THOUSANDS of graduates will finally receive their degrees in a series of prestigious ceremonies at Worcester Cathedral.

University College Worcester is celebrating the achievements of its students at its ceremonies, which start today (Wednesday).

They will run until Friday and will include a number of honorary degrees as well as testimonies to hard work.

Among the honorary degree recipients are Alan Curless, the chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

There are also prizes for best history dissertation, sociology student and management student.

Anna Heida Palsdottir, an Icelandic student, will be receiving her PhD after three years away from her family, who live in Reykjavik.

She graduates with a PhD in Children's Literature using her own work as her thesis.

"All the work, the isolation, the separation was hard, but now I've achieved my PhD, that I'm home with my family, it's all been worthwhile," she said.

Following graduation Anna will return home to Iceland to take on a senior role for Alcoa, the world's largest aluminium producer.

"I'm sure my employers appreciated that I can think logically, I'm disciplined and that when I set my mind to something, I finish it.

"Literature teaches us to understand people, to find out what makes them tick. Knowing and understanding people is useful in any form of human interaction, especially in business."

UCW principal, Dorma Urwin, said she was thrilled with the graduates.

"This is another fantastic year for University College Worcester," she said.

"We are again celebrating a record number of students graduating.

"The students come from all over the UK and from countries as far away as Iceland and we are looking forward to welcoming them all to the ceremonies.

"We are also delighted to confer honorary MAs on a number of local people, who have contributed in many different ways to the successful development and life of University College Worcester.