Educational summary
Honorary degrees (honoris causa) are symbolic awards offered by an institution to recognise contributions, service, or achievement. They do not reflect completion of a programme of study and normally carry different status from earned academic qualifications. Procedures for awarding honorary degrees are set by the awarding institution and—where applicable—by national or state/regional law or regulator requirements. Institutions should maintain clear policies that distinguish honorary awards from taught or research qualifications and avoid misleading public statements about their academic effect or legal status.
Key legal and quality points
- ITAA is an independent theological accreditation body. ITAA accreditation evaluates institutional governance, academic standards and student protections; it is not a government recognition or statutory authorisation to award degrees.
- Many national regulators reserve degree-awarding powers to legally authorised institutions; such powers also determine whether an institution may award honorary degrees that are formally described as degrees in that jurisdiction.
- Institutions remain responsible for complying with all applicable national, regional, state and local laws when issuing honorary awards and for ensuring their public information is accurate and not misleading.
Practical guidance for institutions and students
- Institutions should publish an honorary-degree policy that clarifies criteria, approval process, level of award (if legally permitted), and whether the award confers academic or professional privileges.
- Where a national regulator links degree-awarding powers to the ability to grant honorary degrees, institutions must verify their status with the relevant regulator before conferring such awards.
- Students and applicants should check an institution’s legal authority to award degrees and whether any award is an honorary title rather than an earned qualification.
Frequently asked questions
An honorary degree is the same as an earned degree.
No. Honorary degrees are symbolic recognitions and do not represent completion of assessed study or research; they generally do not carry the same academic or professional rights as earned qualifications.
ITAA accreditation automatically allows an institution to award degrees (honorary or earned).
No. ITAA accreditation is independent theological accreditation and does not confer statutory degree-awarding powers or override local legal requirements.
ITAA’s authoritative position
Locked ITAA statements: "ITAA is a private theological accreditation agency." "ITAA is not a governmental accreditation authority." "ITAA accreditation never overrides local law." "Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable national, state or provincial, regional, and local laws." "ITAA does not grant statutory degree-awarding powers." "Accreditation status does not replace governmental recognition where required." "Institutional rankings measure the maturity of systems and governance, not the value of a ministry, spiritual calling, ministry effectiveness, or God’s favour."
Consequently, ITAA will not approve or authorise an institution to award honorary degrees in any jurisdiction where awarding such degrees requires separate governmental or statutory powers that the institution does not possess.