
The University of Derby is in the heart of England. Right in the middle. With great transport links to the rest of the country. It’s a city with a rich heritage of innovation. Rolls-Royce began building cars in Derby in 1908 and now makes aero engines. Alstom makes trains here. Toyota builds cars. And Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft was created in Derby.
That’s why we’re proud to say we are an applied university. Our courses focus on giving you the skills you’ll need after you graduate. And we use our strong industry links to give you the best possible work experience and work placements. These are an important part of your education, whether you are a fine artist, a fashion designer, a computer animator or an engineer. You get to turn your learning into practice.
At Derby, we are innovators in online learning. And we offer an exciting range of courses in a variety of subjects, with options to study full time, part time, on campus or online.
And our city is the gateway to the Peak District, to some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. And some of the UK’s best music festivals - Download and Y Not - are on our doorstep.
You want culture? We own Derby Theatre, a renowned regional artistic centre. And we run the Format International Photography Festival. And you could end up studying in the UK City of Culture 2025 - Derby has been longlisted for the award.
Come to Derby, study with us and we will stretch, challenge and support you to achieve your ambitions and make a difference.
“I surpassed what I thought I could achieve, became a person I am proud of, and have gained memories, friends and hopefully a career that will last for a long time.” - Omar Soomro, Film Production graduate from Berkshire.
“I have changed dramatically since my first day at university. Now, I am excited to get my work out there and take those first steps towards my dream career.” - Jessica Boateng, Fashion and Textiles graduate from Nottingham.
“Coming to Derby changed my life. I’m so lucky to be in an industry that I’m passionate about, where I can make a real difference to the lives of people around me.” - Tom Berrington, Marketing and Media graduate from Staffordshire.
“The staff make you feel extremely welcome and the whole sense is that the University is one big family.” - Arvin Johal, Business Management student from Derby.
Facilities

We are continually investing in our campus so you will have access to excellent facilities.
Kedleston Road in Derby is home to our fantastic Sports Centre, four-storey library, and spacious study areas. You'll also find plenty of places to eat and socialise with your friends, including Starbucks, Subway, our Union of Students' café, and much more.
Also in Derby are:
- Markeaton Street, home to our engineering, computing and mathematics courses as well as art, design, media and performing arts
- Britannia Mill, which has specialist facilities for screen printing, dance and fine art courses, creative expressive therapies and social care
- One Friar Gate Square, home to our Criminology, Law, Policing and Social Sciences staff and students
- Derby Theatre - yes, did we mention we also own our own professional producing and learning theatre?
And we have exciting plans for a new Derby Business School, expected to open in the city centre in 2024.
Our Chesterfield site is a Centre of Excellence for Health and Social Care, with state-of-the-art high-tech teaching facilities.
Getting between our sites and the halls of residence in Derby couldn't be easier. Everything is within walking distance, whether you're heading to lectures or into town. Or you can hop on to one of our handy Unibuses.
Open Days
There’s nothing like visiting a place to really get a feel for what it’s like.
At Derby, you’ll be greeted by our friendly team of students and staff, all ready to guide you and help you get the most out of your day. You’ll have plenty of time to:
- Explore our sites
- Discover our state-of-the-art facilities, including the Sports Centre and library
- Drop in to subject sessions, where you can talk to teaching staff about your course
- Join our students on a guided campus tour - and find out first-hand what it’s like to study at Derby
- View our award-winning accommodation
- Chat to our support services to ask any questions you have about applying, funding and wellbeing
Dan Jellicoe, from West Sussex, is a student on our BSc (Hons) Sound, Light and Live Event Technology. This is what he has to say about Open Days (he came to two):
“That first Open Day definitely sold it to me. We came up on the train and we walked straight through the city. And that was a good start for me. I was like, oh yeah, this is nice, I can do this.
“We went up to Kedleston Road and I was like, this is an impressive space. It was very welcoming and the amount of students that were around just to talk to and ask questions to was fantastic.
"But it was going to student accommodation, and walking around the halls and going, oh yeah, I could properly see myself living here. And it was being able to go, actually, in a year's time, I could be walking around here and be learning here and studying here."
Open Days take place throughout the year.
Find out more about Open Days at the University of Derby
Student Life in Derby
Whatever you love doing, you’ll find plenty of choice in Derby and beyond. Music, dancing, eating out, cinema, shopping, sport and culture. It's all here. And it’s only a short step to the gorgeous Peak District for outdoor adventures.
The Union of Students has a wide range of societies, and they’re a big part of University life. They’re your chance to meet like-minded people, develop a skill or just try something new. There’s also a huge choice of sports clubs, run by the Union. And Phantom Media, run by students, produces a student paper and operates a TV and radio station.
There's a wide choice of student accommodation in Derby so, whatever you are looking for, you're sure to find something that suits your needs. Our award-winning halls offer en suite and standard rooms, as well as single, double and studio accommodation close to the University sites and the city centre.
“Derby is one of those places. It’s so magnetic. That city. It felt like I was allowed to be who I wanted to be here.” - Omar Soomro, Film Production graduate from Berkshire.
Other Contact Details
Phone number:
+44 (0)1332 590500
Email address:
[email protected]
Addresses:
University of Derby,
Kedleston Road,
Derby,
DE22 1GB
Travel information
Derby has great transport links. Which is fitting for a city that makes planes, trains and cars. The M1 and A38 will take you north and south. The A52 and A50 will take you east and west. The fast train from Derby to London takes 1hr 26 mins. East Midlands Airport is on our doorstep.