Honorary Doctorate Award

Honoris Causa Doctorate (Ph.D./ D.Sc./ D.Litt./ LLD)

An honorary doctoral award is often bestowed in recognition of an individual’s life experiences. It is denoted by the letters “h.c.,” an abbreviation for “Honoris causa” (Latin for “for the sake of the honor”). This degree is conferred as an honor rather than through the completion of academic requirements. Recipients of this title often do not have any prior connection to the awarding institution.

Categories for Applying for an Honorary Doctorate

The honorary doctorate can be awarded in various fields, including:

  • Commerce
  • Business Administration/Management (all streams)
  • Marketing/Finance/Human Resources
  • Education
  • Law
  • Humanities
  • Social Science (all streams)
  • Languages (all streams)
  • Sports
  • Physical Education
  • Interior Design/Architecture
  • Informatics
  • Oriental Languages
  • Engineering & Technology/Construction Management
  • Information Technology
  • Dowsing
  • Astrology
  • Graphology
  • Palmistry
  • Feng Shui
  • Numerology
  • Tarot
  • Reiki
  • Vastu
  • Gemology
  • Crystal Remedy
  • Spirituality
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Oriental Medicine
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage Therapy
  • Wellness & Spa
  • Naturopathy
  • Ayurveda
  • Yoga
  • Dietetics & Nutrition
  • and more (50+ categories)

Application Process

  • Interested candidates should fill out the Nomination form and attach their CV, ID proof, qualification certificates, and proof of current experience.
  • Send these documents to belgavehr@gmail.com
  • After receiving the nomination, the BEPL team will have a confirmation call with the respective nominee
  • Upon confirmation, the BEPL team will forward the nominee's portfolio to the Doctoral Committee for final verification
  • After receiving confirmation from the Doctoral Committee, the respective candidate must provide their acceptance via a confirmation email.
  • Nomination charges apply only after selection.

General FAQs

  • An honorary doctorate is a high-level academic recognition granted by a university to a recipient without the completion of the normal requirements for that degree.
  • Universities grant them to honor the recipient and benefit from the association.
  • Recipients may sometimes have no prior relationship with the university, no formal higher education, and no prior degrees, though they may occasionally have substantial education and other doctorates.
  • A regular doctorate can be used for academic advancement, such as pursuing a higher degree like Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) or Doctor of Science (D.Sc), or for postdoctoral research (PDF).
  • An honorary doctorate, on the other hand, is a status symbol and cannot be used for promotions, salary increments, or other formal academic advancements.

Yes, it is fully legal worldwide. It can even be apostilled like any regular degree. The title should be used as follows, for example:

  • Dr. Kumar, Ph.D. (hc)
  • Dr. (hc) Kumar

The abbreviation "hc" stands for Honoris Causa, meaning "for the sake of honor."

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  • Yes, for the degree to be legal, the university should be recognized by the government of the country in which it is chartered.

Generally, the answer is "No" due to restrictions by the government. Some universities may require a refundable deposit for this verification, as the information can be sensitive and potentially misused.

A legitimate university should offer both honorary and regular degrees with a standard international curriculum. It should also have an examination system and a library that meets international standards.

The university may grant honorary doctorates to raise funds for charity and to cover research and development expenses. Details can often be found on the university's website.

Yes, the university may collect a processing charge to cover the expenses of organizing a public function and providing extensive press coverage for the awardees.

Many awardees prefer to keep their recognition confidential and personal. However, information about awardees can often be found on the university's website, and videos of award functions may be available on YouTube. Most awardees receive their awards from a Chief Guest.

The recognition of the university by the local government in your country is not required. Once the degree is legalized (Apostilled), it becomes valid and legal in all countries.

The Board of the Academic Area typically appoints honorary doctorates. This authority can also be delegated to the Vice-Chancellor.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is primarily a funding agency and does not regulate international universities. In India, foreign degrees are evaluated by the Association of Indian Universities, but they are not currently evaluating Ph.D.-level international university degrees. Globally, universities are categorized as:

  • Government Universities
  • Private Universities

The University Honorary Degrees Committee reviews all nominations and recommends distinguished individuals to the Vice-Chancellor and the Board of Trustees, who are responsible for awarding the degrees.

No, the honorary degree is a physical certificate mailed to you in a cushioned or cardboard envelope.

Yes, the honorary degrees bear the date of award (the date on which you requested your honorary degree). If you prefer that your degree is not dated, please mention this in the "Notes" section during the order process. The presence or absence of a date does not affect the validity of the certificate.

Yes, the university can provide verification upon request.

Degrees can be awarded in the following fields:

  • Commerce
  • Business Administration/Management (all streams)
  • Marketing/Finance/Human Resources
  • Education
  • Law
  • Humanities
  • Social Science (all streams)
  • Languages (all streams)
  • Sports
  • Physical Education
  • Interior Design/Architecture
  • Informatics
  • Oriental Languages
  • Engineering & Technology/Construction Management
  • Information Technology
  • Dowsing
  • Astrology
  • Graphology
  • Palmistry
  • Feng Shui
  • Numerology
  • Tarot
  • Reiki
  • Vastu
  • Gemology
  • Crystal Remedy
  • Spirituality
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Oriental Medicine
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage Therapy
  • Wellness & Spa
  • Naturopathy
  • Ayurveda
  • Yoga
  • Dietetics & Nutrition
  • and more (50+ categories)
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Previous Honorary Doctorate Award Ceremony