University of Derby

The University of Derby is spread across two campuses in Derby and Chesterfield. Derby is proud to welcome students from more than 100 countries around the world, so you’ll be part of a diverse, international community.

Whether you are progressing from undergraduate study, want to change or develop your career, or simply study the subject you love in more depth, the University offers a wide range of courses and flexible study methods including full-time, part-time and online learning.

From criminology to science, education to business, the University also offers a dozens of courses designed for continuing professional development (CPD) that will help you enhance your skills, maintain your professional registration and take your career to the next level.

£200 million has been invested into facilities at the University over the past ten years, offering students access to exceptional learning environments, including an NHS-standard hospital ward, forensic training facility, film and music studios and a sports and fitness center.

During your spare time, you can get involved with extra-curricular activities to both enhance your university experience and add additional skills and experiences to your CV. These range from special interest groups to volunteering opportunities. 

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Very good university experience. I am enjoying my uni days. Future business school students will be very happy. I encourage them to continue their studies .”

“Lecturers very supportive, interesting module content, interesting people.”

Whatever your area of interest, the University’s professional qualifications, career support and links with industry will help you achieve your goals.

All students have access to the University's Careers and Employability Service, which can be used up to three years after graduation. This service provides support and guidance to help you develop your broader skills.

These include:

• Access to database of vacancies
• Work experience opportunities and graduate schemes
• Application and job search advice
• Employer events
• Networking and showcase events
• Employability lectures and seminars
• Wide range of workshops and programmes
• Online resources

The University also has an Employability and Enterprise Hub at its Kedleston Road site. The hub helps students network with senior business figures, attend exclusive business seminars and workshops, partner with business mentors, access funding to start up their own enterprise, gain employment with top-level companies and use their skills to help good causes. Employers use the hub to identify and interview talented students, so it’s a great place to get yourself noticed too.

The University also runs the Student Employment Agency which can help you find temporary, part-time, paid work. It’s an excellent way to gain valuable work experience, enhance your skills and earn money while you study and during holidays.

If you are interested in starting your own business, the University offers a range of support, including:

• An employability award focused on enterprise and business start-ups
• Introductory workshops covering business basics
• Links to online tutorials and resources to help get your business started
• Networking events
• Access to specialist in-depth support, workshops and business advice appointments.

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Workshops, Drop-in to review our CV + cover letter, Local Internships for the students of the University only. The career website is very well run with great information, direct links to job ads.”

“Regular emails, internships, etc.”

“When we come out with our MA we will be registered social workers. So it is giving us all the skills needed.”

The University of Derby has a growing reputation for high-impact, high-profile research that informs its teaching. The University of Derby’s expert academics are of extremely high caliber and bring with them a wealth of industry experience.

You can choose from a range of professional qualifications, from MBA and LLM to various teacher training options. Alternatively, their online courses provide flexible study which allows you to continue working while gaining your qualifications.

Courses are developed in partnership with employers and industry bodies to provide you with skills relevant to today’s workplace. Placements and work-based projects will give you the professional edge and in many cases you can tailor your postgraduate studies to your specific career needs.

Courses include ACCA and CIPS accredited qualifications, standalone modules for health or education professionals (which provide transferable university credits), workshops, online short courses, free online courses, and qualifications in environmental sciences and psychology.

If you are interested in studying for a PhD to progress academically or advance your career, the University offers opportunities across a range of disciplines, including:

• Art and Design
• Business
• Criminology
• Education
• Engineering and Technology
• Health and Social Care
• Humanities
• Law and Justice
• Science

Postgraduate courses start in January as well as September, giving you more flexible study options to suit your lifestyle and commitments.

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“As a practising acoustic consultant, I’ve found the MSc course to be extremely helpful. The applied nature and the stimulating coursework combine to ensure that students develop their expertise.”

Dermot Moloney, MSc Applied Acoustics graduate

“After thinking about postgraduate courses I didn’t want to look at what other universities were offering. Buxton has everything I need and more.”

Lauren Docksey, MSc International Hospitality student

“The biggest strength of the course was the sheer dedication and passion of expert lecturers.”

Christopher Wilson, LLM graduate

“The teaching is excellent, accompanied by very knowledgeable and friendly lecturers who will guide you in the right direction. It has helped me move forward in my career and I’m feeling very hopeful for the future.”

