Your guide to Experience Days

Your Experience Day is all about helping you decide whether the University of Derby is right for you. It is not just about seeing our excellent facilities and award-winning accommodation - it is about feeling the student experience. This guide will help you make the most of it. 

Plan your route to Derby

Your Experience Day with us will begin at our Kedleston Road site (DE22 1GB) which is located just outside the city centre and has free parking for our visitors. We have shuttle buses running throughout the day to our additional teaching sites and accommodation.

Travelling by bus? The Allestree bus takes you from the city centre to our Kedleston Road site in 10 minutes.

Travelling by train? Derby Midland train station is a 10 minute drive away from our Kedleston Road site, and you can catch out free shuttle bus from the Pride Park entrance straight to campus. Our team will be there to guide you - look our for the pink t-shirts/hoodies!

Travelling by coach? Save 30% on return tickets through National Express. Select your starting destination and departure date from the journey planner, and your discount will be automatically applied at checkout. From Derby bus station, you can catch the Trent Barton 'Allestree' service which runs frequently along Kedleston Road. Terms and Conditions apply.

Attend your Welcome Talk

You’ll receive a warm welcome to our University from our friendly senior leadership team and student ambassadors, who will be on-hand to support and guide you. Hear all about our University, city and the opportunities waiting for you here. Talks run at 9:30am and 12:00pm.

Kedleston Road site entrance

Interactive subject sessions

Work on a sample brief or mini project for a taste of life on your course, led by our expert academics. Your session will begin at 10:30am or 1:00pm depending on your group, which we will share with you in advance. Parents will have an opportunity to attend a separate talk to learn more about the course and ask questions, before coming back together at the end.

Students participating in a subject session in a Laboratory

Student life panel

We have a panel of experts ready to answer any questions you may have about your journey to university. Join current students, alumni and support teams at 11:30am or 1:00pm to learn about accommodation, finance, the admissions process, campus life and our Union of Students.

University of Derby staff and alumni presenting at an Open Day

Develop with Derby

Get a head start on university life with our 30-minute Develop with Derby sessions. Discover practical tips and strategies to boost your confidence, build essential study skills and get ahead on exams or EPQ projects.

students watch a presentation in a classroom

Visit our student accommodation

One of the best things about living in halls is the instant sense of community – that feeling of being surrounded by fellow students who have also just moved away from home. We have free buses running throughout the day to take you to our accommodation, so you can spend some time in your new home-from-home.

University of Derby student accommodation

Discover student life at Derby

Discover all the ways you can get involved in activities that are taking place in the University and across the city of Derby. Meet our fantastic Union reps who can tell you all about our student communities and give you some teasers of what to expect in Freshers Week.

University of Derby students playing badminton

Talk to our support teams

Our support teams will be available to help if you have questions about your application, need to know more about student finance or accommodation, or want to find out how we support your wellbeing. We're also happy to review your personal statement and provide useful tips to help you to make your work stand out.

A student receiving help from a member of staff at a University of Derby Open Day

Learn more about research

Research is a big part of university life at Derby, and there are lots of exciting opportunities to help our experts find vital solutions. On your campus tour, look out for the Aquatic Research Facility where Michael Sweet, our Professor of Ecology and Nature-based Solutions, is leading on globally recognised research into coral spawning.

Coral research

Explore the campus, sites and facilities

Attending an Experience Day gives you the opportunity to explore your campus and get a feel for the student culture and atmosphere.

Our friendly team of students are ready to take you on a walking tour of our campus and show you all of the facilities you can use - from the Union Social Space, library, sports centre, and everything in between. And who better to tell you what studying here is really like?

Our Experience Days begin at Kedleston Road, but you will also have the opportunity to explore our additional teaching sites:

One Friar Gate Square
Exterior of Markeaton Street site

Food options

Get a taste of student life! Hot food is available to buy throughout the day at Kedleston Road, Markeaton Street and the Cavendish Building from our Campus Kitchens, giving you a chance to try what’s on offer here.

Breakfast

Lunch

    Two students walking near the Quad building in Derby city centre
    Visiting Derby

    Explore the heart of the country with the city and countryside at your doorstep.

    Student at the University of Derby
    Explore with a Virtual Tour

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    Student wearing a red long sleeved top and folding their arms in 2021.
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