Both Edinburgh University principal Tim O'Shea and his vice-principal, John Savill, have been knighted in the New Year's honours.
Professor O'Shea told The Times Higher : "Things have gone well at the University of Edinburgh as a whole and we have been excelling in medicine.
"I'm delighted that John Savill has received a knighthood at the same time," he said.
Professor O'Shea, a computer scientist, became principal of the university in 2002.
"There has been a tremendous amount of important research and there has, of course, also been a huge amount of student achievement as well," Professor O'Shea said.
"The university has been very successful, and it's fabulous to be part of that," he added.
"On a personal level, it is a surprising feeling to be given this type of recognition, but it is entirely clear that it is down to the success of the university."
Professor Savill, who took up his vice-principalship in 2002, is also head of the university's college of medicine and veterinary science. He has held a chair of medicine at the university since 1998.
In a statement released to the media, he observed: "This (knighthood) is a great honour, not only for me, but for all my colleagues in medicine and veterinary science, who together have made an outstanding contribution to clinical science in Scotland."