Doctor of Letters

Doctor of Letters (Latin: Litterarum doctor; D.Litt.; or Litt. D.) is a university academic degree.

In the United Kingdom, Australia, India and certain other countries, the degree is a higher doctorate, above the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and is issued on the basis of a long record of research and publication. The degree D.Litt. is awarded to candidates whose record of published work and research shows conspicuous ability and originality and constitutes a distinguished and sustained achievement. University committee and board approval is required, and candidates must provide documented mastery of a particular area or field.

In the United States, the degree is almost always an honorary degree often conferred to those who have contributed to the humanities and/or society. There are, however, a very small number of earned "D.Litt." programs, the best known being Drew University's, and a few M.Litt. ("Master of Letters") programs, such as that at Middlebury College.

Notable Recipients

These people are considered notable in the public eye, or have performed a service worthy of recognition, and have received a Doctor of Letters.

• Eddie Izzard English stand-up comedian and actor.
• Madan Mohan Agrawal - Professor of Sanskrit at Delhi University, author of The Sarvadarsana
• Jenny Agutter - British actress honoured by Bradford University
• David Malet Armstrong — Australian philosopher
• Sean Bean — British Actor honored by University of Sheffield for his achievements as an actor, and his ongoing commitment to the city of Sheffield.
• Eithne Bhraonáin (Enya Brennan) — Irish Musician. Honored by University of Ulster in recognition of her services to music and the creative industries.
• Floella Benjamin — Chancellor of the University of Exeter^, for contributions to the life of the United Kingdom
• Brian Blessed - Actor, awarded by the University of Bradford at the request of Bradford Student Cinema
• Michael Bond — Author of the Paddington Bear series of children's books.
• Charles Briggs — Co-operating editor of the Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon
• Francis Brown — Chief Editor of the Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon
• Gordon Brown - Current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Cardinal Desmond Connell — retired Archbishop of Dublin
• Jonathan Dimbleby — British Social Commentator
• Samuel Rolles Driver — Co-operating editor of the Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon
• Adrian Edmondson — British Comedian^
• David Eldrige — British Dramatist^
• Steve Fuller (social epistemologist) - Anglo-American social epistemologist; D.Litt. from University of Warwick
• Professor Margaret Gowing - Historian - Honorary DLitt's from University of Leeds, University of Leicester
• Alexandra Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn - Founder of the Pushkin Prizes
• Langston Hughes- Black poet of the Harlem Renaissance
• Yusuf Islam (AKA: Cat Stevens) — Musician^
• Kurt Jackson — British Painter^
• L.S. Lowry - British Painter - Honorary DLitt's from University of Manchester, University of Salford and University of Liverpool
• Margaret Mahy - Children's author and winner of the Carnegie Medal, received honorary doctorate from University of Canterbury
• Parminder Nagra — British Actress
• Dr. Beverley Naidoo — Author^
• James Nesbitt — British Actor; honorary D.Litt from University of Ulster for services to drama.
• Satyajit Ray - Indian Film Director
• Michael Rosen — Poet/Author^
• Joanne "Jo" Rowling (A.K.A.: J.K. Rowling) — Author of the Harry Potter series^
• Jennifer Saunders — British Comedienne^
• Rosemary Simmonds — Cartoonist/Author^
• David Stratton — Australian Film Critic
• J.R.R. Tolkien - Author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; DLitt (Oxon.)
• Mark Twain - American author and satirist; DLitt (Oxon.)

^These recipients are recognized as 'honorary recipients', awarded by the University of Exeter.

External links

• The University of Exeter Page, showing DLitt Recipients