The thiazole VUV absorption spectrum over the range 5-12 eV shows intense bands near 5.4, 6.0, 7-7.8, 8.2-8.8, 9.2-10.1 and 10.2-11.0 eV; there is marked vibrational structure in the 7.5-8.5 and 10.2-11 eV regions. A number of Rydberg states have been identified, largely from IE 1 , but also tentative values for ones from IE 2 and IE 4 . Electronic excitation energies for valence and Rydberg-type states have been computed using ab initio multi-reference multi-root CI methods, and these have been compared with the VUV envelope. Calculated energies for low-lying Rydberg states are close to those expected, and there is generally a good correlation between the theoretical intensities and calculated density of states, with the experimental envelope. The CI studies used a triple zeta + polarization basis set, augmented by diffuse (Rydberg) orbitals. The lowest absorption bands are dominated by intense pp * (A 0 ) valence states, together with LP N p * and pr * states, which are relatively weak. The lowest Rydberg states arise from excitation of the occupied MOs in the sequential order p 4 < r 18 (LP N ) < p 3 < p 2 < r 17 (LP S ) this same order is determined by CI for ionisation in the UV-PES spectrum. Adiabatic structures of the r-and p-triplets, -cations and the p-anion have been compared with the ground state structure. The known phosphorescence of thiazole is from the 3 A triplet state (C 1 symmetry) where significant twisting of C 5 H and S to opposite sides of the mean plane occurs. Some theoretical molecular properties of thiazole are described, which give good agreement with microwave spectral data.