THE first of hundreds of students have been awarded their degrees from York St John University at a ceremony in York Minster.

Yesterday marked the first of three days of ceremonies and included Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland receiving an honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his outstanding contribution to business.

Today sees England Rugby Union player Hendre Fourie and playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn receiving their honorary degrees.

The ceremonies continue today with degrees conferred by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who is the chancellor of the university, or by vice chancellor Professor David Fleming, in front of an audience of graduands, their families and friends, and staff and guests of the university.

THE following received their degrees today:

Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Literature Studies: Victoria Lee Nesfield.

Degree Of Master Of Arts By Research (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Historical Studies: James Richard Ferguson.

Degree Of Master Of Arts (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Contemporary Art Practice: Greg Christie.

Degree Of Master Of Arts (Awarded by York St John University)

Applied Theatre: Rebecca Saint, Winojith Sanjeewa Withana Appuhamilage.

Documentary Production: Syed Muhammad Haider, Thomas Graham Kirby, Emanuele Pecorari, Carlo Maria Stracqualursi.

Film Production: In absentia, Matthew Derrick.

Fine Arts: Julie Ashman, Charlotte Elizabeth Sykes.

Literature Studies: Helen Lonsdale, Katie McNicholas, Negin Moalemi, Karen Ritson, Angela Jean Scarth, Diana Ruth Suksem. In Absentia: Nicola Jane Leedham.

Performance: Ian Mark Kemp, Gemma Bianca Neville. In absentia: Andrew Brown.

Postgraduate Creative Writing: In absentia: Gwen Warrilow.

Degree Of Bachelor Of Arts (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Contemporary Fine Art Practice: Nicholas Carder Booth, Anna Taylor.

History: Russell Peter Cox.

Degree Of Bachelor Of Arts (Awarded by York St John University)

Contemporary Fine Art Practice: Ritchard Allaway, Radovan Bolcár, Kirsty Boutle, Sinead Epton, Amy Charlotte Hodgson, Kimball Michael Cornelia Lacey, Nichola Leafe, Alexandra Mary McNally, Bethany Jo Nicholls, Lisa-Marie Ryan, Sarah Mary Hope Tweedie, Christine Margaret Veitch, Amy Marie Ward, Marianne Warner. In absentia: John Anthony Hilton, Robert Neil Jones.

Design Practice: Abby Collier, Sarah May Davies, Leigh Sharon Friar, Rachel Louise Henshaw, Lucy Hicks, Ellie Hindby-Smith, Nicola Helen Rhodes, Alyse Stainthorpe, David Turner. In absentia: Jonathan Kleinhout, James Turnbull.

English Literature: Rebecca Jo Agnew, Elaine Alexander, Melina Jo Backley, Karen Ann Barnes, Alana Bassett, Emily Olga Battye, Caroline Bentley, Kristina Berrie, Rachael Emma Burford, Claire Chatterton, Timothy James Hullah Clough, Jonathan Dunbar, Ruth Jacqueline Dyer, Nathan Ellis, Sheree Evans, Mieke Fitzharris, Bryan Fitzsimons, Natasha Francis, Sara Helen Francis, Emily Rose Maud Gordon, Isaac William Greenwood, Jennifer Francesca Hawley, William Heathcote, Jemma Henderson, Charlotte Hendry, Sarah Leanne Hewitt, Laura Hurst, Katie Amanda Lygo, Stephanie Laura Mace, Jessica Helen Martin, Kathryn Massey, Clare McDonagh, Katie Beth Menezes, Suzanna Merritt, Stephanie Jayne Parkin, Paige Ramsden, Heather Jayne Reilly, Olga Rempel, Richard Andrew Rickell, Emily Jayne Roberts, Elizabeth Sergeant, Matthew Stokes, Jade Carmichael Symm, Sarah Thomas, Brendan Tyreman, Toni Wainwright, David Walker, Suzanne Walker, Robert James Wannop, Alex James Wright.