Louise Wong, MSc Marketing Management graduate.

The Union of Students at Derby is run completely by students and is independent from the University, although the two organisations work closely together to help implement positive changes. There are five office trustees, along with part-time officers and academic reps on board.

Visit the website for more information 

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“The student union is very helpful and well located in the uni. I prefer to concentrate on my studies.”

If you’re relocating to Derby or Buxton for your postgraduate course, the University of Derby halls of residence provide a convenient base, close to the city or town center and within easy reach of University facilities.

In Derby you can choose to live in a postgraduate apartment or to immerse yourself in student life in the larger and more traditional halls of residence.

Flamsteed Court, Derby

In a quiet residential area next to the Kedleston Road site, Flamsteed Court is a small complex of 30 two-bedroom apartments, ideal for postgraduate and mature students.

Each apartment has free parking, two double en suite rooms, an open plan kitchen/diner and lounge including a television (licence paid). With the University’s library, Union of Students and sports center close at hand, you’ll also find Markeaton Park just across the road and bus stops for the city center or local shops only a minute away. Prices at Flamsteed Court are £150.01 per week in 2018/19.

Halls of Residence, Derby and Buxton

Flats in the traditional halls of residence in both Derby and Buxton accommodate between four and eight people. Where possible the University allocates rooms by age. You can apply for a place in halls individually or with friends. Safe and secure and within easy reach of both local and University facilities, staff are on site 24 hours a day so there’s always someone you can contact if you need to.

Halls offer you cost-effective accommodation, with electricity, gas, water, Wi-Fi and room contents insurance included in the price. Prices for 2019/20 start from £105 per week. If you prefer, you can opt for an en suite bedroom, and suitable rooms are also available for students with a disability or medical condition.

If you’d prefer to rent a private property with your friends or by yourself,   you can find the right place through the University’s registered private housing scheme.

To find out more about University-approved private accommodation please visit the website.

To find out more about the types of accommodation available, visit the website.

With over £200 million invested over the past ten years, the University has plenty of state-of-the-art facilities across its three campuses. From learning spaces in five libraries to state-of-the-art equipment and a modern sports center, there’s everything you’ll need to get the most out of your studies.

Subject-specific facilities include:

• Bloomberg financial markets lab
• Dance studio
• Clinical skills suite (With a mock hospital ward and cutting-edge X-ray suite – the first of its kind in a UK university)
• Mock crown court
• STEM center (including a wind tunnel, turbojet, geotechnics, fluids lab and hemianechoic chamber)
• Computing laboratories
• Research and laboratory facilities (including a specialist aquatic research facility, forensic science and biomedical health laboratories.)
• Visual communication studios
• Five well-stocked libraries

When it comes to relaxing in-between studying, you’ll find on-campus shops, coffee and food outlets, plus the Union of Students bar.

To take a look around Derby’s sites,visit their website.

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“The university facilities are amazing. However, I am a little disappointed regarding the food that is sell at the Uni, and their are no microwaves at some places.”

“Derby is a great place to study – the spaces are clean and bright, the facilities are cutting-edge and the social life is great.”

Christopher, LLM graduate

“Well kept.”

“Very good.”

Derby is a thriving city full of culture and close to the countryside, with stunning parks and plenty of museums and galleries to visit. There is also an expanding art scene and arts events around the city like the sketching club. Students can visit exhibitions and go to film screenings throughout the week.

When it comes to shopping there are over 160 stores in the shopping center in to Derby – a retail haven with all your favorite high-street brands.

Students can enjoy sampling the many bars, pubs and restaurants across the city, along with clubs, live music venues, multiplex cinemas and other leisure activities, including the University’s own Derby Theatre.

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“The city is nice and cute.”

“Not too big, easy to navigate.”

“Good.”

The University of Derby offers over 150 clubs and societies, from sports clubs to enthusiast groups. There are also plenty of volunteering opportunities available, as well as a student newspaper, TV channel and radio station, which encourage budding journalists to create and share content across all three platforms.

Find out what societies are available by visiting their website.

The University is committed to the wellbeing of all students and offers a wide range of student support services. These include a dedicated disability support team, a free and confidential counselling service, support for students wishing to improve their English language skills and a student center which provides a range of information and advice for your studies.

