Subject overview

Programmes

• PhD in Genome Stability
• MPhil in Genome Stability

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. 

The Genome Damage and Stability Centre enables scientists of different disciplines to be housed in one building and benefit from mutual interests. Our work ranges from studies on the protein molecules that repair DNA inside cells to the genes that are altered or mutated in cancer cells and in neurological disease, with an aim of understanding these diseases and how we might defeat them. 

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 Genome Stability

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a relevant science subject.

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 Genome Stability

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a relevant science subject.

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
• Chemistry
• Evolution, behaviour and environment
• Neuroscience

Fees and funding

Fees

MPhil in Genome Stability

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Overseas students: £16,200²

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

PhD in Genome Stability

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Overseas students: £16,200²

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

The Genome Damage and Stability Centre currently houses these research groups: 

Dr Jon Baxter Work in the Baxter lab focuses on how duplicated chromosomes are resolved, both during DNA replication and mitosis. 

Dr Alessandro Bianchi We study how the natural ends of the chromosomes, the telomeres, ensure the protection and integrity of the genome. 

Professor Keith Caldecott The Caldecott Laboratory focuses on understanding how broken DNA is repaired in humans, and the consequences to human health and disease if this repair is attenuated or absent.  

Professor Tony Carr The Carr Laboratory studies how the mistakes made while duplicating our DNA can lead to changes in our genetic code that in turn can cause cancer. 

Professor Aidan Doherty We investigate novel cellular mechanisms involved in the replication and repair of damaged DNA. 

Dr Jessica Downs The Downs Laboratory is interested in understanding the dynamic interplay between chromatin and genome stability.  

Dr Sherif El-Khamisy Breaking and sealing one strand of DNA: the consequence of the imbalance. 

Dr Helfrid Hochegger The Hochegger Laboratory uses chemical genetic approaches, advanced microscopy and proteomics to study how mitotic kinases and phosphatases drive mitosis and orchestrate cell division. 

Dr Eva Hoffmann We study the property of chromosomes, how structural changes to chromosomes are mediated, and the importance for our genetic makeup.

Professor Penny Jeggo Breaks in both DNA strands arise from normal growth and following radiation exposure. We study the response to such breaks and their impact on human health. 

Professor Alan Lehmann FRS I am interested in how cells repair DNA damaged by UV light from the sun, and in genetic disorders that result from defects in repairing this DNA damage.

Dr Johanne Murray We are interested in how cells correctly replicate their DNA, with a specific interest in the Smc5/6 complex which regulates homologous recombination.  

Dr Matt Neale My lab investigates the mechanisms underpinning DNA repair and genetic variation using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 

Dr Mark O’Driscoll We study the underlying causes and effects of impaired DNA repair using patient material from various known and new human genetic diseases.

Dr Tony Oliver I use structural biology techniques to study the mechanisms underlying the assembly and regulation of multi-component systems involved in DNA damage repair.  

Professor Laurence Pearl FRS Structural studies of multiprotein complexes regulating DNA damage and stress responses, and their exploitation for drug discovery. 

Dr Steve Sweet The Sweet Laboratory studies the alteration and potential re-establishment of epigenetic modifications after the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. 

Dr Hideo Tsubouchi We are interested in understanding the mechanism and regulation of homologous recombination of DNA using budding yeast as a model organism.  

Dr Felicity Watts We are interested in a number of DNA damage processses. 

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 roles such as scientific researcher for the Medical Research Council, medical writer, postdoctoral researcher, and healthcare scientist. 

School and contacts