Honorary Degrees

UPDATE REGARDING UBC GRADUATION

In response to the evolving nature of COVID-19, and provincial directives regarding events and mass gatherings, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the in-person Spring 2020 Graduation ceremonies until it is safe to bring our communities together again. We will also hold a virtual graduation ceremony online. Planning for both the traditional and virtual ceremonies is underway; we will provide updates on this website as details, format, date and time, are confirmed.

FAQs about graduation are available on the relevant campus site: UBC Vancouver | UBC Okanagan

Further information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and UBC’s response is available at https://covid19.ubc.ca/.

Honorary Degrees

Honorary degrees are conferred on deserving individuals who have made substantial contributions to society, such as:

Leading academics in all disciplines and creative minds in arts and performance;
Public intellectuals and opinion makers;
Visionary leaders and exemplary public figures;
Community builders and philanthropists.

Honorary degrees are conferred honoris causa, “for the sake of honour,” and are awarded as one of three types: Doctor of Laws, honoris causa; Doctor of Letters, honoris causa; and Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

Learn more about the nomination process and criteria from the UBC Senate

Watch the awarding of recent honorary degrees on UBC Ceremonies’ YouTube channel

Find the complete list of Honorary Degrees conferred by UBC in the University Library Archives

See the 2019 Honorary Degree Recipients

2019 Honorary Degree Recipients

Dr. Leona Sparrow

UBC Vancouver 2019 Spring Honorary Degree Recipient
Dr. Ian Hanomansing

UBC Vancouver 2019 Spring Honorary Degree Recipient
Dr. William H. New, O.C.

UBC Vancouver 2019 Spring Honorary Degree Recipient

UPDATE REGARDING UBC GRADUATION

Dr. Leona Sparrow

Dr. Ian Hanomansing

Dr. William H. New, O.C.