International students can also receive support from the University’s award-winning International Student Centre (ISC). The ISC will help you every step of the way, from the moment you start thinking about what and where to study, through to application, study and graduation.

University of Derby students on Postgraduate Search say:

“The support is amazing!”

“Always been excellent.”

“Outstanding.”

“Very good with being flexible to student needs.”

If you’re planning to study at postgraduate level, you’ll need to make sure you’ve considered how to pay for your studies. Derby’s postgraduate courses are competitively priced and all the essential equipment and activities are included.

All course fees can be found on the course page on Derby’s website.

Depending on where you usually live and what you intend to study, you may be eligible for funding. Funding may include:

• Postgraduate loan – available for masters study. Restrictions apply.
• Career development loan
• Bursary for vocational courses – including teaching, social work and health care
• Sponsorship by your employer
• Doctoral loan – available for doctoral students. Restrictions apply. To find out more, click here

The University also offers bursaries and scholarships, including:

25% Alumni Discount

Students who graduated from the University of Derby within a year of applying for a postgraduate degree are eligible for a 25% discount.

10% Alumni Discount

Students who graduated before the last academic year will be eligible for a 10% discount.

Funding for Teaching Qualifications

Students on a teacher-training course are eligible to apply for a bursary via the Get in to Teaching website.

Disabled Students’ Allowance

If you’re a higher education student living in England and have a disability or long-term health condition, you may be eligible for support through the Disabled Students’ Allowance scheme.

Full details of all the funding options are on Derby’s website.

For more ideas on organisations who may fund your degree visit the website.

The University of Derby is renowned for its high-quality, research-informed teaching, delivered by expert teaching staff.

The University of Derby has a greater staff to student ratio than most universities, so students are guaranteed dedicated time and support during their studies. Many of the University’s lecturers still work in industry or are actively involved in ground-breaking research, so the content of their modules is up-to-date with the latest developments in the subject and combines both their industry experience and subject knowledge.

The University of Derby is also at the forefront of vital research in order to help find solutions for the most pressing issues of our time, including climate change and modern slavery. Looking to the future, the University has also invested in a new generation of research centers with exciting projects being developed across a wide range of disciplines both locally and internationally.

Upcoming Postgraduate and Professional Open Events

You will usually need a qualification equivalent to a UK undergraduate degree (2:2 or above). You will also need an English language qualification.

The University accepts all UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved tests. You will need at least IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in all areas – speaking, listening, reading, writing). Derby also accepts International GCE O-level English Language, grade C or above, or International GCSE English or English as a Second Language, grade C or above.

Please note that some courses have higher English language entry requirements, so please check the specific course details.

The University of Derby offers a variety of postgraduate research degrees:

MPhil and PhD

These degrees allow you to undertake original research, culminating in the production of a thesis or creative work and a critical appraisal, and leading to the award of either a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time. The PhD takes between three and six years, depending on whether you study full-time or part-time. For both awards you will be fully supported by two supervisors.

You may wish to follow this route if you already have a series of research-informed published or creative works. You will need to prepare these works for examination and undertake a critical appraisal of them.

Professional or practice-based doctorate

Derby offers professional or practice-based doctorates in education, health and social care practice (in a named field) and professional practice. They differ from the MPhil and PhD degrees in that they are all part-time, they include a substantial modular-based element and the thesis must relate to your area of practice.

Studying a postgraduate taught degree allows you to specialise in an area that closely matches your interests, skills or career ambitions. Most postgraduate students build on the knowledge they gained in their undergraduate degree, but some courses allow you to change direction and study a completely different subject.

There are a range of master’s degrees available, including:

• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Research (MRes)

The master’s degrees are made up of modules totaling 180 credits. They usually consist of three stages: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters. You’ll need to successfully complete each stage before progressing to the next.

Some of the postgraduate taught degrees are only available at Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma level – these include the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

As one of the UK’s leading providers of online learning, the University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) offers an alternative, flexible way to study for your postgraduate qualification.

There’s a wide range of courses for you to choose from and you will study in a structured and supported online environment. You’ll be guided through your studies by a personal tutor and academic teams who are experts in their fields and specialists in online learning.

You can study at a time and place to suit you, with access to online course materials at any time of day or night. Contact with your tutors and fellow students is through online discussion boards, café forums, wikis, Skype and live taught virtual sessions.

To find out more, please click here.

For more information visit their website.