University of Derby

Overview

Located in the heart of England, the University of Derby is a fairly big uni that has origins dating back to the 1850s.

The uni is split across two sites, one in Derby and one in Chesterfield, which is a market town around 40 miles north. The Derby campus is made up of four sites and is home to most of the uni’s courses and teaching facilities. Getting between each of the sites, the city and the uni’s halls of residence is made easy and efficient by the Unibus services. Bicycle parking is also available on campus and at most halls of residence.

One of the sites, Kedleston Road, is where you’ll find the Sports Centre, the four-story library, study areas and places to eat and drink, including Starbucks, Subway and the Union of Students’ café and bar.

The Chesterfield site is a Centre of Excellence for Health, where you’ll find high-tech teaching facilities and a strong relationship with the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The city of Derby is diverse, safe and enjoyable. There are various bars, clubs and restaurants in the areas of Sadler Gate and Friar Gate, as well as arts and culture activities to enjoy across the city. Derby also hosts the FORMAT photography festival and Derby Festé, providing yearly cultural events.

You can also get to the Peak District national park easily from Derby, giving you the chance to enjoy outdoor activities like walking and hiking.

The city has good transport links with access to the M1, as well as good train services. East Midlands Airport is only 15 miles away from the city centre as well. 

At the University of Derby, there’s a strong focus on applied learning, meaning students learn by directly applying skills and theories to real-life situations. You’ll find a range of undergraduate courses in various subjects and can sometimes choose to study part-time or online, as well as full-time and on-campus.

In the uni’s teaching team there’s a wealth of real-world experience, especially as many of the staff are still active in their profession. This, as well as the uni’s state-of-the-art facilities, means students learn academic knowledge and practical skills that are relevant to industry.

Typically, undergraduate degrees at Derby take three years to study, but a number of courses include placement years, study abroad options or an integrated master’s year. These courses usually take four or five years to complete.

Most degrees include optional modules, as well as core modules, meaning you can study the degree topics you’re most interested in.

You can apply to the University of Derby with various qualification types, including A-levels and BTECs. Each course will have its own specific requirements that will include academic qualifications and other criteria.

For some courses, you’ll need to have already studied certain subjects, e.g., to get onto an English degree, you’ll be asked for at least a grade C in A-level English (or equivalent qualification), or a related subject.

You can find each degree programme’s specific entry requirements online on the uni’s course search pages. We’ve also given you an idea of the kind of grades you’ll need to study certain subjects below.

For example, for business, accounting or finance courses, you’ll likely need A-levels ranging from ABB–DDD (or equivalent qualification). For art & design courses, you’ll be asked for A-levels of BBB–DDD (or equivalent qualification), and for health & medicine courses, you’ll probably need A-levels ranging from AAB–DDD (or equivalent qualification).

It should be noted that entry requirements can change so you should always confirm these with the university before applying.

The University of Derby has a wide choice of accommodation to select from, including standard options, en suite residences, single or double rooms, and studio flats. You’ll find accommodations close to uni sites and the city centre.

Most first-year students live in uni residences, as students are guaranteed a place in halls as long as they meet the criteria, make Derby their firm choice and apply by the accommodation deadline.

A safe and secure environment is created in all halls and wellbeing support is available to residents, and events are organised throughout the academic year by the halls’ social teams. Every hall has a common room with shared facilities like PlayStations, table tennis and pool tables.

Rent costs vary between around £115 to £157 per week for self-catered options and all halls have WiFi, on-site laundry services and night-time security. A free weekly cleaning service for communal areas is included in your rent payments, as well as contents insurance and all bills.

As the University of Derby is an applied uni, it focuses on giving you the skills you need to succeed after you graduate. This is achieved by the uni’s strong links with industry and its dedicated Careers and Employability service.

The careers service will offer you support throughout your time at uni and for up to three years after graduating. It looks to improve your job prospects in several ways, e.g., by giving tailored support and guidance through workshops, seminars and one-to-one appointments. You’ll also be able to use a range of online resources, like the job vacancy database which can help you find and apply for jobs.

Several events, including careers fairs, are held each year by the careers service. Some will be specific to your course, while others are more general and open to all students. These events will be a great opportunity to meet employers and start growing your professional network, as well as learn about different industries.

There’s also the opportunity to do a placement or study abroad experience on many of the uni’s courses which will provide relevant work experience, as well as an employer mentoring scheme which allows students to connect with experienced professionals.

There are several additional funding opportunities on offer at the University of Derby. Lots of these are through scholarships and bursaries that can go towards the cost of studies and living. Scholarships and bursaries don’t need to be repaid. 

The University of Derby Bursary awards eligible students with up to £1,000 per academic year, depending on annual household income. Students who come from a family with a total income of £25,000 or less can receive the full bursary, while students with a household annual income of £25,001 to £36,592 are entitled to £600.

The Derby Achievement Scholarship aims to reward the hard work and success of students on an academic level. It’s worth £1,000 for students who perform especially well in their Level 3 qualifications, i.e., A-levels or BTECs (or equivalent qualifications).

There are also various sports scholarships that are worth up to £6,000 in value. These are for student-athletes who are competing at a high county level at least.

You can find out about all the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as their eligibility criteria, by visiting the uni’s online funding pages.