About us

We’re the University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL), a leader in online education for over two decades. We can help you to achieve more and be more, in your professional and personal life. That's our day job — and we love it.

Our courses are engaging and interactive, meet high academic and professional standards and are delivered by a top UK university.

We help both individuals and employers and are proud to be inclusive and diverse. As long as you have the ambition, desire and potential to succeed, you will be welcome here.

CPDaccredited centre**The CPD Standards Office
Goldstandard teaching**Teaching Excellence Framework

From the experts

We have a talented in-house team. Our programmes are created and taught by experts from a university.

Many academics are active researchers, working at the forefront of their fields, and bring their cutting-edge insights into their teaching. 

We have plenty of experience in online learning too, having designed and delivered over 100 online courses since 2001. This means you can trust us to run a high-quality course. Our technology is proven and we have an established network of support for you as an online learner. 

High academic standards

We offer over 100 part-time courses that are delivered online; everything from single modules and short courses for CPD, to apprenticeships and full undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Our courses are built around robust academic frameworks that are approved to UK standards, so you’ll get the same internationally recognised qualifications that you would from an on-campus course. Read more about our quality standards.

High professional standards

We have more accredited programmes than any other online education provider in the UK. That's because they've been developed with input from employers and professional bodies so your course will help take your career to the next level, or in a new direction.

Through work-related tasks and projects, you’ll quickly understand how to apply your learning and see its value as you start to use it to make a difference.

We think beyond the qualification, ensuring you leave with not just an award, but the practical skills you need to go further in your career, as well as greater confidence and self-belief. It’s a winning combination for you and your employer.

The best online student experience

As an online student at Derby, your learning will be engaging, interactive, social and collaborative. If you thought it wasn't possible to learn from other students or have a stimulating group discussion with online learning, think again.

To ensure you get the best online student experience possible, we've developed our own model for online learning. It combines best practice principles around programme design, online teaching and learning, support and inclusivity, with current digital tools and platforms.

This model, which is unique to our University, has been based on the latest research and data along with what we've personally learned from our over two decades of experience in online teaching.

5,500students **currently studying with us
130countries represented
Tyra and her son at her graduation

Balancing commitments

Over the four years Tyra studied at the University of Derby Online Learning, as well as her wedding, her children and her degree, she travelled to 15 different countries, lived in two countries and managed to save a nest egg.

Read Tyra's storyRead Tyra's story