14-year-old to study biomedical engineering at Imperial after acing A-levels
Homeschooled since the pandemic, Elias earned four A*s and an A and will begin university in September
A 14-year-old from Burton-upon-Trent will begin studying biomedical engineering at Imperial College London in late September after completing his A-levels four years early.
Elias achieved four A*s and an A in his exams and said he was "very satisfied" with his results. He added he was "pretty excited and ... slightly nervous" about starting university but expected to be helped by his older sisters, who also attend Imperial.
Homeschooled since the Covid-19 pandemic, Elias has been tutored by his older siblings, Clara and Juliana, both Imperial students. His family said his younger sister, Ariel, 11, who has also been taught at home, scored top grades in her recent exams.
Elias earned three of his A*s last year, in chemistry, mathematics and physics, and completed the remainder of his A-level programme this year. He also achieved a grade 9 in GCSE English.
The achievement will make Elias one of the youngest undergraduates on Imperial's campus when he begins the biomedical engineering course. A-levels are typically taken by students aged 18, and early entry to university is uncommon; universities examine applicants on academic readiness as well as maturity when admitting younger students.
Imperial College London is known for competitive admission to engineering and medical-related courses. The university requires students to meet specific academic criteria and, in some cases, to demonstrate preparedness for the social and pastoral aspects of campus life. Elias's family said his sisters' experience at Imperial would help him adjust.
Elias and his family said the siblings' peer tutoring approach, combined with remote and home-based study since the pandemic, supported accelerated learning. The family declined to provide further detail on teaching methods or external tutoring arrangements.
Officials at Imperial College did not immediately provide comment on the student's admission. Universities routinely consider a range of factors for applicants who are younger than the typical entrant, including interview performance, academic records and evidence of readiness for degree-level study.
Elias is due to begin his course in late September. His family said they were looking forward to seeing how he settled into university life alongside his elder sisters.