Honorary titles in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and some universities and colleges in the United States and Canada.
Examples of such titles are Honorary Professor, Honorary Fellow, Honorary Reader, Honorary Lecturer, Visiting Fellow, Industrial Fellow.
In Germany, visiting lecturers and private lecturers can be conferred the titles of "Honorarprofessor" or "Außerplanmäßiger Professor" respectively after several semesters of successful teaching.
Honorary title sometimes permit non-employees to enjoy the privileges available to regular staff members, such as access to facilities and libraries, parking permit.