Honorary Graduates
Every year, during our graduation ceremonies, we bestow honorary doctorates on people who have made an outstanding contribution to their field, the region or the University.
Here are some of the famous names who have received honorary doctorates from Birmingham City University. Click here for a full-list of all of our honorary doctorates. To make a nomination click here.
Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg is a familiar face on British television as editor and presenter of The South Bank Show, and an award-winning author of both fiction and non-fiction. He is also the Honorary President of the National Academy of Writing, which has its home at Birmingham City University.
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Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the first man to visit both the north and south poles by land and in 2009, at the age of 65, became the oldest British man to climb Mount Everest. His expeditions have raised more than £5 million for charity.
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Antony Gormley
Sculptor Antony Gormley is most famous for the Angel of the North, a public sculpture overlooking the A1 in Gateshead. Other works include Another Place, which stands on Crosby Beach near Liverpool, and Iron Man in Victoria Square, Birmingham. He won the Turner Prize in 1994.
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Roy Hattersley
Former MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook Roy Hattersley was Deputy Leader of the Labour party between 1983 and 1992, and also had a successful career in journalism. Following his retirement from politics in 1993, he was made a life peer as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook.
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Bruce Oldfield
Bruce Oldfield is a fashion designer whose clients include Hollywood actresses, and British and international royalty. He is best known for his couture occasion-wear. He was awarded the OBE for services to fashion and industry in 1990.
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Jonathon Porritt
Jonathon Porritt is an environmentalist and writer who has been a prominent campaigner for ‘green’ issues since the 1970s. He is a long-serving member of the Green Party (formerly the Ecology Party) and was also Director of Friends of the Earth between 1984 and 1990.
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Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman is the best-selling author of His Dark Materials, a trilogy of fantasy novels, and several other books. He was named one of the 50 greatest post-war British writers by the Times, and was awarded a CBE in the 2004 New Year’s Honours List.
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Dr John Sentamu
Now serving as the 97th Archbishop of York, the second highest ranking bishop in the Church of England, Dr John Sentamu was Bishop of Birmingham between 2002 and 2005. During this time he supported workers affected by the Rover car plant closure and campaigned against guns, knives, drugs and gangs.
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Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is an award-winning stand-up comedian and TV presenter. His successful shows include Fantasy Football League, Skinner and Baddiel Unplanned and The Frank Skinner Show. He is also an alumnus of Birmingham City University, having graduated from Birmingham Polytechnic in 1981.
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Toyah Willcox
Birmingham-born Toyah Willcox is an actress and singer who enjoyed a string of hits in the 1980s with her band, Toyah. She also starred in a number of feature films, including Jubilee and Quadrophenia, and more recently has worked as a TV and radio presenter.
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Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah is a Birmingham-born writer and dub poet who was included in the Times list of the 50 greatest post-war British writers. His first book of poetry, Pen Rhythm, appeared in 1980. He has worked extensively with human and animal rights organisations.
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