University of Derby

History

• Derby University can trace its origins back to 1851 and has a long history of teaching art and design, education, health, technology and photography.   
• Derby became a university in 1992 and was the only UK higher education college to do so.
• In 2006 the Buxton Campus was opened by HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
• In 2006 the Arts, Design and Technology building Markeaton Street was opened by Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic.

Location and transport

• The University has two main campuses, one in Derby and one in Buxton.
• Derby  is a thriving city both economically and culturally, with lots going on, and it's the safest city in the East Midlands. Our Campus is on the outskirts of the city and all the halls of residence are between the Campus and the city centre, so you'll be living within easy walking distance of both.
• The city has a Westfield shopping centre, as well as boutique shops, thriving markets and ethnic shops. It also has Cinema De Lux, Quad arts centre, Assembly Rooms, Derby Theatre (owned by the University), Deda (the Derby dance centre), Derbyshire Cricket Club and Derby County Football Club. There is the annual Feste arts festival and the internationally renowned Format photography festival is held in Derby every four years.    
• The Derby Campus is made up of the Kedleston Road, Britannia Mill and Markeaton Street sites. They are all very close together, so you can easily walk between them and they are linked by a free shuttle bus.
• At Kedleston Road, you will find a number of shops, including the Students' Union shop Keddies, Waterstones bookshop, a hair salon and various cafes.
• Buxton is a beautiful, small and friendly town, with lots of character, on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The halls of residence are right in the town centre and just a couple of minutes walk from the Campus and Waitrose. Manchester is a train ride away.
• The Buxton Campus  is located in a beautiful Grade II listed building, the Dome. You will find a small shop, bistro, spa, hair salon and fine dining restaurant.

Entry standards

• UCAS points for Derby’s BA/BSc (Hons) degrees range from 220 to 300 points. In 2012 our applicants had an average of 270 UCAS points. 
• We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, with a range of qualifications and working experience 
• Find out about more about our specific course entry requirements.

Student mix

Of our first degree new entrants:

• 55% are school leavers aged 19 or under.
• 75% have A levels or equivalent qualifications.

Considering our full-time undergraduate students:

• 83% are aged 24 or under.
• 46% are from the East Midlands region.
• 54% are female, 46% are male.

Course flexibility

• We offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate degrees ranging from traditional subjects such as English, History, Geology, Biology and Law through to degrees that prepare more specifically for a particular career such as Computer Gaming, Nursing, Fashion, Spa Management and Teaching. 
• We also offer a range of apprenticeships, foundation degrees and, of course, postgraduate masters courses.
• We have a pioneering range of around 30 online degrees, which allow you to study wherever and whenever you like. Our online courses include Psychology (which is the only online Psychology degree accredited by the British Psychological Society), Education, Ergonomics and an online MBA.  
• The vast majority of our courses are also available to study part time allowing you to balance your studies with work or family commitments. 

Teaching standards

• We are a teaching-orientated university, so the quality of our teaching really matters. 
• In the National Student Survey, overall satisfaction at Derby is an impressive 83%, with our teaching scoring most highly among our students (85% satisfied). 
• 88% of students think Derby staff are good at explaining things and 87% find the staff enthusiastic about teaching.
• We have courses where overall satisfaction with the course is 100% – History and Applied Social Work. Many courses achieved over 90% satisfaction, including Law and Education.
• The University’s most recent audit by the Quality Assurance Agency confirmed that quality systems are excellent at Derby.

Research standards

• We draw upon research to enrich the taught curriculum and strengthen the student experience.
• We offer an integrated programme of research skills to those embarking on research training.
• Our areas of research interest include the built environment, creative technologies, electrical and electronic software systems, art and design, American studies, history, biological science, psychology, earth systems, religion and discrimination, education and career guidance, comparative law, business, computer science and cultural studies.

