Stormzy awarded Cambridge University doctorate for “transformative” scholarship scheme

Stormzy has officially been awarded an honorary Cambridge University doctorate.

• READ MORE: Stormzy – ‘This Is What I Mean’ review: levelling up on his own terms

The rapper was one of eight individuals to be the recipient of an honorary doctorate this year, where he was given a Doctorate in Law thanks to his “transformative” Stormzy Scholarship to Cambridge.

The initiative was launched in 2018, and promised to fund two Black British students to attend the university each year. That number expanded to 10 students annually when HSBC UK agreed to support the initiative.

A total of 56 students have attended the university with the tuition fees and maintenance costs covered, thanks to the initiative.

Speaking about the honorary degree, Prof Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor at the university, said: “Stormzy’s scholarship programme has had a transformative impact and we are proud to recognise his work with this degree.”

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”.

Alongside his scholarship, Stormzy has launched a number of other initiatives under #Merky FC.

First established in 2022, #Merky FC was designed to address racial equity in the football industry. Since its launch, 63 roles have been added to the UK football industry for young people of UK Black Heritage, with 39 roles retained for extended periods.

He then began #Merky Books, a publishing imprint in conjunction with Penguin Random House, which he said was a “platform for young writers to become published authors”.

Most recently, he launched #Merky Films, and announced its debut project Big Man. Produced in association with Apple and shot entirely on an iPhone 16 Pro, Stormzy will appear in his first-ever lead acting role.

Directed by Academy Award-winner Aneil Karia, Big Man tells “the poignant, fictional story of Tenzman, a former rap star now navigating a restless and uncertain chapter of his life”.

In other news, listen to Stormzy’s swaggering new freestyle single ‘Sorry Rach!’.

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