Student life at Derby
This is our City
Derby really is the UK’s most central city - You can get to London in 90 minutes on the train - so it is at the heart of the transport network too. This means it’s a thriving multicultural city renowned for technology and innovation. It’s why many global companies are based here, such as Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Bombardier. It’s an exciting place to learn and experience university student life, providing you with many opportunities to gain real world experience through work placements and internships which can lead to employment for international students in the UK.
Affordable living
The University of Derby is an affordable university for international students who are studying in the UK. The cost of living for students and international students in Derby is very reasonable, and much cheaper than in many larger cities. The University of Derby is one of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students.
City of festivals
Derby is home to award-winning small festivals where the acts are unknown and exciting. The food and drink is local and artisan- you will have the time of your life!
There’s a lively student night life with plenty of student bars, student clubs, restaurants and live music venues for those that want it and the Peak District National Park is close by offering inspiring countryside and exhilarating outdoor activities.
Accommodation
We want you to feel at home during your stay at the University of Derby and offer international student accommodation during your studies. Our halls of residence are owned, managed and approved by the University of Derby. At University of Derby halls of residence we have a long standing record of excellent customer service for International students. But don’t take our word for it, take a look at our rankings in the i-graduate International Student Barometer* (the accepted global benchmark for the international student experience). Across the world 159,959 students participated in the i-graduate International Student Barometer across 182 institutions, 42 institutions participated across the UK.
Our accommodation office was ranked 1st in the UK and 2nd in the global benchmark group for arrival for 1st year students*. Once people are settled into halls our staff go out of their way to help students settle in. Our Residential Assistants were ranked 5th in the UK and 10th in the global benchmark group for the support they offered. The overall quality of our accommodation was ranked 3rd in the UK*
We guarantee that international student accommodation in our halls of residence will be reserved for you for at least the first year of your studies if you apply before 31 July.
Campus support for international students
We know that achieving success at University is affected as much by your wellbeing as it is by your academic ability. If you are happy and confident within yourself and youruniversityenvironment, then you will be far more able to achieve the success that you deserve.
We really want international students to be successful and we want you to enjoy your time at the University of Derby, and we are here to support you with anything that may impact on you, your academic performance or your experience as an international student.
Our student support can help you with a whole range of things, from budgeting to exam anxiety, finding part-time jobs for international students, to juggling your life and meeting new friends to managing significant and serious problems.
International Student wellbeing
There is a clear link between your wellbeing and academic success. To help you make the most of your time at the University of Derby, we provide a wide range of face to face, telephone and online support. Student wellbeing provides support to all our international students on any issue, and provides a confidential counselling service.
If you need advice and guidance on anything health-related issue, we will do all we can to help you. There is a GP surgery, The Park Medical Practice, at the Kedleston Road site, which students and international students living in Derby can register with. If you are an international student living in Buxton, please find local healthcare providers.
Our Health Practitioners provide confidential consultations on a whole range of health and mental health issues. We also provide specialist support services for international students with a specific learning difficulty disability, autistic spectrum disorder or a long-term health or mental health condition.
International Student Life
Every student and international student enrolled at the University of Derby, and Buxton & Leek College, is automatically a member of the University of Derby Students' Union (UDSU). Whether you're actively involved or not, we aim to make your student experience a better one. The UDSU can update you on all the activities which are open to all students throughout the academic year, from student nights out, student parties, free things for students to get involved in, sports, societies and campus facilities.
Faith and Religion
In Derby, there is a diverse multicultural community representing many different faiths. The Multi-Faith Centre at our Derby Campus is open to everyone – people of all faiths or none.
Derby University was voted the best university for faith provision in an independent survey of international students studying at UK universities.
*ISB results 2016