Film & Television Production: Michael Jack Abbot, Thomas Robert Adair, Benjamin Colin Robert Allen, Hazel Margaret Anson, Rachel Elizabeth Ashton, Jade Diane Bateson, Edward John Belshaw, Jonathan Michael Boulton, David John Bower, Nancy Bressolles, Edwin Francis Wolstenholme Buckley, Joe Burrows, Matthew John Burton, Kerrie Joanne Chandler, Leanne Marie Codd, Christopher Comins, James David Copson, John Dale, Martin Davies, Anoushka Desai, Pedro Diegues, Joshua Dorfman, Luke Kenneth Downing, Nicholas Durber, Martin English, Harris Entwistle, Scott David Etherington, Charlotte Bethan Flower, Michaela Fong, Kate Forrest, Anna Franklin, Sally French, Sian Gethin Jones, Samuel James Glover, Thomas Goddard, Louise Goulding, Michaela Gray, Samuel Thomas Gresty, Rebecca Gunnee, Elliott Hardey, Emma Hart, James Hetherington, Thomas Hewett, Janette Marie Lynn Hodds, Paul Jones, Liam Thomas Kennedy, Samantha Knights, Elizabeth Kruse, Robin Andrew Langford, Jessica Louise Ledger, Jason Ryan Leonard, Rebecca Martin, Rachael Louise McCluskey, Emma McShane, Joshua Mills, Andrew Milne, Anesu Ngarise, Chris Pearson, Sian Powell, Joe-Allen Preston, Oliver William Pullin, Oliver Reeve, Emily Rhodes, Timm Ridder, Susan Robins, John Anthony Rochford, Ryan Sandford-Blackburn, Maximillian Sellers, Nicholas Guy Sellers, Laura Sharples, Ben Sheldon, Chris Smith, Hannah May Smith, Craig Spanswick, Amy Stables, Thomas Storey, Lucy Elizabeth Stott, Alexander James Sutton, Matthew James Swarbrick, Jessica Grace Toksvig - Stewart, Matthew Ward, Hannah Waterfall, Mathew Wheeler, Brendan Joseph White, Joshua Wignall, Alex Wilkie, Jonathan Wilkinson, Katherine Willott, Adam Samuel Wilson, Matthew Ellis Wilson, Joseph Woollen, Arran Anthony Worsley, Katy Yates, Alexander Joseph Young. In absentia: Jamie Derry, Chris Flynn, Thomas Hirst, Ra Horgan, Luke Barnaby William Reece, Niall Trask, Philip Walsh.

History: Ben Ainley, Thomas Barlow, William Hugh Blackmore Barrett, Thomas George Betteridge, Philip James Catcherside, Dean Chadwick, Andriy Chomanicz, Charlotte Collumbine, Gillian Elspeth Colquhoun, Lauryn Rose Cooper-Hayes, Charlotte Eloise Drew, Jamie French, Joshua Giles, Joseph Grayson, Thomas Stuart Hamilton, Victoria Hicklin, Claire Anne Howcroft, Wade Alan Jones, Peter Robert Kelly, Lindsey Elizabeth Kenna, Elizabeth Anne Law, Stefanie Ruth Leach, Nadia Little, Lauren Matthews, Mary Moore, Ben Nicholson, Conor Joseph O’Carroll, Steven O'Neill, Rebecca Postlethwaite, Sam Pybus, Tobias Roper, Declan Russon, Samuel Scott, Matthew James Sharman, Annette Simpkin, Steven Smith, Rosanna Jane Stoner, Georgina Emily Wain, Robert James Walton, Kelly Louise Waterhouse, Josh Willetts. In absentia: Leah Briggs, Michael Christopher Gilligan, Mark Woodgate.

Media: Lauren Burgess, Simon David Crowley, Sophie Doyle, Alexandra Marishka Greenshaw, Rachel Hogarth, Shauna Hope,Stephanie Hudson, Rebekah Hughes, Lucy Marrable, Laura Redshaw, Sean Richardson, Matthew Selway, Helen Jayne Taylor, Hannah Rochelle Trend, Sarah Walsh, Holly-Ann Louise Woods, Lauren Wynne-Williams. In absentia: Marc Richard Braseke, Steve King.

Music Technology: Benjamin Christopher Addison, Tobie Anderson, Richard David Foden, Michael Paul Grethe, Michael Kendall, Alex Mann, Aaron Richards.

Performance: Dance: Rebekah Ainscough, Jessica Aries, Abigail Jayne Bucknell, Hannah Cooke, Lydia Hayley Cottrell, Rebecca Kate Denby, Megan Donnelly, Katie Falkingham, Anna Gibson, Deborah Lee Hardcastle, Charlotte Emily Horman, Stacey Hunt, Rachel Jenkins, Lucy Jerram, Victoria Johnson, Chantelle Kemp, Lisa May Mullen, Daniel Ridsdale, Gemma Stanley, Sophie Kate Taylor, Sally Tymon, Sophie Louisa Unwin, Melissa Beth Willitts.

