94-year-old Australian woman gets master's degree

A 94-year-old Australian great-great-grandmother who left school at the age of 12 appears to be the world’s oldest recipient of a master’s degree, an official with Guinness World Records said today.

University of Adelaide graduate Phyllis Turner was awarded her master’s degree in medical science at a ceremony in her hometown of Adelaide, surrounded by generations of offspring.

“We do have the category for oldest Master’s graduate, but we don’t have a current record,” said spokeswoman Amarilis Espinoza in London.

She said if Turner applied to the world records foundation, she would likely be awarded the record.

“We very much encourage her to do so,” Espinoza said.

Turner’s supervisor Prof. Maciej Henneberg said he had urged Turner to continue her studies to earn a doctorate, but she had so far declined his offer of help.

“People survive to 101 but rarely with a mind so young,” Henneberg said.

“Her intellect is capable of completing a Ph.D., but her health is less certain; she is reluctant,” he said, adding that a doctorate would take more than three years.