University of Derby guide: Rankings, open days, fees and accommodation
Overview
Derby makes a strong teaching offer to its students. An overall gold award in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework is complemented by heavy investment in new facilities and the development of cutting-edge courses. Careers support is integrated into the curriculum, which includes working on real-world projects to enhance employability and equip students for the working world. Partnerships with local employers which are also international giants - Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Alstom among them - provide opportunities for work experience as well as placements, internships and, ultimately, graduate jobs. Most recently, the university has developed a new two-year degree in international business and artificial intelligence in partnership with Rolls-Royce to meet an immediate industry need. Derby is one of the largest providers of degree apprenticeships in the country, with around 2,000 apprentice learners enrolled here. A mid-sized university of around 20,000 students, Derby recruits more than three-quarters of its students from the East and West Midlands. The intake is socially diverse, too; Derby was named University of the Year in the 2020 Social Mobility Awards. The university is based on four sites in Derby and headquartered at Kedleston Road, with a healthcare outpost in Chesterfield.
Paying the bills
All bursary provision for the 2026-27 academic year is under review, the university told us, so the existing arrangements could change. At the time of writing, around one-third of Derby students benefit each year from the university bursary scheme, which sees students from homes with an annual income of up to £25,000 receive £1,000 per academic year, with a £600 annual payment made where household income is between £25,001 and £36,592. A range of scholarships also offer non-means-tested support to a small number of students, the most plentiful of which are for talented sportsmen and women. Around 50 each year receive between £500 and £3,000 in fee subsidies (the sum is determined by the level at which they compete), plus free support services. The near-2,000 places in highly rated university accommodation are priced for 2025-26 between £4,918 for a 42-week contract and £8,305 for a 44-week contract. Derby's accommodation has been named Best University Housing in the UK and Ireland for the past three years by the Global Student Living Awards.
What's new?
The opening of the Cavendish Building is planned for the new academic year. The net-zero-carbon building will house Derby's business school, whose academics are positioning the university at the heart of research into clean energy and transport. The new building contains a Finance Lab - giving students the chance to experience what it's like on a real-life trading floor - plus an extended-reality (XR) suite for immersive learning and a Google-style Creativity Lab. Elsewhere, a new bioscience super-lab will strengthen Derby's presence in this scientific field, with a focus on haematology, immunology, histopathology, molecular biology, genetics, and cell and tissue culture. The most innovative of a number of new degrees offered for the first time this year has been developed in partnership with Rolls-Royce. Promising a new way to study business, the accelerated two-year BSc in international business and artificial intelligence has been designed to meet the needs of business in this fast-evolving area. Derby's approach to industry engagement is evident in this quick response to an identifiable and immediate need. Students will benefit from Rolls-Royce's expertise during their studies, acquiring skills, knowledge and experience which will enhance their employability. Other new degrees being introduced next month include dance and movement for wellbeing, game development, and public relations and journalism. Several other degrees are offered with a placement year for the first time.
Admissions, teaching and student support
The university prides itself on a holistic approach to student support that starts before students enrol and extends beyond graduation. Outreach programmes see the university work with local schools and colleges to break down some of the barriers to higher education. This policy sees nearly half the intake drawn from postcodes with the lowest rates of participation in higher education - more than double the sector average. The Derby Talent Programme, meanwhile, offers paid internships at businesses and organisations nationally to both current students and recent graduates. This is one of a number of programmes run by Derby's careers and employment service that contribute to the university's strong performance in all of our graduate employment ranking measures. Contextual offers of up to 16 Ucas tariff points (equivalent to two A-level grades) below the standard ask are made across all subjects to eligible applicants, which include the care experienced, those estranged from their families, and students whose parents or carers are in the Armed Forces. When it comes to support services, Derby runs a continuous induction programme for its students, outlining the help that is available to them throughout the year. The Student Hub provides a one-stop shop for all student needs, while mental health support is extensive, well signposted and tailored to each individual. A team of counsellors, mental health practitioners and mentors are on hand to provide assistance, while focus groups, workshops and training sessions cover topics such as sleep, nutrition, stress, anxiety and loneliness. The university takes campus safety seriously, too, delivering online consent workshops throughout the year. In the spring, this module is delivered to sports students, prior to them going on sporting tours.