Doctor of Letters

Doctor of Letters (Litterarum doctor; D.Litt.; or Litt. D.) is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.

Commonwealth
In the United Kingdom, Australia, India and certain other countries, the degree is a higher doctorate, above the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and is issued on the basis of a long record of research and publication. The degree D.Litt. is awarded to candidates whose record of published work and research shows conspicuous ability and originality and constitutes a distinguished and sustained achievement. University committee and board approval is required, and candidates must provide documented mastery of a particular area or field. The degree may also be awarded honoris causa to such people the university in question deems worthy.

United States
In the United States, the degree is often an honorary degree conferred on those who have contributed to the humanities and/or society. There are, however, a number of earned "D.Litt." programs, the best known being Drew University on the basis of 30 graduate credit hours post-Master's and a dissertation.

France
In France the Doctor of Letters degree (doctorat ès lettres also called doctorat d'État) was a higher doctorate in the humanities superseded in 1984 by the habilitation.

Recipients
Notable recipients of a Doctor of Letters as an honorary degree, include the former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Michael Ignatieff, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, musicians K. J. Yesudas, Enya, Sami Yusuf, former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, writers Mark Twain, Ezra Pound, Malcolm Gladwell, O. N. V. Kurup, Rik Mayall, J. K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Clive Cussler, Elmo Scott Watson from Illinois Wesleyan University, James May, Robert Frost, John Updike, actor Mohanlal, J. Jayalalithaa,Chief-minister of Tamilnadu, India, sound recordist Resul Pookutty V.T.Chellam, Tamil History Researcher, Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu, India, Canadian comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer, etc.