A university has deferred a decision to close a top-rated chemistry department.

Students and staff at the University of Sussex were celebrating last night after the university senate, the highest academic decision-making body, agreed to defer a decision for six weeks to scrap chemistry degrees and cut staff.

Second year chemistry student Liz Atkinson said: "This is tantamount to a victory for us."

The decision was deferred to give Jonathan Bacon, the dean of life sciences, time to consult with staff and students.

Miss Atkinson, 25, said: "Once people see the reality of the case and not just the university's take on it they will never close us down."

Dr Gerry Lawless, who resigned from his post as head of chemistry because of the planned closure, said: "It was a good decision by the senate and I am proud to be a member.

"The students were instrumental in the decision today and I am thrilled with them."

He said the university agreed to consult with chemical biologists from outside the institution about the viability of the proposal.

A spokeswoman said the senate would propose to the university council, which meets next week, to hold off making a decision.

She confirmed the dean of life sciences would work with academic colleagues, staff, students and seek external advice to review options for life sciences including the chemistry department.

Vice-chancellor Alasdair Smith said: "The position in relation to chemistry is an important and serious one.

I have been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment from staff and students to seeking a viable future for the subject at Sussex.

"I very much welcome the fact the university now has a further period to consider the options for chemistry."

About 300 students and staff staged a noisy demonstration before the senate meeting on campus at Falmer yesterday.

Chemistry students dressed in white lab coats then lined the stairwell of Bramber House, where the meeting was held, and stood in silence holding placards saying Save Our Chemistry Department as the vice-chancellor and other senators passed through.

The university originally said the chemistry department was too expensive to run and could not guarantee student numbers but Dr Lawless said the department was one of the most lucrative and application numbers were up 40 per cent on last year.

The chemistry department has the highest gradings for research and teaching quality and produced two Nobel Laureates including Sir Harry Kroto, who is considering handing back his honorary degree if the chemistry department is closed.

The vice-chancellor and Dr Lawless have been asked to attend a House of Commons science and technology committee inquiry on March 27, to discuss plans for the chemistry department and how this will affect strategic chemistry degree provision in the South.