Nursing undergraduate courses

Take your first step into a rewarding career on a course with a 98% employment record. Through our holistic learning programmes, we equip you with the skills and experience to deliver exceptional care as a confident, capable and compassionate nurse of the future.

Find out about the best route for you with our Routes into Nursing guide.

Direct Entry courses are open to applicants who already hold a foundation degree and are registered nursing associates.

 

Top15for teachingNursing - National Student Survey 2025
Top10for student satisfactionNursing subject area - Complete University Guide 2026
Top10for learning opportunitiesNursing - National Student Survey 2025

We're recognised for what we do.

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Why study Nursing at Derby?

Accreditation

Facilities

Develop your skills in a safe environment in our industry-standard Clinical Skills Suites at our Derby Kedleston Road campus and our Chesterfield site, including:

Practical sessions in our facilities allow you to develop your understanding of the pressures you could encounter and risks you may need to consider in practice.

NHS Standard mock hospital ward

The six bed hospital ward is complete with teaching facilities, a nurses station, patient bathroom, patient mobility equipment and simulated learning patients to provide a lifelike taste of working in...

Artificial patients

Providing realistic medical training, our Clinical Skills Suite has a number of high quality artificial patients from individual limbs to technically advanced simulation dolls, which can be programmed...

Work placements

Practical experience is a hallmark of our courses.

Drawing on our employer links, we offer work placements in a broad spectrum of health and social care environments in hospitals and community settings across the region.

Placements enable you to put your skills into practise and gain a full understanding of the demands and rewards of delivering exceptional nursing care.

Career opportunities

Research and innovation

Nursing students practising skills on a mannequin

Amy praised for roadside care in traffic incident

Nursing students learn how to deliver care in a variety of arenas, undergoing a series of placements during their course. And, thanks to her training, student Amy Lyons knew exactly what to do when she unexpectedly came across a road traffic incident.

Read Amy's storyRead Amy's story

Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy Member

We were the very first Higher Education Institution to join the Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy as a member. 

The Foundation’s principal focus is on improving health, clinical outcomes and patient experience, through building nursing and midwifery leadership capacity and capability. Our Nursing and Midwifery students will therefore have the opportunity to contribute to policy consultations, gain opportunities for elective placements, and enjoy access to leadership programmes including Nightingale Frontline, a peer group coaching service.

Chesterfield students showing open day visitors around the nursing facilities.

Chesterfield Open Events

The best way to find out if studying at The University of Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day or Open Event. Get a feel for the campus, tour our first-class facilities and meet our academic team.

Book your Chesterfield Open EventBook your Chesterfield Open Event
Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your undergraduate Open DayBook your undergraduate Open Day
#derbyuni sign on green grass

Student stories

Our students and graduates are people just like you. And they are making an impact in our region and around the world by using their knowledge and skills to drive innovation and change. You can be part of that story. Let our students and graduates tell you theirs.

Hear from our students and graduatesHear from our students and graduates