Foundation Day

Foundation Day is the annual celebration of the grant by William IV of the University’s first charter on 28 November 1836.

The University presented its first honorary degrees in June 1903. Among the recipients were the Prince of Wales (LLD) and the Princess of Wales (DMus), later King George V and Queen Mary.

Since then, this accolade has been bestowed on a wide range of distinguished individuals from both the academic and non-academic worlds. Their names are recorded in the Register of Honorary Degrees. Among the list of famous signatures is Winston Churchill, Judi Dench, T S Eliot, Margot Fonteyn and Henry Moore.

Honorary degrees are approved by the Collegiate Council as set out in Regulation 2, part of the University’s governance structure. They are presented to the recipients at an evening ceremony in Senate House, held each year in the Autumn term.

Foundation Day 2010 will take place on 25 November 2010. Honorary degrees will be conferred on the following eminent individuals:

• HE Luisa Dias Diogo, former president of Mozambique – Doctor of Science (Economics)
  
• Mary Quant OBE, fashion designer – Doctor of Literature
  
• Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu – Doctor of Divinity
  
• Anne Stevenson, poet and writer – Doctor of Literature