Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate
Doctor Who Actor and Belle & Sebastian Singer to Receive Honorary Degrees
The University of Glasgow will bestow honorary degrees upon Ncuti Gatwa, known for his role as the Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series, and Stuart Murdoch, frontman of the indie-pop band Belle & Sebastian, later this year. The event will take place during a ceremony in June, which will also honor BBC journalist Sarah Smith and her younger sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, the Advocate General for Scotland.
Recognition of Impact and Contributions
The university highlighted that these individuals were chosen for their “profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society.” Additionally, the honours will extend to other notable figures, including musicians Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader, as well as Professor Guido Tabellini and Dr Stuart Campbell.
“Commemoration Day offers us a chance to reflect on our extraordinary history,” said Prof Andy Schofield, the university’s principal and vice chancellor. “Honorary degrees allow us to celebrate those whose achievements have left a lasting and beneficial mark on their fields and the broader community. Their work continues to inspire our collective values, and I am pleased to welcome them into the Glasgow academic family at this historic moment.”
The inaugural ceremony will occur on Wednesday, June 17, marking the 575th anniversary of the university’s founding in 1451. Gatwa, who portrayed the Doctor for two seasons, will be awarded a Doctor of the University title, as will Sarah Smith, the BBC’s North America editor. Baroness Catherine Smith, who earned her history degree at Glasgow and was appointed Advocate General in 2024, will share the same distinction. Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, will also receive a Doctor of the University honour.
Stuart Murdoch, whose career with Belle & Sebastian spans over two decades, will be conferred a Doctor of Music. Meanwhile, Professor Guido Tabellini, a political economics expert at Bocconi University, will gain a Doctor of Letters, and Dr Stuart Campbell, an emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at King’s College London, will be granted a Doctor of Science.
