Kedleston Road
Derby
DE22 1GB
Tel 01332 591 167
askadmissions@derby.ac.uk
www.derby.ac.uk
Open days: October 10, October 30, November 28

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 112 (107)

Student satisfaction 74.5%
Head teacher ranking 104= (82=)
Peer ranking 85= (104)
Research quality 48.9%
A-level/Higher points 229
Unemployment 10.4%
Firsts and 2:1s 46.6%
Student/staff ratio 19:1
Dropout rate 27.6% (23.3%)

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 9,328 (3,684)
Postgraduates 591 (2,544)
Teaching staff 484
Applications/places 12,977/2,684; 4.8:1 (+7.3%)
Clearing entry 4.9%
Live in 25% (100%) £73-£91
Bursaries 66%: £200-£800
Scholarships Under review

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 1.6%/1.4%
Mature 23.7%
State school 96.8%
Lowest social classes 37.2%
Low-participation areas 19.5%

Students at Derby know their studies take priority but they are smart enough to keep an eye on the workplace at the same time.

Many of the courses on offer to undergraduates are accredited by professional bodies, so they can be confident that their studies are relevant to their career. The career and development centre matches students with mentors who work in business to arrange shadowing opportunities, and who offer advice on compiling a CV, writing cover letters and applying for jobs.

A £12m project to boost the skills of local workers strengthens links with industry, and involves building a headquarters for University of Derby Corporate, the business-to-business arm of the institution.

Split between a campus in Derby and one in Buxton, students can take advantage of the nightlife of Nottingham or the beautiful countryside of the Peak District, depending on where they are based. A bus service runs between the three university sites in Derby.

The £23m Devonshire campus in Buxton was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2006. Courses include hospitality and culinary arts, beauty, spa and hairdressing, events management, travel and tourism and sport and outdoor recreation.

Subjects rated excellent for teaching include allied health professions, nursing and pharmacy and pharmacology. A £1.5m clinical skills suite ensures the facilities match the high standard of teaching. This year sees the range of health-related courses extended to include behavioural science, counselling psychology and social care and leadership and management. Journalism, production engineering, art and design and criminal justice are also taking their first students in 2009.

Practical experience is essential for students of the theatre arts who will be able to walk the boards at Derby Theatre, which has reopened after the university saved it from closure. This adds to an existing theatre studio at the Markeaton Street site.

Graduation and May balls attract the likes of Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Judge Jules, and there should be no complaints about Derby’s student union bar — it was designed by students themselves.

STUDENT VIEW

Caleb Jackson, students’ union president:

First impressions It was very welcoming and what really struck me was that most courses are developed to make you employable at the end of them.
Worst feature The university needs to celebrate its successes more. We win awards, but students don’t necessarily know about them.
Facilities Markeaton campus for art, design and technology opened two years ago. An all-weather floodlit sports pitch has opened.
Deal clincher We have a strong student voice and the support means you’ll enjoy your experience.

Rated excellent (7)
Allied health professions; business and management; education studies; geology; nursing; organismal biosciences; pharmacy and pharmacology.

Student satisfaction
History and Archaeology 91.1; Initial Teacher Training 87.4; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 86; Law 85.6; Education studies 82.6; Biology and related Sciences 82.3; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 81.1; English-based studies 78.3; Finance and Accounting 77; Physical Science 74.7; Business 74.5; Management 74.3; Other Creative Arts 73.8; Art and Design 73.7; Other subjects allied to Medicine 73.4; Architecture, Building and Planning 72.1; Psychology 71.6; Social Work 71.6; Electronic and Electrical Engineering 70.7; Performing Arts 69.7; Media studies 69.5; Combined 60.3; Tourism, Transport, Travel and others in Business and Administrative studies 58.7

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