School of
Nursing and Midwifery

As part of the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, the School of Nursing and Midwifery is home to some of the University of Derby's most popular degrees. Across undergraduate and postgraduate level, we have a variety of courses to offer - whether you're taking your first steps in a rewarding career or looking to build on your healthcare expertise. 

Top 20for teaching quality in Nursing**Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
99% in professional occupations 15 months after graduation**Guardian University Guide 2024 (Adult Nursing and Nursing Associate)
Top15for student satisfaction in Nursing**Complete University Guide 2024

We offer a variety of Nursing and Midwifery degrees at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Many of our courses have been developed in partnership with colleagues, partners and professional bodies from the health care sector to ensure the skills you develop will make a difference to the lives of others every day.

What's it like to study Nursing?

Whether you study at our Derby or Chesterfield site, you will learn how to provide exceptional levels of care, practice your skills through a variety of placements across the region and gain an understanding of the demands and rewards of delivering high-quality nursing care. Specialist facilities include our NHS-standard mock hospital wards, artificial patients and an Immersive Interactive Simulation Suite. These facilities and our excellent teaching team provide a safe environment for you to develop the competencies needed to thrive in your career.

Our exceptional employment record shows that our nursing graduates are in high demand and go onto work in a wide variety of clinical settings.

What's it like to study Midwifery?

Midwives are advocates for women during one of the most important times of their lives. We offer inter-professional learning opportunities and you will learn how to provide skilled, knowledgeable, respectful and compassionate care for all women, newborn infants and their families. 

Our excellent facilities include a birthing pool, birthing beds, birthing stools and birthing balls, as well as model abdomens, pelvises and breasts which provide a safe environment for you to develop the skills you need to thrive in a rewarding career.

Many on our academic team are active researchers working hard to advance knowledge in different areas of healthcare and the human sciences. Research topics related to Midwifery include ‘how air pollution could affect the growth of the placenta’ and the experience of mothers who breastfeed beyond infancy. Our researchers integrate their findings into their teaching and examine how this might affect service users.  

Professional recognition

Midwives are advocates for women during one of the most important times of their lives. Our BSc (Hons) Midwifery course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and meets the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly standards - the gold-standard for midwifery programmes and an important quality mark for trusts.

Our holistic-learning Nursing programmes will enable you to become an emotionally resilient and transformational nurse of the future. Our Nursing courses are also accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, meaning you will be eligible to register and practice as a nurse when you graduate.

Work experience

Our Nursing and Midwifery courses include practical experience so you can develop essential theoretical and clinical skills and gain a genuine feel for the practicalities and demands of the profession.

Drawing on our flourishing employer links with the NHS and other local employers, we offer work placements in a broad spectrum of health and social care settings. This could be in a hospital, labour wards or community and voluntary organisations.

There are also opportunities to gain experience in other settings to expand your experience and develop an understanding of where you would like to focus your future career.

Children's Nursing student sat with a young boy
A female Midwifery student using a bump model
Gerri standing in front of a desk with a microphone on, smiling wearing a yellow dress

Nurse of the Year - 2021

Gerri Mortimore, Senior Lecturer at the University of Derby, has won the 'Nurse of the Year' Award at the British Journal of Nursing Awards 2021

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