He studied at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) in 1973.
He studied library science at University College London, completing a diploma (DipLib) in 1971.
He was elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge: he served as its librarian from 1986 to 2015 and its Vice-Master from 2012 to 2016.
In 2006, he was made an Honorary Professor of Historical Bibliography by the University of Cambridge.
[5] On 23 November 1989, McKitterick was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).