Have you contributed meaningfully to a business, a nonprofit, a community movement, or an innovative project? Have they made a real difference in your field or to society at large? If so, you might be a strong candidate for an Honorary PhD.
It is a common perception that Honorary Doctorates are given only to celebrities or public figures. But no longer the case. Now, some of the most prestigious universities around the world are allowing individuals to nominate themself for this award. Earlier universities had the sole discretion on whom to give this recognition. But now, some International universities have started to provide the facility to self-nominate. Here in this blog, we will discuss how you can nominate yourself for this award.
What is an Honorary PhD?
An Honorary Doctorate (often called a Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa) is offered to individuals to recognize their significant achievements. This is a symbolic honor offered to acknowledge exceptional achievements and contributions towards any specific field or society. It is different from the conventional Full-Time PhD and Part-Time PhD as it does not require you to conduct and produce any research.
It is a prestigious form of recognition that acknowledges your impact. Your impact could be in business, arts, science, education, public service, or social work.
Is Self-Nomination for Honorary PhD Allowed in India?
Currently, Indian Universities do not provide the facility of self-nomination for an honorary doctorate. Only Full-Time PhD and Part-Time PhD programs are allowed in Indian universities to apply for. In Indian universities, the nomination for this honorary award is done by their committee only.
However, some of the top international universities allow you to self-nominate. You file your nomination online and get acknowledgement for your accomplishments.
Who Can Self-Nominate for an Honorary PhD?
Here are the ideal candidates who can self-nominate for an honorary PhD-
- Entrepreneurs who’ve built impactful businesses or startups
- Nonprofit leaders or community changemakers
- Educators or thought leaders in their industries
- Artists, authors, or musicians with a wide-reaching influence
- Innovators or researchers outside traditional academia
- Social workers or humanitarians making a measurable difference
If your work has impact, longevity, and authentic value, you are an ideal candidate for this award.
How to Self-Nominate for an Honorary PhD?
The self-nomination process involves several stages. Here is the step-by-step guide through which you can file your submit your nomination and get your honorary PhD-
- Research the Right Institutions- This is one of the most crucial steps for this program. Before starting the self-nomination process, you need to research and select the right universities offering this facility.
- Nomination Form Submission- Once you have selected the right university, you need to visit its official website and fill out the nomination form. You have to provide all the information and documents required by the university. Submit the nomination form after carefully reviewing it.
- Welcome Call- After the nomination submission, the university will review your form and decide whether you are eligible for this award. If you meet their expectations, you will get a welcome call from the university to schedule an interview with the interview panel.
- Interview- Based on your pre-decided date and time, the interview will be conducted by the university panel. The interview is conducted online and gets completed within 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Award of the Degree- If the interview panel is convinced by your interview that you have really made some exceptional contributions, you will be awarded the Honorary PhD. The E-Degree will be sent immediately, and the hard copy will be sent to your address within 60 to 90 days.
Duration of the Honorary PhD
Unlike the full-time PhD and Part-Time, which require you to wait for 5 to 7 years to get your doctorate, an Honorary PhD can be completed in 1 day. As this recognition is provided after an interview, it does not take more than 1 day to get this honor.
Do I need to conduct any research to get an Honorary Doctorate?
No, you are not required to conduct any research to get awarded with an honorary doctoral degree. This is provided in recognition of your contributions and achievements. Even this does not require you to have strong academic requirements.
Coursework, original research, dissertation, and viva are not required to get this acknowledgement. These are only required in full-time and Part-Time PhD programs.
Conclusion
An honorary PhD is a great tool for formal recognition for work that has created real value. If you are a social entrepreneur, educator, innovator, or creative person, you can tell your story to the world with this acknowledgement. You can easily nominate yourself for this honor at some of the most renowned universities around the world. You can get recognized for your achievements and contributions through a prestigious Honorary Doctorate.
