Why choose Derby

Courses

We have a wide range of courses that offer value for money and cover traditional, vocational and professional subjects with flexible study options; full time, part time or online.

Personal touch

What makes Derby really different is that we deliver education with the personal touch. That’s why over 85% of our classes have fewer than 30 students and you have access to your own personal tutor whenever you need it.

Value for money

Our courses are affordable and reasonably priced. Text books are not included but where there are significant extra costs for a course - for equipment or activities - we'll build these into the overall fees. These inclusive fees mean there are no hidden extras later in the course.

We also have 300 scholarships available to help English undergraduate students from lower income households to pay for university.

• One of the best value universities in England (Times Higher Education magazine)

Student life

You’ll find that Derby is a diverse, safe place to live, with everything you’d expect from student life and support. What’s more you’ll have guaranteed accommodation in your first year if you choose to study here.

• We’re a Fairtrade university with a First Class award in the People and Planet Green League 2011

Two safe campuses

We’re in Derby; a bustling city about 30 minutes from Nottingham, an hour from Birmingham and less than two hours from London.

And also in Buxton; a picturesque small town on the edge of the Peak District National Park, about an hour from Derby and Manchester.

A developing city

Derby is a city that's going places, with a £2 billion plan of redevelopment currently underway. The new Westfield Derby shopping centre, 12-screen cinema complex and QUAD arts centre are just three parts of a huge series of improvements to city life. The University also invests heavily in the regional economy, both financially and through the efforts of its graduates.

A sporting university

We’re also serious about sport – playing it, supporting it and encouraging people to participate through Team Derby. We’re major partners with a number of prestigious sports clubs including Derby County Football Club and Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

Rising high in the league tables

We’ve jumped 24 places in The Guardian University League Tables and 18 places in The Times Good University Guide this year.

Quality

In the National Student Survey 2012, over 80% of our students were fully satisfied with their course.

We achieved 100% satisfaction in: Applied Social Work and History (for the third year running).

We achieved 92-98% satisfaction in: Accounting and Finance, Adult Nursing, Business and Management, Children and Young People's Services, Education, Fashion, Law, Primary Education, Sciences and Sport and Exercise Science.

Learning for the real world

We also prepare you for work through our real world learning facilities where you get to put the theory into practice. Over the last few years we have spent over £100m on improving our facilities.

High quality students, high quality jobs

Nearly 90% of our graduates are in work six months after graduation. They move on to fantastic careers in a number of leading organisations including Rolls Royce, Toyota, the BBC and Lego. Among these is Derby alumni Dawn Foote, Company Director of Katapult who were instrumental in creating a recent TV campaign video for us.

Many of our courses are accredited by professional bodies so that you’ll graduate with more than just a degree, and here at Derby we're committed to helping you with your future career.

Caring for our environment

Our 2011 Eco Campus Silver Award is the result of £14m investment over the last three years in energy efficiency schemes and improvements. By 2013 we aim to achieve a Platinum award, and improve on our 22nd place out of 142 universities in the People and Planet Green League.