Honorary degrees are awarded at every convocation ceremony, at which the recipients are often invited to make a speech of acceptance before the assembled faculty and graduates. UTM nominate several persons each year for honorary degrees; these nominees usually go through several committees before receiving approval. The degree itself is typically a doctorate, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the institution in question. It is conferred as a way of honoring a distinguished visitor's contributions to a specific field, or to society in general.