To celebrate the 125th anniversary of its foundation, the University awarded honorary doctorates to four individuals of world renown whose contributions over a long period were considered to be of major international significance. The special ceremony to award the Honorary Doctorates took place on 10 June 2009, those honoured were:
- Sir David Attenborough, OM, CH, FRS – for services to broadcasting and the study of the environment
- Rhodri Morgan – for services to politics
- Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas, FRS – for services to Science
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu – for services to world peace and reconciliation