TIMES HONGKONG, GERMANY – In the quiet corridors of the University of Münster, one of Germany’s largest and most prestigious academic institutions, something extraordinary is happening. Among students twice his age, 12-year-old Friedrich Wendt walks confidently into lectures on Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis, fields typically reserved for upper-year undergraduates or early doctoral candidates.

Friedrich is not just young. He is historically young. In fact, according to university records and media reporting, he is the youngest degree-seeking student ever admitted not only to the University of Münster, but to any German university in modern history.

And this isn’t a symbolic enrollment. Friedrich is actively studying—completing complex mathematical coursework, engaging with professors, and earning top marks—while most children his age are still mastering long division.

“He brings an enthusiasm for the subject that only our most passionate university students have. What really makes him special is his fantastic memory," Prof. Dr. Matthias Löwe, University of Münster.

IQ Off the Charts

Friedrich’s extraordinary cognitive ability was formally recognized by the International Center for Research on Giftedness (ICBF) in Münster, a leading European institute for giftedness diagnostics. According to their results, Friedrich scored in the 100th percentile, placing him statistically beyond the reach of standard IQ testing. Experts estimate his IQ exceeds 180, a number so rare it is thought to occur in fewer than one in 20 million people.

To put that in context, Albert Einstein the most iconic physicist of the 20th century has been retrospectively estimated to have had an IQ between 160 and 180. Friedrich is already showing the kind of intellectual depth and curiosity that evokes comparisons to such giants.

“In over 30 years of teaching, I have never seen a child like him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon," Stefan Schrade, principal of Schloss Buldern, a selective school for gifted students where Friedrich is also enrolled.

A Rapid Ascent

Friedrich’s academic acceleration has been as rapid as it is unusual. After relocating with his family from Virginia, USA to Germany in 2020, he skipped multiple grades and completed the equivalent of three years of high school in under one year.

Friedrich, the youngest in his class at University of Münster. (Photo: Sylvia for TIMES Indonesia)

At age 10, he was then admitted as a regular student to the University of Münster’s Department of Mathematics. Now in his fourth university semester, Friedrich navigates advanced subjects like Linear Algebra, Group Theory, and Topology, often outperforming much older peers.

Born by an Indonesian Mother, Raised in America

Though currently living in Germany, Friedrich was raised in the United States during the formative years of his childhood. Born in May 16, 2013 this little guy spent his early life in Roanoke, Virginia, attending Parkway Christian Academy, where teachers quickly noticed his extraordinary abilities.

Videos of Friedrich at age 6 went viral online, including one titled “Who can challenge this 6-year-old Super Brain with an IQ of 180?”, which has since amassed over 1.1 million views.

In the video, Friedrich effortlessly identifies national anthems by ear, names countries from their outlines, and reads out 100-digit numbers aloud—demonstrations that stunned viewers across the globe.

“It’s not just a gifted child performing tricks,” said Allison Fortner, his former second-grade teacher. “He has this rare way of processing the world, deeply and precisely.”

Media Star in Germany

Already, Friedrich Wendt has become something of a media phenomenon in Germany. National top broadcasters such as ARD, ZDF, and WDR have featured his story on primetime news, while nearly all major newspapers and magazines have run profiles describing him as a modern-day “Wunderkind.” 

Richard (left) plays with Friedrich (right) during their spare time. (Photo: Sylvia for TIMES Indonesia)

In a country known for academic rigor, The little guy's name has become synonymous with intellectual precocity, making him not only a gifted student but also a public figure who symbolizes the potential of extraordinary talent nurtured at a young age.

Meet Friedrich`s Brother

While Friedrich often captures headlines with his academic acceleration, his younger brother Richard Wendt, aged 10, is a remarkable talent in his own way. With a verified IQ of 155 placing him well within the top fraction of the global population, Richard is also a member of Mensa, the international high-IQ society. 

But Richard brings a different kind of brilliance to the table: quick-witted, street-smart, and socially agile, he complements his cognitive strength with a confident, grounded personality.

Teachers and family alike describe him as a natural problem-solver with sharp instincts and strong emotional intelligence—traits that make him both intellectually gifted and uniquely adaptable. In the Wendt household, genius comes in more than one form.

From Münster to the World

For now, Friedrich continues his studies quietly in Münster, Germany, his days filled with numbers, symbols, and equations. But his story is no longer a local one.

He and his bombastic IQ at such a young age represents a new chapter in the global narrative of talent, mobility, and opportunity. And wherever his path leads whether across the Atlantic or deeper into academia, one thing is clear: The world has only just begun to see what Friedrich Wendt, alongside his brother Richard, can do. (*)