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Study at University of Derby

Derby

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Location: Derby
Founded: 1851 (origins); 1992 (university status)
Students: about 18,900 (2024/25)
Type: Public university
Main intakes: September, January
Study levels: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research

The University of Derby is a public university based in Derby in the East Midlands of England. Its history goes back to a teacher-training institution founded in 1851, and it gained university status in 1992. Today it teaches around 19,000 higher-education students across undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes. Derby has a practical, career-focused character, with well-established provision in nursing and health, education and teacher training, engineering, computing, business, law and the creative arts. The university holds a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023). Its main Kedleston Road campus sits in Allestree, north-west of the city centre, with specialist teaching sites across Derby and further campuses in Chesterfield and Buxton. It also delivers further education through Buxton and Leek College, and many courses include placements or work-based projects.

Location and student life

The university's main base is the Kedleston Road campus in Allestree, supported by specialist Derby sites including Markeaton Street for arts and STEM subjects, Britannia Mill, and One Friar Gate Square for law and social sciences. There is a further site at St Helena in Chesterfield, close to the train station, and a Buxton campus at the Devonshire Dome. Derby sits in central England with direct rail services to London, Birmingham, Sheffield and other cities, and a Unibus service links halls, teaching sites, the train station and the city centre. Students get a compact city plus easy access to the Peak District countryside.

Courses and subjects

Teaching is organised into three colleges: the College of Health and Humanities, the College of Science and Engineering, and Derby International Business School. Schools include Nursing and Midwifery, Health, Humanities, Computing, Science, and Engineering and the Built Environment, alongside Derby Law School. Established areas include nursing and health professions, education, engineering, computing, business and management, law and criminology, and arts and creative subjects. International students who need extra preparation can take the International Foundation Programme, and pre-sessional English courses are available through the university's English language centre.

Entry requirements for international students

International applicants typically need an IELTS score of 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each skill) for undergraduate degrees and 6.5 for most postgraduate courses, though some courses set higher requirements. The International Foundation Programme asks for IELTS 4.5 overall. Students who narrowly miss their target can take a pre-sessional English course before starting. Many postgraduate courses offer both September and January starts. Exact academic and English requirements vary by course, so applicants should check the relevant course page and their country-specific entry requirements.

Accommodation

The university guarantees a room in halls to first-year and international students for a September start, as long as they apply before the published deadline. Halls start from around £107 per week with bills included, no guarantor needed and a small upfront payment. Options include university-managed halls as well as university-approved private accommodation. The Unibus service connects halls, teaching sites, the station and the city centre.

Scholarships and funding

International students may combine a Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship of £2,000 off first-year tuition with a £1,000 Full Payment Discount when fees are paid in full before enrolment. The university also partners with the British Council on GREAT Scholarships worth £10,000 for eligible one-year postgraduate students from countries such as India, plus a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship on selected courses. Awards and eligibility change each year, so applicants should check the university's international scholarships pages and the terms and conditions before applying.