Lord Melvyn Bragg receives an honorary degree at Encaenia 2025

Oxford University’s Encaenia is an annual ceremony at which honorary degrees are conferred and the University's benefactors are commemorated. This year, eight exceptional individuals whose achievements have made lasting contributions to the world were recognised. Honorary degrees were awarded to our alumnus, Lord Melvyn Bragg (History, 1958), alongside Sir Mo Farah, Professor Erwin Neher, Clive Myrie, Professor Serhii Plokhii, Professor Timothy Snyder, Professor Colm Tóibín and Professor Robert S Langer. Our Warden, Robert Hannigan, was delighted to host Lord Bragg while he was in Oxford to attend the ceremony.

Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Chair of the Committee on Honorary Degrees, said:

‘Encaenia is a highlight of Oxford’s academic year, offering us an opportunity to celebrate exceptional individuals whose achievements have shaped disciplines, made history and enriched society. Today, we honour eight people whose work has inspired, informed and transformed the world around us. This year’s distinguished honorands come from a remarkable array of fields, and through their vision, creativity and dedication, they have made lasting contributions. It is a privilege to recognise their accomplishments and to welcome them into the Oxford community.’

Lord Melvyn Bragg, CH, FRSL is a British broadcaster, author and parliamentarian. He was appointed a life peer in 1998, becoming Baron Bragg of Wigton in the County of Cumbria. In 1961, he joined the BBC as a trainee. Just a few years later he was appointed editor of BBC Two's first arts programme, New Release. In 1978 Lord Bragg became the editor and presenter of The South Bank Show. From 1988 to 1998, he hosted BBC Radio 4's Start the Week and now presents In Our Time (1998 to present). As an author, Lord Bragg has an extensive bibliography that includes award-winning fiction, non-fiction and several screenplays. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and holds honorary fellowships from the British Academy and the Royal Society. In 2010, Lord Bragg received a BAFTA Fellowship.

Many congratulations to the new Honorary Fellows of the University of Oxford.