School of Engineering

Engineers in all disciplines play a key role in laying the foundations for the future of our country and the world. Whether your passion lies in developing the next innovation in technology, or in the building of key infrastructure. Our engineering courses promise to help you develop an analytical mind and equip you with practical skills.

Helping engineer the future

Engineers are great problem solvers. They deal with everyday challenges like how to monitor your energy consumption at home, to huge societal challenges like how we must transition to greener forms of energy. They are pivotal to the progress and success of society, and we have a proud history in Derby.

From being the heart of the Industrial Revolution in 1700 and the design of the Spitfire to building trains, planes and automobiles today. Now Derby will be part of the sustainable future with expertise in applied mechatronics, sustainable construction materials, net zero energy and zero emissions transport.

Derby is home to world-renowned engineering companies like Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Alstom with whom we have strong links. The Nuclear Skills Academy is a partnership between the University and Rolls-Royce and offers nuclear engineering apprenticeships which are supported by industry and education experts including the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. As a STEM city, these collaborations ensure that innovation and creativity are front and centre of what we do.

We’re also passionate about building our city. Derby’s Urban Sustainable Transition, also known as the DUST project, aims to create a sustainable and attractive future for the city of Derby. The project is exploring development opportunities, sustainable travel, ways of celebrating our natural assets and reconceptualising the city centre.

The School of Engineering comprises of the following subjects:

• Architectural Technologies and Interior Architecture
• Built Environments
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Entertainment Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Motorsport Engineering

Student experience

Through a range of accredited courses and high-quality teaching, we ensure that our graduates are highly employable. Not only do they study in an environment that is representative of industry, but they also have opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities which build on their employability and provide a bit of fun along the way:

• At the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) railway challenge, students get to work in a team to build a locomotive to test out
• Our Motorsport engineers get to support numerous races including the Radical SR1 Cup where they get hands-on experience working with professional race drivers
• At the ICE Concrete Challenge, which is hosted by ICE at the University of Derby, our students get to compete against other UK universities
• Our Mechanical Engineering students get to take part in the British Model Flying Association (BMFA) competition in which they construct a small-scale plane and fly it against other teams
• Entertainment Engineering students get experience at a range of different events throughout their studies. Previous students have worked at YNot Festival, charity events, fashion shows and Back 2 Festival
• Our Electrical and Electronic Engineering students can take part in our annual Ebot competition where teams create a robot to test on a track

Excellent facilities

Our STEM centre hosts a range of industry-standard facilities and equipment that allows for an applied learning experience. Students gain real-world skills in our engineering workshops, and our laboratories including XR (cross-reality), concrete, electronics and wind tunnel. There’s also a dedicated architecture studio, event auditorium and a Makerspace for our students to enjoy designing and making products.

We are also a Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) Centre of Excellence of which there are currently only four in the world. This demonstrates the high standards we are meeting through our teaching and facilities. 

Our research

We carry out national and international research in many areas of engineering from smart cities and advanced buildings to vehicle design in motor sport and railways, as well as sustainable engineering and advanced prosthetic limbs. Our Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering provides sustainable solutions for industry. 

We are focusing on zero carbon within our main research themes. Now that we are exposed to challenges in the modern world, we are exploring carbon reduction in response to the climate crisis. Our research in zero carbon has both a strategic purpose as it informs international, national, and regional policy, and a tactical purpose to influence business support projects as well as urban and environmental sustainability initiatives.

We are currently working with partners such as local councils and the Institute of Quarrying and the National Stone Centre to investigate and explore new solutions that would help achieve carbon reduction targets. Our research includes assessing the impact of solar panels on carbon emissions, developing zero-carbon building designs, and repurposing batteries from buses into heat sources for housing.

Our Built Environment Research Group investigates a variety of themes including building and urban bioclimatic design, structural design and smart cities that will make a difference to the environment we live in.