Domingo received his degree from new Chancellor Chris Patten

Domingo, 61, who performed with Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti as one of the Three Tenors, received his award from the university's new chancellor, Chris Patten.

Patten said to him, in Latin: "You are the darling of audiences, a champion of music, the Orpheus of the age."

Domingo had been chosen for his work for music and charity.

Five other figures who have "distinguished themselves in the fields of academia, medicine, and the performing arts" will receive honorary degrees at the event, known as Encaenia.

The Spanish star has sung 119 roles - more than any tenor in history - since his debut in Verdi's Requiem at London's Royal Festival Hall in 1969.

Charity concerts

He, Carreras and Pavarotti sang together for the last time in front of 10,000 fans in Yokohama, Japan, at last year's World Cup football finals.

Domingo is also a conductor and has led orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony. He is also the artistic director of the Washington and Los Angeles Operas.

Domingo has also sung charity concerts for Aids patients and natural disaster victims.

Last year he was given an honorary knighthood by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at the British embassy in Washington.