Performance: Music: Benjamin Gordon Beattie, Nicola Bell, Simon Francis Bolley, Shelley Chadwick, Jake Dalton, Harry Davies, Hannah Ruth Doherty, Daya Mairead Drangsfeldt, David Eric Dunn-Birch, Rebecca Marie Ellis, Akeem Alexander Faulkner, Ben Fessey, Rachel Elizabeth Gadd, Matthew Frank Hall, Katie Harriet Lumb, Anne-Marie McStraw, Melissa Dawn Parkin, Thomas Christopher Rawlings, Jonathan Rees, Lauren Smith, Gordon Train, Edric Kris Waghorn, Benjamin Michael Alistair Watson, Parissa Hannah Zarifi.

Performance: Theatre: Martin Bambrough-Oates, Kirsty Michelle Bass, Jessica Louise Beswick, Carl Bowstead, Michael Burd, Amy Louise Carr, Jenny Challinor, Lucy Megan Chester, Laura Marie Chesters, Tara Clubley, Lucy Cooper, Peter Cornish, Laura Duncanson, Darryl Eastwood, Gabriella Kate Fawcett, Lauren Amy Freeman, Samuel John French, Heather Garrett, Olivia Godoy, Cary Jemaine Riccardo Graham, Maria Elizabeth Greenshaw, Ben Hallworth, Helen Rachel Hancock, Samuel David Henderson, Kayleigh Louise Howells, Mojisola Adetokunbo Kareem, Emily Kecic, Amy Kinsey, Rebecca Loveday, Rhys Mackay, Jennifer Magnus, Katie Morgan, Olivia Faye Nicholson, Jack Painter, Michael Robert Peck, Nichola Peech, Leann Perry, Phillip Kenneth Pilsbury, Terri-Ann Prendergast, Joseph Antony Rawnsley, Katie Robinson, Gary Lee Shanley, Kimberley Jane Taylor, Ramsay Taylor, Simon Tunes, Liam Watson, Amy Claire Williams, Jack Winpenny. In absentia: Kelly Estelle Downie, Jessica Murray, Luke Matthew Tait, Kimberley Anne Wilson.

Foundation Degree (Awarded by York St John University)

Creative Industries and Technologies: Film & Television Production. In absentia: James Wrigglesworth.

Film & Television Production: Marc Andrew Brewer, James Peter Dobson, Bonny John, Christopher Ian Lawson, Samuel Paterson. In absentia: Jonathan Paul Gillespie, Michael Anthony Wilson.

Music Production: Tom Blenkiron, Benjamin Robert Cooper, Martin David Hughes. In absentia: James Edward Brown, Jonathan Howard Mark Dalton, Andrew James Farthing, James Bernard Gardiazabal, Clare Suzanne Hawkins, Ben Herron.

Foundation Degree (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Creative Industries and Technologies: Music Technology: Wayne Inman Edwards.

Degree Of Master Of Arts (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Theology & Religious Studies: Rachel McCallam. In absentia: Frances Anne Elliott, Kevin Raymond Shaw.

Degree Of Master Of Arts (Awarded by York St John University)

Theology & Religious Studies: Barnaby Nicholas Barron, Leanne Francombe, Graham William Hindle, Peter John Hurter, Elisabeth Grace Keith, Frances Margaret McLean, Darren Middleton, Rachel Emily Shapland Shelley. In absentia: Sally Sarah Jane Brown, Stephen Roger Drury, John Hayes, Sara Jayne May.

Postgraduate Diploma (Awarded by York St John University)

Theology & Religious Studies: Tabitha Lucy Marsh, Craig Siewai Perkinton. In Absentia: Rosemary Ann Cowdery, Timothy Edward Jessiman, Janice Margaret Mason, Myrna Shirley Michell, Rita Pearce, Richard William Thompson.

Graduate Diploma (Awarded by York St John University)

Theology and Ministry: Adrian Ernest Coupe, Neil Gordon Woollacott.

Degree Of Bachelor Of Arts (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Business Management and Sport Studies: Justin Aidan Leo Licari Biles.

Communication and Information Technology: In absentia: Suzie Daniels.