Academic strengths

• Derby is mainly known for its vocational courses, with it delivering student centred vocational learning, much of it in real working environments, thereby helping to maximise your employment potential.
• Our real strength is in preparing you for employment. This can be by finding a job with a variety of employers or by setting up your own business and creating jobs, which around 12% of our graduates do every year.
• Most of our students have work based experience during their studies and we have links with top employers in the region.
• We are the biggest provider of incubation units for business start ups in the region and we actively help our graduates start out in business.
• Derby graduates work at Rolls-Royce, the BBC, Toyota, the Natural History Museum, Clothes Show Live, as well as in teaching roles and jobs within the NHS.
• We have a particularly strong reputation for joint honours courses where you can study up to three subjects together, to gain a range of skills that are particularly sought after by employers.
• All of Derby's courses feature 'real world' facilities that give you the chance to practise your skills before you start your career.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• Study in the welcoming environments of one of our three libraries, in which we are continually investing.
• Make use of our collection of over 350,000 books and 42,000 journals.
• Access library online resources and the University’s learning systems 24/7.
• Our friendly and knowledgeable library and IT staff provide guidance and assistance throughout your studies.
• You will have access to over 1,100 computer workstations across both campuses with a wide range of applications, plus specialist labs for engineering, music technology and games programming.
• Laptops and audio visual equipment are available for loan.
• There is high speed, wireless access across both campuses.
• All student rooms are wired for internet access, free broadband, free internal phone calls and TV channels with options to upgrade.
• Different and innovative spaces for learning on each campus.
• For vocational subjects we have real world environments including a clinical skills suite, law courts and a theatre.
• At the Buxton Campus you will find a major events venue, bistro, an award-winning spa, demonstration kitchens, sports science laboratory, hair and beauty salons and fine dine restaurant, all of which serve as venues for student centred experiential learning. Other university facilities in Buxton include a sports centre, gym and climbing wall.

Disability services

• University of Derby Students’ Union (UDSU) provides advice and representation to all students.
• There is a wide range of sports clubs and societies to get involved with as well as the student radio station d:one and magazine Dusted.
• The UDSU organises great nights out from Freshers’ Fortnight in September to weekly student club nights.
• UDSU runs its own bar, the Academy (which was designed by Derby Architectural Venue Design students), coffee shop, Blends and retail outlets across the University providing students with a place to eat, drink and shop on site.
• There are lots of ways to get involved with the Students’ Union, whether you want to run for a full time Officer Trustee position or a part time officer position, be a programme representative, volunteer or even be a fundraiser ... there is something for everyone!

Sport

• Since the launch of Team Derby in 2009 to support recreational, competitive and high performance sport, the University has risen from 104th to currently 63rd and was awarded Most Improved University in the British Colleges & Sports Championships.
• Over £4 million has been spent at our Buxton and Derby campuses on sports facilities, including new fitness suites, performance labs, floodlit all weather facilities at Derby and a refurbished sports hall and new climbing wall at Buxton.
• We have a range of sporting partners who use our facilities, provide placements, coaching support and great ticket deals for you. Derbyshire County Cricket, Derby County Football Club, Derby Trailblazers Basketball Club, Stockport County Football Club and Buxton Rugby Club are just some of our partners.
• There are 36 different sports clubs for you to join and a range of recreational activities, including fitness classes.
• Team Derby is committed to training and deploying 88 new coaches and officials by 2014, and providing the local community 1,446 hours of sport volunteering as part of our Olympic commitment. 
• Ex-Olympian Donna Kellogg is a member of Team Derby and is the University’s Performance Sport Development Officer and head badminton coach.
• In 2012 Team Derby launched its first Performance Sport Programme, supporting talented student athletes with up to £2,000 of sports science support and tuition fees.
• The University is a primary funder of the Derbyshire Institute of Sport (DiS). The DiS shares a performance hub at the University for athletes to train and develop
• Team Derby has three key focus sports each with a link to a performance club and high performance coach: Basketball (coached by Derby Trailblazer James Maudsley), Table Tennis (coached by two Commonwealth Gold Medal winner Gareth Herbert) and Badminton (coached by three x Olympian Donna Kellogg).

