Subject overview

Specialist facilities

In addition to a range of specialised equipment associated with particular research groups, we have outstanding communal research facilities including a range of high-field multinuclear NMR instruments, an extensive mass spectrometry suite and an x-ray structure centre with instrumentation for both protein and small-molecule structural determination. All these instruments are in managed shared facilities run by experienced academic facility managers and are fully available to all trained research students. Theoretical and computational work is supported by a dedicated 16 node, 128 core InfiniBand connected high-performance computing cluster. 

Programmes

• PhD in Chemistry
• MPhil in Chemistry

The School of Life Sciences welcomes you to join a vibrant international research community. Research in the School ranges from studies on the most basic chemical building blocks of life to studies on how the brain generates behaviour or how insect societies are organised. We offer PhD/MPhil degrees and welcome projects falling within our research interests. 

Student progress and support

Throughout your studies, you are expected to take part in laboratory meetings, journal clubs and to attend a weekly seminar series. All students are encouraged to attend, and present their work at, national and international scientific meetings. You are also encouraged to attend weekly School seminars. 

The School offers full support to all research students throughout their research period by monitoring their research progress in the form of annual reviews, informal meetings, mid-year reports (Year 1) and active participation in the Postgraduate Research Colloquium. The aim of the Colloquium is to bring research students and faculty together for a wider discussion of the ongoing research projects within the School. All third-year research students give a talk on their research, and all second-year research students submit a poster depicting the key aims and objectives, methods and findings of their research project. 

We aim to ensure that you have the best possible research experience. The relationships between supervisors and research students are often among the most rewarding academic partnerships in the School. We also host a monthly Coffee Morning and a Beer Hour for our students to mingle with their peers and supervisors across various disciplines. We take student feedback very seriously and PhD student representatives form an integral part of our Student Experience Committee. 

Supervision

All our research students are assigned at least two supervisors, typically a main supervisor and a co-supervisor. Progress is monitored by informal meetings and annual reports.

Entry requirements

MPhil in Chemistry

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in chemistry or a related discipline.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EEA student you must obtain clearance by the UK Government Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for this degree. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your university application to be considered and processed in time for you to apply for ATAS clearance and your Tier 4 visa.

PhD in Chemistry

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in chemistry or a related discipline.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EEA student you must obtain clearance by the UK Government Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for this degree. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your university application to be considered and processed in time for you to apply for ATAS clearance and your Tier 4 visa.

Related subjects

• Biochemistry and molecular biology
• Evolution, behaviour and environment
• Genome damage and stability
• Neuroscience

Fees and funding

Fees

MPhil in Chemistry

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

PhD in Chemistry

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

Chemistry at Sussex has a broad base spanning the traditional subdisciplines – inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry – each with an international profile, augmented by a strong bridge to the life sciences through medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. 

Within the Translational Drug Discovery Group there are groupings focusing on: 

• medicinal chemistry of, and drug design for, oncology and neurodegeneration 
• total synthesis of pharmaceutically important natural products, including antibiotics and antifungals. 

Physical and inorganic chemistry also provide the underpinning technical capabilities in x-ray and neutron diffraction, NMR and mass spectrometry. Our longstanding reputation in synthetic organometallic chemistry is complemented by strengths in polymerisation catalysis and physical inorganic chemistry. Studies encompass most of the main group elements, transition metals, and f-block metals, eg lanthanides, Th, and U. 

Organometallic research is directed towards the synthesis and structural characterisation of highly novel compounds. The discovery of new and incisive synthetic techniques is an overarching theme that brings together all of our groups in our recently refurbished state-of-the-art synthetic laboratories. 

Experimental physical chemistry develops techniques in laser science, single-molecule spectroscopy and FRET – Förster Resonance Energy Transfer, mass spectrometry, NMR, and nanoscience. 

Professor Mark Bagley Heterocyclic chemistry, the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds of biological interest and the properties of heterocyclic drugs and natural products. 

Professor Wendy Brown Our research looks at chemistry in space which leads to the formation of stars, planets and even the universe itself. 

Dr Qiao Chen Chen’s nanolab is focused on developing nanostructured metal oxide materials for their application in environment treatment, green energy, chemical sensors and biotechnology.

Professor Geoff Cloke FRS Research in the Cloke Group focuses on using organometallic chemistry to transform carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide in to valuable organic compounds or fuels. 

Dr Hazel Cox We look at the underlying chemical and physical reasons for the structure, stability, reactivity and spectroscopy of gas-phase multiply charged metal ligand complexes.

Dr Ian Crossley Development of molecules with unusual electronic properties for use in molecular electronic devices and molecular activation/ catalysis. 

Dr Iain Day Investigating the structure and dynamics of small molecules and their aggregates in solution with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 

Dr Oscar Navarro Fernandez Design and synthesis of organometallic complexes and their application as catalysts in new methodology for organic synthesis and polymerisations. 

Dr Mark Osborne The Osborne lab focuses on developing laser-spectroscopic and single-molecule detection techniques for bio-imaging and nanomaterial characterisation. 

Dr John Spencer Our interests include organic synthetic methodology towards bioactive molecules, microwave-mediated chemistry (coupling reactions, reductions, cyclisations) and palladacycle design, study and reactivity. 

Dr John Turner Fundamental and applied studies of catalytic small-molecule activation for operative catalysts to close the carbon cycle, powered by sunlight. 

Dr Eddy Viseux We have developed novel chiral complexes to enantioselectively catalyse cascade reactions and access new chemotherapeutics as well as libraries of small heterocycles. 

Professor Simon Ward I am interested in developing new drugs for treating cancer, neurological diseases and other disorders. 

Careers and perspectives

Career development is an important part of our PhD training. The development of research and transferable skills is supported by the Sussex Postgraduate Skills Programme, which runs a large number of short skills modules, including interview skills, time management, oral presentations and thesis writing. All postgraduate research students complete a skills assessment and choose a personalised set of modules. 

Our graduates have gone on to careers in Higher Education and research, and hold posts such as synthetic organic chemist, postdoctoral research fellow and university tutor. 

School and contacts