The honorary doctorate is an accolade of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Cologne that is awarded for exemplary academic or scientific service. It has been awarded on multiple occasions since 1989:

• 2017: Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Gehrke
• 2015: Prof. Dr. Max Haas
• 2013: Prof. Dr. Adolf Grünbaum
• 2009: Gerhard Rühm
• 2006: François Bayle
• 2005: Fritz Gruber
• 2003: Ki Mantle Hood
• 2002: Wolf-Dieter Stempel
• 1998: Vittore Branca
• 1995: Alfred Brendel
• 1995: Karl-Heinz Knörzer
• 1994: Ihor Šev…enko
• 1992: Ernest Freud
• 1992: Daniel Madelénat
• 1989: Solomon Apt
• 1989: Brian Benjamin Shefton