High Tech and High Peak
Derby and Buxton are lively, welcoming and packed with personality
Derby offers the bustle of a major high tech city while Buxton is a thriving spa town. Whichever campus you choose, breathtaking Peak District landscapes are on your doorstep.
A top choice for students
Both city and town are safe, friendly, compact and affordable, with a high standard of living and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Derby is one of the UK’s most forward-thinking cities, renowned for technology and innovation. Buxton is a tourist magnet on the edge of the National Park attracting over 1.46 million visitors a year.
Engines of the local economy
Global names like Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Bombardier have made Derby their home. The city also boasts burgeoning software and creative sectors and is set to unveil a £2.4 million enterprise centre for start-up businesses.
Tourism is a major industry for Buxton. With architectural gems such as the Georgia Crescent, leafy parks and rich spa heritage the town is described as the ‘Bath of the North’. Our own Devonshire Campus, with its striking Grade II* listed dome, is a unique tourist attraction in its own right.
Bright prospects
Derby has one of the UK’s most highly skilled workforces. This means excellent job prospects for our graduates, with some of the top average salaries outside London.
Buxton is the perfect setting for our courses in subjects such as spa management, hospitality, tourism and outdoor activity leadership, where career opportunities are buoyant.
Ambition and vision
Forward-thinking and confident, both city and town are on a mission to boost their future prosperity. A bold £2 billion regeneration masterplan is transforming the business, retail and leisure scene in Derby. The latest wave of development includes a multisports arena, velodrome and Olympic-sized swimming pool.
In Buxton £70 million is being invested in landmark regeneration projects, including the transformation of the iconic Crescent, Natural Baths and Pump Room into a five-star hotel and visitor centre.
Great days and nights out
Historic landmarks, tourist attractions, galleries and museums rub shoulders with sparkling entertainment venues and open green spaces. Shopping enthusiasts can explore everything from chic independent boutiques to top high street names while the choice of eateries is impressive. Derby and Buxton are both renowned internationally for their cultural festivals too.
The great outdoors
The Peak District National Park offers the perfect backdrop whenever you take a break from studying. You will discover inspiring landscapes, magnificent stately homes and exciting outdoor pursuits from walking and cycling to paragliding and kayaking.
Well connected
Derby is the country’s most central city, ten minutes from the M1 and 30 minutes from the M6. From our mainline station, the rail journey to London St Pancras International takes just 93 minutes while nearby East Midlands International Airport, offers flights to over 100 destinations.
Buxton is within an hour of cities such as Derby, Sheffield and Manchester, and around three hours from London. It is well served by public transport, being on a direct rail line from Manchester.
Whatever you want from student life, the University of Derby offers all you would expect – and more.
