Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba will receive an honorary doctorate today in recognition of his remarkable recovery from a cardiac arrest.
The 24-year-old's heart stopped for 78 minutes after he collapsed during the live televised FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in March.
He will be honoured by the University of Bolton during its degree congregation ceremony at the Victoria Hall later this morning.
Vice Chancellor of the university Dr George Holmes said: "Fabrice is an exceptional young man in his own right, but he will receive his honorary doctorate to celebrate and recognise the work of the teams who rushed to his aid.
"The University is developing its strength in the field of sports science and associated clinical work for elite athletes.
"There can be no better example of the work of clinicians than the emergency treatment Fabrice received."
Muamba arrived in London at the age of 11, having fled the Democratic Republic of Congo seeking asylum in the UK.
Despite being unable to speak English when he began school in England, he went on to achieve 10 GCSEs and three A levels.