Nominations Open for 2025 Honorary Graduates

Nominations for honorary graduates to be recognised by the University of Suffolk during the 2025 graduation ceremonies are now open and members of the public can put forward their ideas for who should be honoured.

Each year the University confers a number of honorary degrees to extraordinary people in the community or well-known public figures to celebrate their achievements. 

In 2024, the honorary graduates celebrated during the University’s graduation week were Ipswich Town Football Club’s double promotion winning manager Kieran McKenna, historian Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, Olympian and Broomhill Lido champion Michael Read MBE, chair of BSC Multicultural Services Boshor Ali and Chair of Healthwatch England and the Royal College of Physicians David Croisdale-Appleby MBE.

Other well-known local figures who have received honorary degrees from the University in previous years include dialect expert Charlie Haylock, CEO of Rural Coffee Caravan Ann Osborn BEM, former BBC Radio Suffolk presenters Mark Murphy MBE and Stephen Foster, singers Nik Kershaw, Ed Sheeran MBE and singer and actress Kerry Ellis.

Nominations can be submitted online via the University of Suffolk website before the Monday 31 March deadline.

Anyone can make a nomination outlining why they believe an individual should be awarded with an honorary doctorate.

The University of Suffolk is looking to celebrate individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievement or distinction in the following: 
 
•    Their contribution to the educational or cultural wellbeing of society or to business, industry or enterprise; 
•    For academic distinction or services to academic disciplines of particular interest to the University; 
•    For public or community service that exceeds professional or job requirements; 
•    Achievement in the face of disadvantage; 
•    For an exceptional contribution to the University. 
 
Honorary awards will not normally be conferred on serving politicians, a serving or retired member of the University governing body or the governing body of a partner college, or an employee of the University or partner colleges. 

Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the University of Suffolk, said: “Awarding honorary awards at our annual graduation ceremonies gives the University of Suffolk the chance to celebrate the richness and diversity of our wider relationships.

“We welcome nominations from anyone and those that are selected will be honoured in our graduation ceremonies.”

Nominations can be submitted by completing the form online here: Honorary Graduates and Fellows | University of Suffolk

Nominations are strictly confidential and those submitting a form should not approach or discuss their intention with the people they are looking to nominate.