Counselling Studies and Theology & Religious Studies: Helen Elizabeth Varley.

Theology & Religious Studies and Education Studies: Susan Jordan.

Theology & Religious Studies Specialist: Laura Grace Park.

Degree Of Bachelor Of Arts (Awarded by York St John University)

American Studies and Film Studies: Carla Heasman, Hannah Marie Jacks, Ben Leigh Molzahn.

Business Management and Media: Daisy Cleary.

Business Management and Psychology: Constantin Ciachir.

Business Management and Sport Studies: Jack Bradshaw, Robert Hill, Benjamin David Hornby, Amanda Jane Humble, Natalie Ord, Matthew Swallow, Samuel Luke Turner, David Wong. In absentia: Thomas Francis Atkinson.

Communication and Counselling Studies: In absentia: Bonita Megan Bishop.

Communication and English Language: Rachel Gibson, William Robinson.

Communication and Information Technology: Victoria Wain.

Communication and Media: In absentia: Gillies Hodgson.

Contemporary Fine Art Practice and Design Practice: Rachel Hanks, Sarah Nokes.

Contemporary Fine Art Practice and English Literature: Annie Moss, Amy Victoria Peters, Amy Marie Whattam. In absentia: Emily Barnes.

Contemporary Fine Art Practice and Media: Jennifer Moore.

Contemporary Fine Art Practice and Theatre: In absentia: Peri Alice Anne Linklater-Johnson.

Counselling Studies and Education Studies: Carol Elaine Elsdon.

Counselling Studies and Psychology: Natashia Lorraine Drage, Cathryn Gawthorpe, Joanne McAlinden, Lindsay Suttill, Rebecca Symons. In absentia: Afra Orion Hope.

Counselling Studies and Theology & Religious Studies: Chipo Mukungurutse.

Design Practice and Business Management: Ellen Lucy Gospel, Charlotte Martin, Paige Hannah Sprouse, Alexander Benjamin Walser.

Education Studies and Business Management: Barbara Anna Bukowska, Rebecca Verspeak.

Education Studies and English Language: Nathan Marc Matthews, James Francis Soares, Leigh Tunney, Ben Webster, Claire Louise Wilcox. In absentia: Verity Alexandria Lewis.

English Language and Psychology: Eleanor Kate Bass Hindley.

English Literature and American Studies: Jennifer Croxton-Cayzer, Emma Latto, Lucy Elizabeth Townsend.

English Literature and Business Management: Samuel Cook.

English Literature and English Language: Lucy Allardice, Sarah Armitage, Rebecca Amy Craddock, Hannah Grace Eccles, Julia Elsworth, Benjamin Daniel Hannigan, Kirsti Louise Horrigan, Katie Rebecca Horsefield, Andrew Scott, Aqib Ali Shaikh Urszula Marta Urbanczyk, Leigh-Anne White.

English Literature and Film Studies: Thomas Bagby, Lois Hill. In absentia: Lisha Blackhurst.

English Literature and History: Jessica Kathryn Boyd, Craig Davis, Deborah Foulkes, Rebecca Greaves, Kate Heyworth, Adele Hirst, Melissa Hutton, Kirsty Jane Pickering, Natacha Manning Spencer Martins.

English Literature and Psychology: Sorrel Clarke, Ruth Marie Harden, Victoria Marian Hatt, Yanina Ratcliffe, Kirsty Ellen Wood.

English Literature and Theology & Religious Studies: Claire Sheldon, Kirsty Anne White.

Film & Television Production and Theatre: Katie Louise Brown, Katie Sophie Casson, Sarah Constance Morris.

Film Studies and Film & Television Production: Matthew Blakey, Nicholas James Bolton, Huw Britnell, Ian Michael Carter, James Hicks, Oliver Higdon, Andrew Jessop, Bethan Leonie King, Viviene Phibbs, Benjamin Standish.

Film Studies and History: Dominic Alan Ibson, Jeffrey Pettit. In absentia: Adrian Konrad Nothnagle.

Film Studies and Media: Nicola Hall, Francesca Osborne, Juraj Rutsek.

Film Studies and Theatre: Hayley Lauren Owen.

Film Studies and Theology & Religious Studies: Clementine Isabel Davies Crawforth.

