BOB DYLAN, one of the most revered, influential and enigmatic figures in contemporary popular culture, was yesterday conferred with an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from St Andrews University.

He is in Scotland as part of a European tour and appeared in the first of two sell-out concerts in Glasgow last night.

Looking nervous and shy, the superstar arrived on the Younger Hall stage with literary critic, Professor Neil Corcoran, of the School of English at St Andrews.

Seated beside Dundee University’s Professor Cheryll Tickle, who also received an honorary doctorate, he remained seated throughout Professor Corcoran’s address, rising only at its close to kneel before the Chancellor, Sir Kenneth Dover.

Again looking self-conscious, he failed to wait for his honorary degree certificate and after shaking hands with Sir Kenneth, bowed to the audience and then quickly resumed his seat. The degree scroll was later passed to him by deputy principal David Corner.

Professor Corcoran, who recently produced a book-length study of the famous singer and songwriter, said in his address, “It goes without saying that Bob Dylan’s acceptance of our invitation deeply honours us, and I really can’t say what a great privilege and pleasure his presence here is today.

“He has accepted only one honorary degree before, from Princeton in 1970. It seems appropriate that his second such degree should come from Scotland’s oldest university, since Scottish border ballads and folk songs have been the inspiration for some of his melodies, and his great song, Highlands, is an elaborate riff, or descant, on Robert Burns.”

Dylan, who was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota in 1941, has spent a lifetime applying himself to such long-sanctioned forms of art as folk, blues, country, and rock music.

Described by Professor Corcoran as “one of the great writers of the drama of human relationship,” he has received numerous awards, including France’s highest cultural accolade, when he was made a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1990, and a Hollywood Oscar for his song Things Have Changed in 2001.

Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Dylan arriving and leaving the Younger Hall were disappointed.

He arrived at the west door in a people carrier with blacked out windows and, accompanied by his tour manager and security adviser, quickly stepped inside. On his departure, he was spotted by a group of fans who waved and clapped, but he failed to acknowledge them.

A university spokesman said later he had asked to be able to keep his robe as a memento of the occasion and in a break with tradition was allowed to do so.

He added, “He appeared to enjoy the experience and it was a great compliment to the university that he asked to keep his graduation robe.”

Meanwhile, more than 100 people queued in heavy rain from early yesterday to snap up the last available tickets to see him.

The free tickets were available from university offices.

Although Bob Dylan agreed to pose for the official photographs in a private room in the Younger Hall, he declined to grant any interviews to the army of reporters.