About our research

A vibrant environment

We recognise the strong link between excellent research and an excellent student experience. Our aim at the University of Derby is to produce research that is high impact, high profile and beneficial. We are investing in our students, our staff and our research infrastructure to help us achieve this.

We have a vibrant research environment with over 330 doctoral students and support those in the early stages of their career via our early-career researcher forum.

We also have nearly 200 research-active staff across the University, with over 700 research outputs recorded on UDORA, our comprehensive, open access repository.

Research centres and groups

Research degrees

Research Reviews

Research ethics and integrity

Research Excellence Framework 2014

Research showcase

A significant contribution

Our research is wide-ranging and internationally recognised and our research teams are working on projects that are making a significant contribution to national and international policy agendas. Research includes:

Helping businesses become more efficient and sustainable
Improving the lives of young people
Predicting and reducing climate change
Helping to conserve our local heritage and environment
Developing new technologies such as artificial intelligence
Supporting the transformation of health and social care services

Our latest research news

University of Derby Kedleston Road campus

Mindfulness can improve young people’s mental health, Derby research shows

A new study by the University of Derby has shown that mindfulness training can significantly improve mental health in adolescents and young adults.

Posted: 18 November 2018

Passive following on Facebook linked with Fear of Missing Out, says new study

A new study by researchers at the University of Derby has shown a significant link between people’s passive following on Facebook – scrolling through newsfeeds without interacting – and their Fear of Missing Out, which can impact their feelings of life satisfaction.

Posted: 13 November 2018

Derby postgraduate research students at EMDoc 2018

Postgraduate research students triumph at prestigious awards

Five postgraduate research students from the University of Derby have been awarded prizes in every category of a prestigious research competition, held as part of the annual East Midlands Doctoral Conference.

Posted: 11 October 2018

Photo of the University including some of the sports pitch

Being self-obsessed identified as new type of addiction, according to Derby research

Being ‘addicted to yourself’ has been identified as a new form of addiction, according to a University of Derby academic.

Posted: 8 October 2018

University of Derby research trip to Japan

Research visit to Japan celebrates 20th anniversary of twinning with Toyota City

A team of researchers from the University of Derby have returned from a visit to Toyota City, where they launched a collaborative research partnership as part of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Derbyshire’s twinning with the city.

Posted: 20 September 2018

Read all our research news

Our partners

Our research is supported by high-profile research funders including Research England, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Innovate UK.

We have continued to expand our collaborative research and knowledge-exchange activities across a range of businesses from international PLCs to local owner-managed small businesses – all of which bring benefit back to our research and teaching and our region.

We remain in the ‘top 10’ Universities for the highest number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships being delivered and our European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects have a combined value of £10.3m. Such partnerships ensure that applied research is an integral part of the University.