Two degrees, going for PhD - and he's only 18

Michael Hoy, now studying in Sydney, says science and engineering are exciting. Photo / Supplied

An 18-year-old whizkid once too young to drive himself to his lectures and who had to stay at home while his older mates were partying in town, graduates from university this week with degrees in engineering and science.

While some teenagers are contemplating tertiary study, Michael Hoy of Tauranga has started work on a PhD at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, studying vehicle collision avoidance.

He began his university studies at 14 and has completed two degrees, becoming Waikato University's first conjoint BE and BSc (majoring in electronic engineering and mathematics) which he achieved with first class honours.

The accolade for a youngster is a rarity but he was Tauranga Boys' High School's science scholar with the top NCEA level 3 marks in statistics, calculus and physics, also at 14.

Mr Hoy, who likes tennis, playing piano and the occasional run, said he could not recall putting in monstrous hours of study although he completed his time at high school in two years.

"I knew I was above average at primary school but it was only when I went to intermediate and started doing competitions that I realised I was doing really well," he said.

"Maths is just something I've always enjoyed and I guess I have always been good at it."

For his PhD thesis, he will look at systems and applications to make cars automatically veer or brake to stop car crashes.

"You can already get cars to brake automatically if they're following the car in front too closely," he said.

"I'm working on taking car safety a step further, about taking control from the driver in dangerous situations.

"It's like getting a car to think, knowing when to brake, to swerve and which way to go."

He said science and engineering were exciting fields, and not necessarily subjects for backroom boffins.

"Just about everything you see around you is there because of some kind of science or engineering," he said.

"Like any occupation, it does have some routine but there are glamorous aspects to it as well."

When he was 14, he was too young to drive and his father would bring him from Tauranga to his lectures every day.

He then moved to Hamilton, first boarding, then living in the halls of residence and finally going flatting when most of his friends were in their 20s.

He has not decided what he will eventually do with his life. If he completes his PhD on time he will be 22.

"I'm basically waiting to see what happens," he said.

"Things can change and it will be different to see what is out there in three years."