What are honorary doctorate degrees?

Honorary doctorate degrees are certificates awarded by colleges and universities to individuals who have not met the usual requirements to earn a degree. These degrees are usually awarded to visitors or distinguished individuals who have made some kind of contribution to the university or the world in general.

Most honorary degrees are doctorates, though some institutions award masters degrees instead. Some schools allow individuals to apply for an honorary degree themselves, while others require that the individual be nominated by a third party. Individuals may receive more than one honorary degree, but they generally may not be awarded more than one degree from the same school.