What does Doctor of Letters mean?

D. Litt. (aka. Doctor of Letters) is the highest conferred degree. You need sustained achievement at the top before this is awarded. Doctor of Letters is frequently awarded in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.

D. Litt. degree 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 are required, and candidates must provide documented mastery of a particular area or field. The degree may also be awarded honoris causa (honorary) to such individuals as the university of the learned body in question seems worthy of this. In the United States and in a number of countries throughout the world, the degree is often an honorary degree conferred on those who have contributed to the humanities and/or society.

Notable recipients of a Doctor of Letters as an honorary degree, include the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Writers Mark Twain, Ezra Pound, J.K.Rowling, J.R.R.Tolkien, Robert Frost, Indian musician K.J.Yesudas, J. Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, India, and Canadian Comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer, etc.