Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate

Doctor Who Star Ncuti Gatwa to Be Honored with Honorary Degree

The University of Glasgow will confer honorary degrees to several notable figures, including Ncuti Gatwa, the actor who portrayed the Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series, and Stuart Murdoch, lead singer of Belle and Sebastian, later this year. The event will take place during a ceremony on Wednesday, 17 June, celebrating the institution’s 575th anniversary since its founding in 1451.

Among the recipients, BBC journalist Sarah Smith and her younger sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, will also be honored. The latter, who studied history at Glasgow and was appointed Advocate General for Scotland in 2024, is set to receive the same distinction as her sibling. Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, will be granted an honorary degree as well.

Additional Honorees and Academic Recognition

Other notable individuals include musicians Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader, whose contributions to music will be acknowledged. Stuart Murdoch, who has led Belle & Sebastian since the 1990s, will earn a Doctor of Music title. The university will also award a Doctor of Letters to Professor Guido Tabellini, a political economics expert at Bocconi University, and a Doctor of Science to Dr Stuart Campbell, an emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at King’s College London.

“Commemoration Day offers us a chance to reflect on our rich history,” said Prof Andy Schofield, the principal and vice chancellor of the University of Glasgow. “Honorary degrees allow us to recognize those whose work has made a meaningful difference in their fields and beyond. Their achievements embody values that continue to inspire our community. I am pleased to welcome these honorary graduates into the Glasgow community at this historic milestone and to celebrate them with our graduates.”