University of Glasgow has appointed Glaswegian novelist and essayist Andrew O’Hagan as an honorary professor.

Mr O'Hagan will be based in the university's Scottish Literature department in the College of Arts & Humanities.

He starts his five-year position immediately, and will share his expertise and experiences as a critically acclaimed writer, novelist and essayist with fellow academics and students.

The Booker Prize nominee said: “As a Glaswegian, I feel proud and honoured to be able to serve the University of Glasgow, one of the great European centres of learning and a beacon of innovation and understanding worldwide.

“I look forward to bringing my experience as an author to the life of the students at Glasgow and joining this world-class body of scholars.”

Showing his admiration for Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, he will also collaborate with top Burns scholars at the Centre for Robert Burns Studies.

Mr O'Hagan, who is the Editor-at-Large of the London Review of Books, and is a contributor to Esquire, the New York Review of Books, and the New Yorker, has won several awards, such as the Los Angeles Times Book Award.

Dr Pauline Mackay, head of Scottish Literature, and director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies, said: “It's a real coup to have Andrew join us in Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow.

"We look forward to working with Andrew on impactful projects to further engage students and worldwide audiences with vibrant research and learning about Scottish Literature and Robert Burns Studies.”

Professor Gerard Carruthers, Francis Hutcheson chairperson of Scottish Literature at the university, and who contributed to shaping this partnership, said: “Andrew is one of the foremost writers of his generation, in long-form journalism as well as fiction and he is deeply engaged in Scottish and global culture.

"With his involvements at the very top of the transatlantic cultural industries sector, he brings unrivalled opportunity to our staff and student communities.”