evidence: 10 Youngest People Ever to Achieve a Doctorate Degree [...] Whatever the motivation, though, choosing the right area of study can be a tricky, but ultimately rewarding, process. If you're feeling particularly confused or just can't make up your mind, then this list of the 10 youngest students to ever achieve a doctorate is guaranteed to inspire you - or maybe kick-start your ambitions. [...] Although Kim, born in 1963, earned his PhD at the astoundingly young age of 15 and appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the "Highest IQ," he is quick to point out that academic success is not always the measure of a person. "Society should not judge anyone with unilateral standards - everyone has different learning levels, hopes, talents, and dreams and we should respect that."