University of Derby

Summary

History

University of Derby is a modern University only achieving its university status in 1992. However, teaching at the Derby site actually dates back to 1851, when it was a Diocesan Institution for training teachers.

After 1851 and within 20 years two other major elements came into being: the Derby School of Art and the Derby School of Science.

University Environment

The University of Derby is spread across three campuses in Derby, Buxton and Chesterfield.

Derby Campus

The city of Derby is a compact and bustling city. It’s situated in the centre of England and it is close to the M1 and M6 motorways, as well as being within easy reach of East Midlands Airport. By train, you can get to London in 90 minutes or to Birmingham in 35 minutes.

Derby Campus sits just outside the city centre, with all its halls of residence within walking distance of both. The Campus is made up of four sites:

Kedleston Road is the biggest site and is where many of the courses are taught. It lies on the edge of Derby, just opposite a huge public park. The learning environments in the campus include: NHS-standard mock hospital wards, a multi-scene forensic training facility and a Bloomberg financial markets lab.

Markeaton Street is home to the engineering, computing and mathematics courses as well as art, design, media and performing arts. The Markeaton Street site is in a quiet residential area, just 15 minutes’ walk from the Kedleston Road site.

Britannia Mill is a restored former textile mill with specialist facilities for screen printing, dance and fine art courses, as well as for creative expressive therapies and social care. Britannia Mill is just a few minutes’ walk from the Markeaton Street site and a 20-minute walk from Kedleston Road

One Friar Gate Square, a modern and iconic building in the heart of Derby’s vibrant city centre, is the home to Derby Law School, and where law, criminology, policing, social and political science students are based. The specialist facilities at this site include: the crown court, criminology lab and interview rooms.

Buxton Campus

Buxton is home to the University’s second campus, a picturesque town in the middle of the Peak District countryside and just one hour from both Derby and Manchester. A centre for hands-on learning, Buxton Campus is home to specialist courses in hospitality and culinary management, events, tourism, spa and wellness, as well as outdoor and adventure sports.

Chesterfield Campus

The historic market town of Chesterfield's campus offers a modern, friendly and supportive learning environment, providing high-quality nursing and health care courses.

Academics

Colleges & Departments

• College of Arts, Humanities and Education

  • School of Arts
  • School of Humanities and Journalism
  • Institute of Education

• College of Business, Law and Social Sciences

  • Derby Business School
  • Derby Law School
  • Derby Managemet School
  • Department of Criminology and Social Sciences
  • International Policing and Justice Institute

• College of Engineering and Technology

  • School of Electronics, Computing and Mathematics
  • School of Mechanical Engineering and Built Environment

• College of Health and Social Care

  • School of Allied Health and Social Care
  • School of Nursing and Professional Practice
  • School of CPD and LBR

• College of Life and Natural Sciences

  • School of Human Sciences
  • School of Environmental Sciences

• Centre For Contemporary Hospitality and Tourism

  • Event Management
  • Hospitality and Culinary Managemment
  • Tourism Management
  • Spa and Wellness Management

Research

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) three-quarters of Derby's research was ranked as at least internationally significant  or world-leading compared to two-thirds in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The university has also more than doubled the number of researchers involved (from 47 to 119) and increased the number of subject areas in which research was submitted (from 4 areas to ten).

International Opportunities

Students can study abroad for one semester or one year, usually in their second year of study. There are a number of student exchange opportunities, including the opportunity for students on certain degree programmes to take part in the ERASMUS+ scheme in institutions in Europe.

Students can also work abroad with one of its partners or at a company of their choice. The University has links with institutions based around the world so can help you to look into what is available for you whether as a short-term placement over the summer or for a year as an intern.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

The University’s Sports Scholarships are for athletes at a high county level and up to senior international level. They are aimed to assist talented individuals realise their sporting potential and support them through their academic studies. The Sports Scholarships are available in 3 tiers and a Talented Athlete Award. Tier 1, 2 and 3 consists of up to £6000, £3000 and £1500 tuition fees paid respectively. The Talented Athlete Award is to contribute towards the cost of the student sport support services.

Bursaries

The University of Derby Bursary is awarded to UK undergraduate students with household incomes of less than £36,592, up to £1,000 per academic year.

The Derbyshire Bursary is offered to Derbyshire residents and schools to enable more people in the county to attend higher education and develop the necessary skills to help grow the local economy. The Bursary is to a fixed value of £1,000, paid to full-time students who qualify and enrol, in their first academic year of study.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The focus at Derby is on real world learning – preparing students for the world of work by giving them the theory and letting them put it into practice in state of the art facilities. These facilities include a simulated hospital and working radiography suite; industry standard kitchens and a fine dining restaurant; computer games suites; a commercial spa and salon; a law court and Bloomberg financial lab; TV and dance studios; and sports science gym.

The library at the Kedleston Road site offers a fantastic learning environment with a range of resources, and private and group study areas. There is also the Britannia Mill Library in Derby, Devonshire Library in Buxton and Chesterfield Royal Hospital Library. The Libraries offer access to a range of up-to-date books, journals, electronic resources and online databases to support your learning and research. Students can also benefit from Study Skills resources, information and advice, as well as access to computers and related equipment to support your learning and study. The Kedleston Road Library is open 24/7, and other University’s libraries are open during the day, evening and at weekends during academic term-time as well as running a service during vacations. There is always help, advice and guidance on hand to help students to get the most out of the resources available.

