Five-time Grammy-winning record producer Steve Lillywhite has received an honorary degree from the University of Surrey.

Lillywhite produced for bands including U2, The Rolling Stones, The Killers and Talking Heads during his five-decade career.

The Egham-born producer said it was “very humbling and very lovely” to accept the award on 1 May.

“I did not even finish secondary school. I did O-levels and then I was asked to leave, so I was amazed by today,” he said.

Lillywhite compared the honour to becoming a CBE for services to music in the 2012 New Year Honours list.

He told BBC Radio Surrey: “That was a really amazing thing, to go to the palace and get that, but this had pomp and circumstance to another level because I had to wear the gown and I got the certificate.”

The producer toured the university’s facilities and spoke with “fantastic” current students during his visit.

“When you see young people and the enthusiasm they have for doing good, you realise that yes, we’ll muck through it,” he added.

He said his advice for the students was to “follow your heart, and don’t take what your teachers say as being gospel”.

“You enter cult status by doing that. Always question the teachers and take from them what you think is good for you,” he said.

He said he had spent his life “with a little bit of imposter syndrome”, but its “always been part of my thing to always try your hardest and never be complacent”.

The university also honoured scientists Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Prof Peter Høj, along with businessmen Alan Parker, John Mullen and Lim Hua Min.

University of Surrey vice-chancellor Prof Max Lu said: “We are proud to recognise these outstanding individuals whose work has made a lasting impact across science, education, the arts, business and beyond.

“Their achievements speak to the values we hold dear at Surrey – excellence, creativity, and the drive to make a difference in the world.”