Honorands 2026 – Summer Graduation
The following people are to be awarded honorary degrees at this year’s summer graduation ceremonies at the University of St Andrews.
Richard Michael BEM Dip Mus Ed RSAMD
Richard Michael is a distinguished musician, educator, and broadcaster whose career has made a significant contribution to jazz education and performance in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom. He will be awarded a Doctor of Music (DMus) on Monday 29 June 2026 during the afternoon ceremony.
Professor Caroline Walker Bynum BA MA PhD
Professor Caroline Walker Bynum is a pioneering historian whose work has transformed the study of medieval Christianity, particularly in relation to gender, the body and religious practice. She will be awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) on Tuesday 30 June 2026 during the morning ceremony.
Professor Bruce Hoffman BA BPhil DPhil FRHistS
Professor Bruce Hoffman is a leading authority on terrorism and insurgency whose scholarship has shaped international understanding of political violence over more than five decades. He will be award a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) on Tuesday 30 June 2026 during the afternoon ceremony.
Professor Geoffrey Grimmett MA DPhil DSc (Oxon) ScD (Cantab) FRS
Professor Geoffrey Grimmett is a distinguished mathematician whose work has made major contributions to probability theory and statistical mechanics, particularly in the study of random processes and disordered systems. Professor Grimmett will be award a Doctor of Science (DSc) on Wednesday 1 July 2026 during the morning ceremony.
Billy Kay MA DUniv
Billy Kay is a distinguished writer and broadcaster whose work has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Scottish culture, language and history. A former BBC producer, he is best known for creating the Odyssey series documenting the oral history of Scotland’s working class. He will be awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) on Wednesday 1 July 2026 during the afternoon ceremony.
Professor Stefan Collini FBA
Professor Stefan Collini is a distinguished scholar of intellectual history and literary culture in modern Britain. Professor Collini will be awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) on Thursday 2 July 2026 during the morning ceremony.
Professor Ian Newton OBE BSc DPhil DSc FRS FRSE
Professor Ian Newton is a distinguished ecologist whose research has made a major contribution to the study of bird populations and conservation biology. Professor Newton will be awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) on Thursday 2 July 2026 during the afternoon ceremony.
Professor Sir Stephen Holgate CBE BSc MB MS MD DSc FRCP FRCP (Edin) FRCPath FMedSci MAE
Professor Sir Stephen Holgate is a distinguished clinical scientist whose research has transformed an understanding of asthma, allergy and the health effects of air pollution, with major impact on medical science and public health policy. He will be awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) on Friday 3 July 2026 during the morning ceremony.
Professor Michael Hoch
Professor Michael Hoch is a distinguished molecular biologist and academic leader who has played a central role in advancing research excellence and international collaboration in higher education. Professor Hoch will be awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) on Friday 3 July 2026 during the afternoon ceremony.