
Our Honorary Graduate Community
“I am delighted that this honour should come from my favourite English city, and only a few miles from where I was born in Weston-Super-Mare. The University was founded just as I began my career as a writer, and its psychology department has an outstanding reputation for research and teaching.”
John Cleese, honorary degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology.
Over the last 50 years, we have expanded and enriched our university community by recognising hundreds of remarkable men and women with an honorary degree. From Sir Ian McKellen to Sir Terry Pratchett and Sir David Attenborough, it’s the highest possible recognition we can provide.
John Cleese is one of our recent honorary graduates, receiving his award at our summer graduations in July. He was in good company, joining an impressive list of new hon grads – take a look at the names below.
There’ll be plenty more to come. Over our anniversary year we’ll be welcoming around 50 more at a raft of events and ceremonies. Watch this space for news!
Sir Bobby Charlton CBE – Doctor of Laws
Dr Randal L Newcomb – Doctor of Laws
Lord Foster of Bath – Doctor of Laws
John Cleese – Doctor Clinical Psychology
Stephen Kelly – Doctor of Business Administration
Elizabeth Bingham OBE – Doctor of Laws
Kirit Patel MBE – Doctor of Business Administration
David Medlock – Doctor of Engineering
Dr Fiona Marshall – Doctor of Science
Professor Massimo Banzi – Doctor of Education
Dr Michael Painting – Doctor of Music
Neelie Kroes – Doctor of Laws
Roger Whorrod OBE – Doctor of Engineering
Sue Whorrod – Doctor of Health
Professor Uta Frith – Doctor of Science
Professor Kevin Edge – Doctor of Engineering
Professor Philip Power FRS – Doctor of Science
Sir Anthony Seldon – Doctor of Letters
Professor Michele Aresta – Doctor of Engineering
Professor Scott Barrett – Doctor of Laws
Professor Kaushik Basu – Doctor of Laws
David Constantine MBE – Doctor of Engineering
Baroness Catherine Ashton – Doctor of Laws
Jenson Button MBE – Doctor of Engineering
Dame Jilian Matheson – Doctor of Science
Professor David Nutt – Doctor of Laws
Paul Polman – Doctor of Laws