University of Derby

Intro

Here at the University of Derby, we believe anything is possible. With a broad range of courses at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level, we can help you get your career off to a great start. We know how important it is to have the best teaching, and we’re proud to be rated Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework; but we also offer so much more, with some of the best university facilities in the country, opportunities for industry experience and practical, hands-on learning to make your studies relevant to life after graduation. To help broaden your horizons, we offer a wide range of opportunities to study abroad, whatever your subject – a great way to experience a different culture, meet new people and add to your CV.

Facilities

Our main campus is in Derby, a hi-tech city with lots going on. The campus is spread across several sites, from our main one at Kedleston Road which also houses our Sports Centre and main library, to One Friar Gate Square, our specialist building for law and criminology courses. Markeaton Street is your base for arts, engineering and technology and boasts a new STEM Centre as well as a separate building dedicated to fashion and textiles. A short step from here is the beautifully restored Britannia Mill, where you can study fine art, dance, social work or creative expressive therapies.

All our sites provide study spaces and food outlets for your downtime between lectures. We’ve invested £200 million in our facilities over the past ten years which means you’ll be learning in hi-tech surroundings, including a mock hospital ward, multi-scene Forensic Training Facility and Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab, to name a few.

There’s free transport between sites in Derby, accommodation and the city centre, so it’s easy to get around.

Our Buxton Campus is a leading spa and wellness town on the edge of the Peak District, one of the UK’s busiest national parks. The town provides the perfect location for our hospitality, spa, culinary arts, events, tourism and outdoor courses. We’re based in the historic Devonshire Dome, equipped with everything you need to perfect your skills, including high-specification kitchen, restaurant and café and award-winning commercial day spa.

At Chesterfield, you’ll find the old and new combining to create state-of-the-art provision for nursing and health care courses. We’ve transformed the former Chesterfield Girls’ Grammar School into a modern, bright base for your studies. Among its facilities is a cutting-edge Immersive Interactive Simulation Suite, replicating real-life scenarios in a safe learning environment.

Student life

Our active Union of Students organises a host of activities to help you get the most out of your time with us. Welcome Fortnight gives you not one but two weeks of fun as you settle into University life.

Club nights and parties will soon have you making friends, while outdoor cinemas and open mic nights provide something with a little more laid-back. Sport is on offer at the competitive or social level, and societies cover a range of academic subjects, hobbies and other interests. The Union is also there to represent and support you throughout your time at the University.

Derby has a vibrant and compact city centre with plenty of places to eat and drink. There are cinemas, an arts centre, and a good choice of entertainments, from night clubs to escape rooms, trampolining centre, a Christmas ice rink, bowling and indoor golf. If you love to shop, the indoor Intu shopping centre has a good selection of high street shops, while the historic Cathedral Quarter has some more individual boutiques and specialist shops.

Buxton is a quieter town and a great base for outdoor pursuits, perfect if you love walking, climbing, cycling or canoeing. It’s also well-known for its art and cultural scene, with a popular summer arts festival among several events. There’s a good choice of shops, bars and restaurants, but it’s only a short journey to the bright lights of Manchester if you do want a big night out – so you can get the best of both worlds here.

Open Days

We’d love to welcome you to an Open Day. It’s the best way to see the University for yourself and ask all those questions you have about the course, the city, and the campuses. You can take a campus tour with current students, go to talk about the subject you want to study, meet students and staff who can tell you what it’s like to study here and take a tour of our accommodation. There’s advice on hand on applying, finance and studying abroad, as well as access courses, online study and other options.

Open Days take place throughout the year – for full details see our website.