History and American Studies: Amy Greaves, David John James, Daniel Mark Jevons, Chloe Kacedan, Oliver Morton, Briana Elizabeth Openshaw, Jonathan Alexander Peter Williams. In absentia: Ian Robert Coleman, Nathan Mark Greenfield, Darren Brian Mountain.

History and Psychology: Alexandra Kate Healey.

History and Theology & Religious Studies: Ruth Elizabeth Atack, Matthew Bosworth.

Information Technology and Business Management: Sarah Jane Berryman, Simon Clough, Martin Hefferon, Rosanna McFerran, Samantha Leanne Perkins, Shelley Scaife, Yuanbo Sun, Leanne Marie Vere. In absentia: Xiaowang Liu.

Information Technology and Education Studies: Amy Joan Freer, Beccy Hewitt, Lauren Mitchell.

Information Technology and English Language: Naomi Claire Lewis, Thomas Andrew George Whalley.

Media and English Literature: Katy Hatfield, Ian James Hazzard, Rachel Elizabeth Johnson, Laura Stephanie Punshon, April Shilston, Denny Yet Lung Yau.

Music and Education Studies: John William Hunt, Hannah Ranson.

Music and Theology & Religious Studies: Christianne Ruth Lombard.

Sport Studies and Psychology: In absentia: Nicola Louise Hainsworth.

Theatre and English Literature: Amy Hargraves, Samantha Louise Harrison, Olivia Lindsay-Gould, Emma Louise Thompson, Sophie Louise Wills.

Theology & Religious Studies and Education Studies: Alice Daisy Bowskill, Sarah Louise Jackson, Jemma Tracey Orange, Emily Rickard.

Theology & Ministry: Ian Bullock, Jean Harris, Judith Marion Hewitt, Cedric Hills, Ian John Kelly, Graham Mizon, Ian Robert Mountford, Antony Gareth Mugford, Lynley Danielle Oliver, Heather Samuel, Isobel Margaret Smith, Kevin John Stanbury, David William Tidball, Anne Albertinus van der Leij. In absentia: Stephen John Richardson, Diane Starr.

Theology & Religious Studies: Benjamin Barker, Nicola Jane Beales, Rebecca Bradbury, Laraine Buchan-Preece, Hannah Jayne Clark, Rebekah Collict, Hannah Cook, Laura Katherine Cowie, Alexandra Craigen, Carl Dobson, Stephanie Anne Frazer, John Pearson Garbutt, Michael Kevin William R Greaves, Emma Harrison, Maria Louise Hodgson, Nathan Robert Hufton, Holly Johnson, Sophie May Kennard, Jamie Lawty, Natalie Anne Laybourne, Natalie Leavy, Ashley Ann Maddison, Sophie Ruth Midgley, Jonathan David Mills, Melissa Ann Powell, Jessica Rutter, Liam Stephen Small, Charlene Ann Smart, Rachel Louise Southwell, Michael John Tilley, Nicole Veitch, Kaylea Waite, Amy Louise Wallbank, Rebecca Jade Wellock, Elena Jillian Stefanie Williams, Kirsty Wilson.

Foundation Degree (Awarded by York St John University)

Theology & Ministry: Amanda Dawn Aspland, Martin John Dawson Bailes, Christine Bleasdale, Nora Brook, Faith Hope Emmanuel, Shirley Firth, Susan Fisher, June Kathryn Fox, Reinhold Gasser, Mark Herd, Carol Anne Hirst, Paul David Mellars, Rachel Elizabeth O’Leary, Mary Diane Pownall, John Taylor. In absentia: Patricia Ann Ambler, Andrew Nicholas Cleaver, Kathleen Rose Deakins, Jacqueline Margaret Doyle-Brett, Marion Clare Hammond, Bethany Kay, Samuel Knight, Dorothy Anne Lambeth, Ann Louise Lett, Roger Ian Gordon Nelson, Michael Scholey, Bethany Hope Wells.

Foundation Degree (Awarded by the University of Leeds)

Theology & Ministry: Janys Elizabeth Cliff, Catherine Ann Dibben, Terrence Robert Mortimer, Jean Anne Nicholas, Judith Margaret Roberts, Geoffrey Charles Snell, Leslie Alan Tyler. In absentia: Thomas Peter Kelly, Glenda Marjorie Webb.Honorary Degrees

Doctor of Letters (honoris causis): Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Doctor of Health Sciences (honoris causa): Hendre Fourie.