11-year-old boy graduates from college as summa cum laude

By: Dana Cruz - 4 years ago

Image: Instagram/@laurent_simons

An 11-year-old Belgian boy has finished his bachelor鈥檚 degree in physics and graduated summa cum laude after only a year in university.

Laurent Simons graduated from the University of Antwerp in Belgium after earning an average of about 9 on his diploma, as per ANP news agency via Netherland 黑料社 Live today, July 6. While Simons took a year to complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree, finishing the university鈥檚 physics program usually takes three years.

Simons is now set to continue with his graduate studies in physics at the same university and has actually finished some courses with the school鈥檚 master鈥檚 program.

鈥淚 have already completed a few courses,鈥� he said in the interview. The boy added that he wants to work as a scientist in the future and plans to eventually 鈥渞eplace as many parts of the body as possible with counterfeit organs.鈥�

Simons previously studied electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, but was unable to graduate because of a dispute between his parents and the school. He was set to become the university鈥檚 youngest graduate but was not permitted to finish his studies. The school found it unrealistic for Simons to graduate before his 10th birthday but his parents claim their son was a victim of 鈥渂ullying behavior.鈥�

Simons initially planned to move to Israel or the United States to continue his studies, but instead transferred to the University of Antwerp. Dana Cruz/JB

12-year-old boy to graduate from high school and college in same month