The 'Argo' actor and filmmaker has been elected to receive a Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degree from the Ivy League university for his achievements in cinema.

Although the star missed out on the coveted Best Director Oscar at the Academy Awards ceremony in February, he will be rewarded for his work behind the camera when he picks up the prize next month.

Ben was nominated and voted on by the Board of Fellows in September, before his CIA thriller 'Argo' took awards season by storm, receiving the Best Motion Picture of the Year Oscar, Best Film BAFTA and Best Director at the Golden Globes, amongst many other accolades.

Pulitzer-winning author and MIT professor Junot Diaz and four others will also be honoured at Brown University's commencement ceremony on May 26.

Ben joins the likes of Daniel Day Lewis, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and even Kermit the Frog who have picked up honorary degrees for their film work.

After his whirlwind year in 2012, Ben is looking forward to spending time at home with his children, Violet, seven, Seraphina, four, and 13-month-old Samuel, while wife Jennifer Garner concentrates on her acting career.

He joked earlier this month: "I'm preparing myself to take on some more of the burden at home.
"[Jennifer's] got a couple of movies coming up, so it's going to be a little Mr. Mom action, and I'm going to get back in the ring and we're going to see if I still have it."