According to the University of Berkley, an honorary doctorate allows accomplished individuals to receive recognition for their successes. Those who receive an honorary doctorate can use the title associated with the degree just the same as someone who completes a doctoral program.
Honorary doctorates provides accomplished and clearly talented and/or knowledgeable people recognition for their many accomplishments. Also, honorary doctorate fees help to support the universities offering the certificates.
Universities reserve honorary doctorates for those people who demonstrate superior professional or educational advancement and those who contribute substantially to worthy causes either through volunteer service or monetary donations. Proof of these requirements may be submitted through resumes and autobiographical sketches.
In the end, recipients of honorary doctorates essentially pay for their certificate. For examples, the University of Berkley requires a donation of at least $2000 before issuing an honorary doctorate. While this may seem like a lot, it actually is a lot less than the cost of completing a doctoral program. Some honorary doctorates cost even more though. The College of London requires a contribution of 14,500 Euros which equals more the $17,000 in American dollars.
Universities may give one of several different types of honorary doctorates. The possibilities include: Doctor of Human Letters, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Literature, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Fine Arts, Doctor of Humanities and Doctor of Divinity.