients of this academic recognition will be announced for the June ceremony, featuring BBC journalist Sarah Smith and her sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, who holds the position of Advocate General for Scotland.

The university emphasized that these individuals were chosen for their “profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society.” The honorary degrees will also be awarded during the summer and winter graduation events, with other honorees including musicians Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader.

Commemoration Day Ceremony Marks 575th Anniversary

The first honorary degrees will be conferred at a special Commemoration Day event on Wednesday, 17 June, commemorating the 575th year since the university’s establishment in 1451. Gatwa, who portrayed the Doctor in the series for two seasons, will be granted a Doctor of the University title. Sarah Smith, the BBC’s North America editor, will also receive the same honor.

Baroness Catherine Smith, a graduate of the university’s history program and appointed to her role in 2024, will be recognized alongside Jacqueline McLaren, Glasgow’s Lord Provost. Stuart Murdoch, who has led Belle & Sebastian since the 1990s, will be awarded a Doctor of Music.

“Commemoration Day offers us a chance to reflect on our remarkable history,” said Prof Andy Schofield, the university’s principal and vice chancellor. “Honorary degrees enable us to celebrate those whose achievements have made a significant and inspiring contribution to their fields and society at large. Their work continues to shape the values we uphold as a community.”