Bruce Berry (academic)

Bruce Berry (1940–2014) was a British perpetual student. He took his first degree from Manchester University in 1963,[1] and continued to study from the 1970s onwards, coming to possess several further Bachelor's and master's degrees (from universities including Leeds, York and Normandy University, Caen), as well as a Ph.D. from Leeds Metropolitan University. He died before completing his twelfth degree, another Ph.D.

Fluent in several languages, he was also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.[2][3][4] Berry was a member of Mensa, and when asked about his rationale behind for his degrees he stated “I just get this Faustian thirst for knowledge. I like to keep an open mind – anything which catches my interest, I go for it.”[1] Altogether, Berry earned three Bachelor's degrees, seven Master's degrees and a Ph.D.[4][5]

After retiring from a career including technical document translation for Agfa-Gevaert, working for the Post Office, and teaching, he worked as a lollipop man (crossing guard).[3]

  1. ^ a b "Bruce Berry". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 15 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Bruce Berry". Yorkshire Post. 15 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Lollipop man studies 12th degree". BBC News. 2 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Lollipop Man Studies For His 12th Degree". HuffPost UK. 3 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Genius lollipop man has 11 degrees". TNT Magazine. 30 April 2012.