What Is an Honorary Professorship? How It’s Different From an Honorary Doctorate

What Is an Honorary Doctorate?

An honorary doctorate — formally known as honoris causa (Latin for “for the sake of honor”) — is a recognition conferred by an academic institution to acknowledge distinguished achievement, leadership, service, or professional contribution. Unlike an earned doctorate, it does not require coursework, examinations, or a dissertation.

Key Characteristics of an Honorary Doctorate

• Recognition type: Honorary academic distinction
• Basis for award: Achievement, leadership, service, or contribution
• Academic study required: No conventional doctoral program
• Application method: Profile and supporting evidence review
• Formal designation: Often abbreviated as “Hon.” or “(h.c.)” after the degree name

The honorary doctorate acknowledges a recipient’s documented body of work and impact. Requirements, review standards, award terms, and title conventions depend on the awarding organization and applicable local regulations.

What Honorary Doctorates Are NOT

According to the National Council for Higher Education, honorary doctorate degrees cannot be designated as qualifications because they lack clearly defined learning outcomes, approved learning programs, and set assessment protocols. They are ceremonial awards conferred after assessing the impact of an individual’s contributions.

What Is an Honorary Professorship?

An honorary professorship is a title conferred upon an individual in recognition of their special contribution to the subject areas associated with a faculty’s academic activities. Unlike an earned professorship, which represents the highest academic rank achieved through scholarly achievement and rigorous assessment, an honorary professorship recognizes professional knowledge, leadership, teaching, research, or public contribution.

Key Characteristics of an Honorary Professorship

• Recognition type: Honorary academic title
• Basis for award: Professional expertise, contribution, or leadership
• Employment relationship: Honorary professors are not university staff or employees
• Term: Often limited (typically 3-5 years), subject to renewal
• Formal designation: “Honorary Professor” or “Prof. (Hon.)”

How Universities Define Honorary Professorships

Different institutions have varying approaches to honorary professorships. At Loughborough University, for example, the title of Honorary Distinguished Professor represents the highest honorary academic position, awarded to individuals of professorial standing or those with recognized national and international eminence in their field. These appointments typically span five years and may be renewed.

Imperial College London offers a range of honorary titles including Honorary Practice Fellow, conferred on executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, or experts whose connection to the university is considered appropriate. These positions are non-remunerated and awarded for renewable three-year periods.

The Purpose of Honorary Professorships

Honorary professorships serve to:

1. Associate distinguished individuals with an academic institution
2. Recognize professional expertise that complements academic activities
3. Facilitate knowledge exchange between industry and academia
4. Enable teaching, research, or advisory contributions without employment obligations

The Critical Differences: Honorary Doctorate vs. Honorary Professorship

While both titles represent forms of recognition, they differ in several fundamental ways.

1. Nature of Recognition

2. Academic vs. Professional Foundation

An honorary doctorate recognizes what you have accomplished in your career or life’s work. It is often awarded to individuals whose contributions extend beyond a single field.

An honorary professorship recognizes what you know and can contribute to a specific academic discipline or faculty. It typically requires demonstrable expertise relevant to the institution’s teaching or research mission.

3. Term and Duration

Honorary doctorates are typically permanent recognitions — once conferred, they remain part of a recipient’s record of honors.

Honorary professorships, by contrast, are usually time-limited appointments. At the University of Reading, honorary status is reviewed at intervals no longer than three years. Loughborough University appoints Honorary Distinguished Professors for five-year terms. Imperial College London awards Honorary Practice Fellowships for renewable three-year periods.

4. Employment Relationship

Neither title creates an employment relationship. However, honorary professors often have more structured expectations regarding their association with the institution. Loughborough University explicitly states that “there is no remuneration attached to the post, although expenses are allowable.”

The University of Reading clarifies that “an honorary appointment is not a contract of employment and honorary appointments will not receive any remuneration for work they undertake in their honorary capacity.”

The Problem of Title Misuse: What You Need to Know

One of the most significant issues surrounding honorary titles is the question of how recipients should present themselves. This is where serious legal and ethical concerns arise.

The “Dr.” Title Question

According to guidelines from multiple national education authorities, recipients of honorary doctorates are generally not permitted to use “Dr.” before their names in a way that suggests an earned academic qualification.

The National Council for Higher Education states unequivocally: “For anyone awarded with an honorary doctorate, the recipient of the award should not address himself/herself as ‘Doctor’.”

In India, University Grants Commission guidelines indicate that if the title is used at all, it should be clarified with terms such as “(Honoris Causa)” or “(Hon.)”.

The “Prof.” Title Question

Similarly, recipients of honorary professorships face restrictions on title use. The National Council for Higher Education advises that honorary professorships should not be used as if they represent academic rank.

As one commentary notes: “It is improper for someone to sign off as ‘Prof Emmanuel Tumwebaze’ courtesy of an honorary professorship.”

Regulatory Warnings and Enforcement

Several countries have taken active steps to enforce proper title usage:

Why This Matters

The misuse of honorary titles undermines public trust in higher education. As the Council on Higher Education in South Africa notes: “Growing instances of honorary titleholders insisting on being addressed as ‘Doctor’ or ‘Professor’ blur the distinctions between earned and honorary status, potentially undermining the credibility of higher education.”

How to Use Honorary Titles Responsibly

If you receive an honorary doctorate or honorary professorship, here is how to present it appropriately:

For Honorary Doctorate Recipients

1. List it as an honor, not a qualification: Place it under “Awards and Honors” on your CV, not under “Education”
2. Use clarifying notation: If referencing the title, use “Dr. (Hon.)” or include “(Honoris Causa)”
3. Never claim professional authority: Do not use the title to suggest you can practice medicine, law, or other regulated professions
4. Be transparent in professional settings: When introducing yourself formally, clarify the honorary nature if relevant

For Honorary Professorship Recipients

1. Specify the institution: Use “Honorary Professor at [Institution]” rather than simply “Prof.”
2. Respect term limits: If your appointment has expired or been revoked, cease using the title
3. Avoid implying employment: Do not suggest you are faculty or staff of the institution
4. Check local regulations: Some jurisdictions prohibit the use of honorary professorial titles entirely

How to Apply for Honorary Recognition

The process for obtaining honorary recognition differs from traditional academic applications. It is based on a documented professional profile rather than academic coursework.

Step 1: Submit Your Profile

Complete an online application form and provide a comprehensive professional profile with supporting evidence. Commonly requested materials include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Professional biography
• Evidence of achievements
• Awards and recognitions
• Publications or media coverage
• References
• Documentation of service or contribution

Step 2: Independent Profile Review

The reviewing organization assesses your submission against its criteria. This may involve committee evaluation, verification of claims, requests for clarification, and due diligence.

As one university honorary degrees committee member explains: “We go through three elaborate stages of determining and deciding candidates for award of honorary PhDs… we ensure that all nominees… should never have made any donation or helped the university in any way. This is to avoid the appearance of the honorary degree being a payback to the recipient.”

Step 3: Receive the Decision

You will receive the outcome and, if approved, the organization’s award documentation and usage guidance. Review this carefully to understand exactly how you may present the recognition.

Warning Signs: Avoiding Honorary Degree Scams

The market for honorary recognition has attracted bad actors. Be alert to these red flags:

Frequently Asked Questions