Despite being a proud College Dropout, Kanye West received an honorary degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago yesterday (May 11).

The 37-year-old rapper delighted the crowd of students with his heartfelt and amusing speech upon accepting the doctorate.

"I am a pop artist," he began, as he took to the podium in full academic dress inside the city's Auditorium Theatre. "So my medium is public opinion and the world is my canvas.

"'I'm sorry' is something that you can use a lot. It gives you the opportunity to give your opinion. Apologise for it. And give your opinion again. People say, 'You should not be sorry for your opinions!'"

He went on to muse: "George Bush has some very cool self-portraits. I never knew he was an artist. I felt my nerves a bit, and I don't feel that feeling a lot. 

"The nerves of humility and modesty when being honoured. A humanisation, a reality of being recognised. And all I thought as I sit here, kind of shaking a little bit is... I need to get rid of that feeling. I need to not be nervous."

Kim Kardashian West later congratulated husband Kanye on Instagram and added the caption: "Dr Kanye West!!!!!!! I'm so proud of you baby & I know your mum would be so proud too!!!!"

The star's late mother Dr Donda West died unexpectedly in 2007 at the age of 58.

Kanye dropped out of Chicago's Academy of Art and then Chicago State after one term, and went on to name his debut album The College Dropout. 

The rapper finished his speech by thanking the academy.