Honorary Doctorate Requirements
Introduction
An Honorary Doctorate Degree is a formal academic recognition awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional contribution, distinction, or impact in their professional, intellectual, humanitarian, or public fields. Unlike earned academic degrees, honorary doctorates are not based on coursework or examinations, but on documented merit and contribution.
At Catholic Open University, honorary recognition follows a structured academic review framework aligned with ethical university practices.
Core Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for an Honorary Doctorate Degree Award, candidates must demonstrate:
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Recognized contribution in their professional, academic, humanitarian, cultural, or public domain
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Evidence of sustained impact, leadership, or innovation
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Public or professional recognition (formal or documented)
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Alignment with ethical, academic, and institutional values
Honorary recognition is not granted automatically and is not based on financial transactions.
Academic Review & Publishing Criteria
At Catholic Open University, honorary consideration is connected to scholarly contribution:
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Candidates must meet the publishing criteria of the Research & Publishing Program
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Approved scholarly work must be published in the Catholic Open University Digital Library
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Publications are subject to editorial and academic review
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All accepted works are formally archived and assigned persistent identifiers
This ensures the honorary recognition is anchored in verifiable academic contribution.
What Is Not Required
Honorary Doctorate candidates are not required to:
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Complete coursework or examinations
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Attend classes or academic programs
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Defend a thesis
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Hold prior academic degrees
Honorary recognition acknowledges achievement and contribution, not academic progression.
Important Notice
Honorary Doctorate Degrees:
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Are honorary distinctions, not earned degrees
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Are not intended for employment, licensing, or academic equivalency
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Do not replace Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD qualifications
How the honorary doctorate is earned
The award is granted through a structured academic pathway:
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The applicant submits original scholarly work through the Research and Publishing Program
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The work undergoes academic and editorial evaluation
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Approved research is officially published by the Research and Study Center
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The published work is archived in the Digital Library
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Upon meeting all publishing criteria, eligibility for the Honorary Doctorate Degree Award is established
The award is never granted without verified publication.
Program Overview
Feature
Details
Program Name Honorary Doctorate Degree Award
Program Type Award Program
Academic Year
Ongoing. Applications accepted year-round
Eligibility
Limited exclusively to applicants whose work is published through the Research and Publishing Program
Evaluation Criteria
Based on approved and published scholarly research through the Research and Publishing Program
Award Processing Duration
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Scholarly: 1 month
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Advanced: 21 days
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Distinguished: 7 days
Tuition
No tuition or hidden fees. The Honorary Doctorate Degree is an Award
Delivery Method
100% Online academic review and award issuance
Language Support
English, Spanish, Italian and Arabic
Processing timelines reflect administrative and academic review duration after all publishing requirements are fulfilled.