Stormzy is set to receive an honorary doctorate from Cambridge University.
The grime pioneer was announced today (March 19) as being one of the eight distinguished individuals who will be awarded honorary doctorates by the university later this year.
It comes as the eight chosen people were nominated for the honour by The University Council, and they are all expected to receive the doctorates while at a special Congregation in the Senate-House. It will be attended by alumni, staff and students, as well as a number of special guests, and takes place on June 25.
For Stormzy, the honorary doctorate will be in the field of Law, and comes following the impact his philanthropic work has had across the community.
His efforts have included the Stormzy Scholarship to Cambridge – an initiative that funds two Black British students to attend the university each year. This was formed in 2018, although grew in 2021 when HSBC UK agreed to support another 10 students annually. It has seen 55 students given the opportunity to attend the university with the tuition fees and maintenance costs covered by the initiative.
It has also been reported that the fund has led to more Black students applying to go to Cambridge from across the country.
The artist has helped the community in music, sport and literature too thanks to his groundbreaking #MerkyFC brand. First established in 2022, the project was built to address racial equity in the football industry and provide opportunities for UK Black Heritage Youth to access jobs in the sector. Since its launch, the movement has added 63 roles to the UK football industry for young people of UK Black Heritage, with 39 roles retained for extended periods.
It grew again in November last year, when it was confirmed that the initiative had unveiled an online platform dedicated to offering support to the current cohort who are already in roles, and developing a wider community for those who have applied for roles.
Others receiving doctorates from Cambridge University include Sir Simon Russell Beale, Lady Arden of Heswall, Dame Katherine Grainger, Professor Angela Davis, Sir Oliver Hart, Sir John Rutter and Maria Leptin.
This isn’t the first time that Stormzy has received a doctorate from a prestigious university. Back in 2022, the Grime star and philanthropist was given the honour by the University of Exeter in recognition of his “remarkable contribution to society and extraordinary talent”.
Speaking at the event, he said: “It took a hell of a lot for you to get here today. Your journeys to get to this moment were hard-fought. The road you took was not easy. And this is coming from someone who tried to walk that exact same road and failed.
“So from the bottom of my heart, I say congratulations, well done and you should all be so proud of yourselves, what you have achieved is incredible. Don’t let anybody downplay it and don’t let anybody undermine it. If you are sat in this room today you are worthy and you are brilliant.”