A 9-year-old boy Laurent Simons is all set to become the youngest person to complete a graduate degree. The little genius, who is half Belgian and half Dutch, will complete his degree in electrical engineering in December from Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE).
According to a report by The Telegraph, Laurent has an IQ of at least 145. In fact, the prodigy managed to complete his high school studies at the mere age of eight in just 18 months.
Reportedly, he even became the youngest-ever university student when he joined the graduation course earlier this year.
In an interview to CNN, Laurent's father, Alexander Simons, revealed that the nine-year-old plans to get enrolled for a PhD program in electrical engineering and along with that he wants to pursue a degree in medicine.
He further revealed that many prestigious universities around the world want to enrol Laurent. While there are many options to consider, Laurent's parents want to find a balance. They told CNN, "We don't want him to get too serious. He does whatever he likes. We need to find a balance between being a child and his talents."
The Education Director of electrical engineering at TUE, Sjoerd Hulshof said in a statement "Laurent is the fastest student we have ever had here. Not only is he hyper-intelligent but also a very sympathetic boy."
Laurent's mother, Lydia told CNN that it was his grandparents who first noticed that he was special. "They noticed something very special about Laurent," she said.
With this achievement, Laurent Simons will take the title of the World's Youngest Graduate from Michael Kearney next month when he graduates. Michael graduated from the University of Alabama at the age of ten.