Matthew KimeMatthew KimeAcademic qualifications
BA(Oxon.) Chemistry (with molecular biophysics as a supplementary subject).
The well-known Chemistry course (at least for decades Oxford was the university in England with the largest number of Chemistry undergraduates) had a one-word description of the course material, that was, "Chemistry". It was in the common form for English universities in that it was a specialised course with very little by way of formal general education involved. It did not involve very much by way of more general scientific education outside the wide ambit of the description of Chemistry. This was reason enough for me to spend some time studying molecular biophysics. Chemistry at Oxford was unusual as a course at English universities in that it was a 4-year course with the fourth academic year dedicated to original scientific research with a thesis. Choosing to study Chemistry at Oxford necessarily generally involved, at about the age of 18 (I had decided I wished to study Chemistry when I was about 11 years old), the choice of Chemistry as the subject to be studied with little or no scope for study of the sciences or disciplines not falling within the description of Chemistry. Most Oxford Chemistry graduates expected to exploit their education and training in fields outside Chemistry. I took a little longer than most to move outside Chemistry because I found I enjoyed research work and my research was particularly interesting and at least some aspects were useful.
MA(Oxon.) This is not a degree earned directly by examination or research. It is not really relevant academically. It may be more appropriate to describe it as an honorary degree. It has benefits. In terms of university heirarchy, formally the MA is superior to the DPhil and this is why the correct order for formally listing degrees is MA, DPhil notwithstanding that it is the DPhil which is the doctoral, and so higher, degree.
DPhil(Oxon.) My research was based in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford, and involved development of applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. I was funded by the award of a Science Research Council (SRC) Research Studentship. My examiners were Professor George Radda FRS (internal) and Dr J. Feeney of the National Institute of Medical Research, Mill Hill, London (external).
LLB(London) Law
Diploma in Law (City University) The academic core legal qualification for graduates seeking to become barristers.
Universities
University College, Oxford University, Oxford, England (see above). This was the college with the reputation of having been the first formed of all the Oxford colleges but, even if it was the first formed college, it may be difficult to support the claim that it was founded by King Alfred.
Yale University, Connecticut, USA (as a post-doctoral research fellow and post-doctoral research associate) (I was the beneficiary of a prestigious NATO/SERC postdoctoral research fellowship for 2 years in the USA)
City University, London
London University
Legal vocational training
Inns of Court School of Law (I studied the Law of International Trade and Revenue Law as my optional subjects)
I was called to the Bar in 1988 by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
Pupillage
In specialist intellectual property chambers.
John V Fitzgerald (at the time, as now, head of chambers of the then 7 New Square Intellectual Property Chambers now part of 7 New Square Chambers after the enlargement by merger) was my pupil-master and I did spend some time with Nicolas Bragge (appointed a Master in the Chancery Division of the High Court from 29 September 1997)