Sports Facilities

The University £10.8 million sports centre is located in the Kedleston Road site in the Derby Campus. It provides a fully equipped modern gym, classes, social sport, squash, badminton, tennis courts, climbing wall and 3G pitches.

Team Derby is the focal point for the development and delivery of sport at the University. There are a wide range of opportunities for students to play sport whilst studying at University, with the emphasis on fun, enjoyment and meeting new people along the way. Opportunities include Give It A Go and Pay As You Play sessions that cater for all abilities. The Social Sport Leagues also provide students with the chance to enter a football, touch rugby or netball team into University-only competitions. At a more competitive level Team Derby offers students personal development opportunities through coach education, training and volunteering in sport, and the Students’ Union runs lots of sports clubs, from football and netball to less common sports like dodge ball, rowing and archery.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

University of Derby Students’ Union (UDSU) is located in the Kedleston Road site in the Derby Campus. UDSU organises great events on and off campus, including the Freshers’ Fair, Freshers’ Fortnight and Graduation Ball, as well as running several facilities around the Campus. These include the student bar, The Academy and coffee shop Blends, which are great places to meet with friends and grab something to eat between lectures. UDSU also offers great opportunities to get involved in a range of activities. There is more than 150 sports clubs and societies available for you to join, so whether you’re interested in film, comic books or dance there is something for everyone. UDSU's Phantom Media is run by students and produces a student paper, TV and radio station.

The UDSU Advice team provides a free, confidential advice and support service for all University of Derby Students. Independent to the University, their advice is completely impartial for any student seeking advice, support and information on a range of issues and concerns. The main areas of advice include; academic issues including offences, appeals and issues affecting personal studies; student conduct, complaints and disciplinaries.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

There’s a Multi-Faith Centre on campus with a team of chaplains and faith consultants, representing a range of faiths, including Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, Baha'I, Buddhist, Hindu and Unitarian. to support students. The chaplaincy team has members representing denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Methodist and New Church. The Centre organises talks and discussion groups, lunches, social justice campaigns, days out and offers support to students of all faiths or none.

Health & Well-Being

The University of Derby believes that there is a clear link between student wellbeing and academic success, and therefore works hard to help students get the most out of their time at University. There is a Student Wellbeing Service that provides support to all students on any issue as well as a free, confidential counselling service and unique workshops that you can sign up to throughout the year‌. You can book appointments with a specialist adviser at the Student Wellbeing Centre or contact the service through the dedicated helpline available during the week.

There are also specialist support services available for students with a specific learning difficulty, disability, autistic spectrum disorder or a long-term health or mental health condition. Supports include: extra time to complete assignments, extra time in exams; alternative assessments; extensions to library loans and help with applying for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

There is a GP surgery, The Park Medical Practice, at the Kedleston Road site, which students living in Derby can register with.

Career Facilities

The Career Development Centre at the University of Derby can help you explore career ideas and options with your degree, as well as explore how and where to look for the perfect job for you. The Centre also offers help with CVs, applications and interviews, with further support available for setting up your own business and options for research. Students at the University have access to graduate jobs boards which are updated daily throughout the year. You can also find part-time work throughout your time at University through the Student Employment Agency.

At the University of Derby you can get involved in volunteering or the Futures Award giving your CV that all-important edge in the increasingly competitive job market. The University works with a number of voluntary organisations in the UK as well as providing help for those who wish to volunteer abroad. There is an annual Volunteering Fair as well as a Volunteering Newsletter to give students as much information as needed. The Futures Award is a flexible programme that enables you to develop your skills, make new contacts and improve your understanding of employer requirements. By participating in activities that can include volunteering, student leadership roles, sports development roles, employer mentoring, employer-lead projects and activities, setting up business enterprises and others, you will gain the knowledge to market yourself to potential employers or set up your own business.

Accommodation

Most first year students at the University of Derby choose to live in halls because they're affordable and safe, and they provide a great way to make friends. There are eight halls of residence in Derby and one in Buxton, and each hall is a short walk from the campuses. The halls are made up of purpose built, self-contained flats and have excellent facilities including a well equipped kitchen, a shared bathroom or en suite facilities, on-site 24 hour staff cover, security and CCTV, a laundry, fast and efficient broadband and free bike storage. If you would prefer to live in private accommodation, the University runs a registered private housing scheme to make sure that your new house is safe and comfortable.

International

English Language Requirements

If the English language is not your main language you must provide evidence of your English language ability. The University asks for at least:

• IELTS: 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5. in all areas
• TOEFL: 550-600 (paper based), 213-250 (computer based), or 80-100 (internet based)
• Pearson Test of Academic English: 51

International Support

The International Student Centre provides support to  international students before they arrive in the UK and throughout their time at the University. The Centre can help students with visas and immigration, English language skills, welfare and producing documentation. The Centre runs a Meet and Greet service for international students at the start of term where they collect you from the airport (Heathrow, Manchester and East Midlands). The Meet and Greet service is only available for new students starting a new course, and is free, but you must book in advance.

The International Student Centre also organises the Welcome Week, where you can meet new friends and find out more about the University. The welcome events include tours of the city and local areas, document checks and advice to get you prepared for your studies. You will also have the opportunity to meet support service staff who can help you during your time at the University. In the induction sessions you will meet your subject leaders or academic counsellors, and other students on your course to give you guidance and support on academic matters.

Media