From WENN.com

The Lord of the Rings icon will be made a doctor of letters for his services to acting, and he will have an old pal on hand to help celebrate his win - his co-star in the highly-anticipated The Hobbit movies, James Nesbitt, serves as the school's chancellor.

The veteran star will also step up to the podium in February (13) to deliver a speech to students at the university's Magee campus.

University pro-vice chancellor Professor Deirdre Heenan says, ""The university is delighted to recognise an actor of Sir Ian's standing with an honorary doctorate and that he has also agreed to deliver next year's Chancellor's lecture.""