A range of athletes have been accepted onto this year’s performance programme including:

• Swimmer Jack Burnell, 19.
• Basketball players Tom Brown, 19, Benson Arogobo, 19, and Nicholas Rose, 23.
• American footballers Joe Brammer, 20, Alex Preece, 19.
• Rowing, Yasmin Marks, 20.
• International Rugby Sevens player, Mantas Marantas, 19.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The University of Derby has spent over £100 million on new facilities in the last few years. These include:
  £23-million Campus in Buxton.
• £700,000 all-weather pitch for hockey, football and rugby.
• £1.5-million Clinical Skills Suite consisting of a fully functioning hospital ward, the most up to date radiography and imaging facilities, robot patients to practise on, a domestic living suite, counselling rooms and a behavioural study suite.
• £21-million building for arts, design, media and technology courses.
• Fantastic legal training facilities, including a Crown Court, a Family Courtroom, an interview suite, crime scene house and forensic labs. 
• Dedicated computing facilities with two games development suites, a networks lab and three computing labs.
• The three towers at Kedleston Road have been transformed at a cost of £13 million to make them three times more energy efficient.
• A new £8-million business and enterprise Centre contains the University of Derby Corporate as well as conference facilities and incubation space.
• A £450,000 state-of-the-art gym.
• The official opening of Britannia Mill took place in November 2012 after the completion of a five year, £6-million project, which transformed the 1912-built textile mill into a future-proof contemporary learning space for hundreds of students.
• An investment of £350,000 was made into new industry-standard recording studios and editing suites for students at the Markeaton Street site.
• In April 2012, the University purchased Oaklands Manor, a 58-acre outdoor pursuits centre in the heart of the Peak District, providing a new 'classroom' for hundreds of University of Derby Buxton and Buxton College students.
• University-owned Derby Theatre underwent an £80,000 auditorium refurbishment in October 2012. The theatre auditorium has been completely revamped, with 535 brand new soft-to-touch red seats, luxury carpets and curtains.

Availability of part-time work

• Our Student Employment Agency will help you find part-time work and the majority of our students have a part-time job. Many work for the University or local employers and gain valuable transferrable skills as well as extra income.

Notable alumni

• Dawn Foote BA (Hons) Photography, graduated in 2001 – Managing Director and owner of Katapult, a Midlands-based brand communication agency, listed in the Recommended Agency Register’s Top 100 agencies.
• Chris Heath, studied Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy (CIMA), at Derbyshire College of Further Education qualifying in 1983 – Chris is Chief Executive Officer for Stock Spirits Group, the home of an outstanding range of Europe’s major drinks brands.
• Colin Walton, studied on the Electrical and Electronic Technician course at Derby College of Art and Technology during the 1970s – Colin is the former Chairman of Bombardier Transportation UK and Ireland and had responsibility for all the company's legal entities.
• David Bell, left Derbyshire College of Further Education in 1982 after studying Mechanical Engineering – David is the Chief Corporate Development Officer for JCB, manufacturers of construction equipment.
• Kathryn Jeffs, BSc Biological Imaging, graduated 1995 – Producer BBC Frozen Planet.
• Matt Warwick, HND Business Studies, graduated 2001 – former editor of Loaded magazine.
• Alan Hill, professional catering qualification, graduated mid 1980s – award-winning chef, Chef Patron at the Devonshire Arms on the Chatsworth Estate.
• Jon Bridle and Dan Hobson, BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing and BA (Hons) Creative Writing with Film Studies, graduated 2001 – Mitchell and Webb writers.
• Edward Hogan, BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English, graduated 2001 – author.
• Lorna Steel, BSc (Hons) Biology, graduated 1995 – Curator of Palaeontology at the Natural History Museum.
• Pete Allen, HND Computer Studies, graduated in 1995 – Pete is one half of the broadcasting duo Dino & Pete. They host the breakfast show, broadcasting to 300,000 listeners, on the Capital FM radio network across the East Midlands.
• Elin Joseph, BA (Hons) Theatre Arts, graduated in 2005 – now works for the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company), one of world’s best known theatre companies, as a Marketing Officer.
• Khumbo Kachali, MSc in Strategic Management, graduated in 2012 – now Vice-President of Malawi.
• Richard Gerver, BA (Hons) Theatre Arts, graduated in 1991 – inspirational speaker on education, business and the third sector, with an international reputation.
• Sam Johnson, BA (Hons) Product Design, graduated in 2011 – is now a designer for global brand LEGO, in his words "his dream job".
• Ralph Skripek, professional catering qualification, graduated mid 1980s – is widely considered to be one of the leading game cookery experts in the UK, as well as running his Derbyshire restaurant and catering business, The Butler’s Pantry.