Canadian icon Leonard Cohen had one. Comedy legend Eugene Levy has one, too. It’s something they share in common with activist Angela Davis, painter Authur Lismer, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), multiple prime ministers, and hundreds of scholars, scientists, artists, and leaders from politics, business, and in their communities.
All are recipients of an honorary degree from Dalhousie University.
Honorary degrees are the highest honour a university can bestow. They complement the degrees students earn through academic study by recognizing individuals for their broader contributions to society at large. Dalhousie presented its first honorary degrees in 1892, more than 130 years ago, and ever since they have become part of the fabric of the university’s annual Convocation celebrations.
“Each honorary degree we award tells a story about the kind of leadership and contribution we value as a university,” says President Kim Brooks, who chairs the Senate committee responsible for reviewing and recommending honorary degree recipients. “These individuals inspire our community to imagine and bring to life the difference they can make in the world.”
Though nominations for honorary degree recipients can be submitted at any time, the university issues a call for potential candidates each year. One of those is underway right now, with a deadline of April 1.
Perhaps you’ve thought of nominating someone for an honorary degree in the past. Maybe you’ve never considered it before and are curious to learn more. Here’s a quick overview of how the process works — it might be simpler than you think!
Who decides who receives an honorary degree?
The Dalhousie Senate, the university’s senior academic decision-making body.
Senate makes decisions for honorary degrees based on recommendations from the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee. The committee is chaired by the President, and its membership includes representatives from each Faculty along with students, the Board of Governors, and the Dalhousie Alumni Association.
What makes someone deserving of an honorary degree?
According to the Honorary Degree Committee’s terms of reference, Dalhousie looks to recognize individuals whose accomplishments and achievements will inspire graduates and who reflect the character and values of the university. More specifically, honorary degree recipients should embody one (or more) of the following criteria:
- Inspirational leadership in, or service to, society.
- Outstanding contributions to, or leadership in, a field or discipline of study or a non-academic area of achievement.
- A significant pattern of outstanding achievement at, or contributions to, Dalhousie University.
Particular consideration is given to candidates who have not yet been widely recognized but merit such recognition. And every effort is made to select candidates who reflect Canadian society and Dal’s commitment to diversity.
As for who is not eligible for an honorary degree, it’s a short list: current faculty, staff, and students; current Board members; and individuals who are currently active in Canadian political life (with some exceptions for individuals in non-partisan capacities). Recipients also have to still be living; only in exceptional circumstances does the university grant honorary degrees posthumously.
What degree is an honorary degree, anyways?
It is a Doctor of Laws (LLD), awarded “for outstanding achievement or leadership in a field, discipline of study, or non‐academic endeavour or for exceptional service to the university or the community at large.”
Who can nominate someone for an honorary degree?
You! Yes, you! The university welcomes applications from across the Dal community and beyond. In most cases, nominations are typically submitted by faculty, staff, and students, but alumni and community members can submit nominations as well.
What do I need to nominate someone?
If you’re looking to nominate an individual for an honorary degree, you’re going to be putting together a short application with a few key pieces of information:
- Basic contact and biographical info for the individual
- A written summary of the nominee’s background, contributions and achievements, outlining why they’re a worthy honouree.
- A CV (curriculum vitae) or detailed biography of the individual
- A listing of relevant publications or articles (by or about the nominee)
- 2-4 confidential letters of support
- Your contact information as the nominator
When do I need to submit a nomination by?
Nominations are accepted anytime, but the committee has a current call for nominations out that concludes on April 1, 2026.
How long will it take for my application to be considered?
The Senate Honorary Degree Committee meets annually to review, consider, and recommend candidates for honorary degrees. It then moves its recommendations forward to the full Senate for a vote, held in camera (private) to keep the outcome confidential until it can be properly announced and celebrated.
Once Senate has approved someone to receive an honorary degree, that presentation could happen as early as the next available Convocation ceremony (spring or fall). But it can take longer, and sometimes it doesn’t end up happening at all! Some individuals decline the honour for a variety of reasons, the most common being scheduling: outside of exceptional circumstances, the recipient has to accept the honour in person at Convocation. This is also why, for some individuals, it can take a while to line up a particular spring or fall when they are available to travel to Halifax to receive their degree.
How do I find out who’s already received an honorary degree from Dalhousie?
You can review the full list of recipients — all the way back to 1892 — on the Convocation website.
How do I get started?
Review the honorary degree nomination process and, if you’re ready to put a submission together, email senate@dal.ca to request the Honorary Degree Nomination form.