A dyslexic student studying for a Phd in chemistry says his university has failed him because he has not had enough support.

Adrian Palmer, 32, has taken legal advice and says time is running out for him to submit his work.

He began the course at the University of Sussex in 2000 but claims he has not received enough help with his disability.

He said: "I've got to where I am today because of the support of my parents in my early years.

"My degree took me six years to get but I was quite determined to get it. The Phd has proved to me I'm not a normal student. Intellectually I could have done this Phd but I never received any support."

Mr Palmer, of Carlyle Avenue, Brighton, was diagnosed by his parents at the age of 12 after they researched his symptoms.

It was a condition which received little educational support at the time so they took him out of school for private tutoring.

Mr Palmer gained A-levels and a degree in geography and chemistry, which he followed up with a masters in chemistry.

Despite the hurdles, Mr Palmer was determined to take on a Phd in chemistry at Sussex but, four years on, he still has not completed it.

As well as muddling words dyslexics may have difficulties with organisation and categorisation. They may have a poor short-term memory. Mr Palmer is now going through the university's grievance procedure and has sought legal advice.

He said: "I was having to concentrate on long and tedious pieces. Sometimes I would be sitting down in front of something observing it for four or five hours or even more. It was that which was causing me problems.

"I was doing it day in day out and I have a short attention span because of my dyslexia and this is why I was having problems."

He has not been in the laboratory since January and looks likely to fail the course.

A university spokesman said: "The university is aware of Mr Palmer's concerns and these are being fully investigated through the university's normal procedures. The university takes such complaints very seriously."