A public university with main campus in Derby, and sites in Chesterfield and Buxton. Gained university status in 1992, with roots in 1851. Strong focus on applied learning and regional industry.
Address: Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, England, United Kingdom
Engineering, Education, Health and Social Care
Domains taught:
- AI and Machine Learning, Civil Engineering, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
- Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
- Public
Partnerships:
Strong links with regional industries, particularly engineering (e.g., Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Alstom), schools, and healthcare providers. Focus on apprenticeships and placements.
Research:
Applied research focused on industry challenges, public services, and societal well-being. Strengths in advanced manufacturing, materials, and health (Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering).
Famous Alumnis:
Paul Cummins, Lucy Kite, Devon Malcolm, Khumbo Kachali
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2100
Current students***:
20500
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
105000
Pros
Strong vocational focus, good industry links in engineering, supportive learning environment, TEF Gold rated teaching.
Cons
Smaller research profile than some larger universities, more regional focus, reputation varies by subject.
Best For
Students seeking vocational and industry-relevant degrees, especially in engineering, education, and health, in the East Midlands, with strong support for employability.
Most Similar Schools Locally
- The comparison with University of Wolverhampton is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on civil engineering, manufacturing and life sciences, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and has almost the same size, at about 19,000 students.
- Think of Edinburgh Napier University when civil engineering, manufacturing and life sciences is the priority: it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
- On content, Robert Gordon University and this university are close, as both teach civil engineering, manufacturing and life sciences; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
- Both schools build their programmes around civil engineering, manufacturing and life sciences, and Leeds Beckett University is the one to compare first within the country, since it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and is slightly larger, at about 24,500 students against roughly 20,500 here.
- Both schools build their programmes around civil engineering, life sciences and data analytics, and Glasgow Caledonian University is the one to compare first within the country, since it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers electrical and electronics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
- On content, New Jersey Institute of Technology in the United States and this university are close, as both teach civil engineering, manufacturing and life sciences; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and is smaller, enrolling about 12,100 students against roughly 20,500 here.
- The closest overseas parallel on manufacturing, life sciences and data analytics is Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, located in India; it is slightly smaller, at about 17,000 students against roughly 20,500 here, and is private, whereas this university is public.
- The closest overseas parallel on civil engineering, life sciences and data analytics is Clemson University, located in the United States; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers agriculture as well.
- Students considering a move abroad can look at University of Newcastle Australia in Australia, where civil engineering, life sciences and data analytics also form the core, and it covers finance and ecology and sustainability as well, and is larger, enrolling about 36,244 students against roughly 20,500 here.
- University of Galway (Ireland) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly civil engineering, life sciences and data analytics; it covers marine science and bioengineering as well, and has almost the same size, at about 19,000 students.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
- Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Continuous Improvement, Engineering, Lean Manufacturing, Product Development, Quality Management
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
- known locally
- known locally and internationally
- is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
- is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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