Australian rock icon Nick Cave (The Bad Seeds, ex-The Birthday Party, The Boys Next Door) was awarded an honorary PhD from his old university. Cave attended Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, in 1977 and 1978, studying for a diploma in Fine Art, but left his course to pursue his musical career.

The university's vice-chancellor, Professor Richard Larkins, stated: "His reputation and popularity crosses age and culture barriers. Nick Cave has been successful in increasing the profile of Australia internationally, particularly in terms of our nation's creative and artistic capabilities."