Guidance for
international
applicants
and current
students

Our award-winning accommodation includes seven halls of residence that are a short distance from campus sites and within easy reach of the city centre – so you’ll soon be finding your way around and living like a local. Most halls are just minutes away from our campus, and the furthest is 25 minutes walking distance. Our Unibus allows you to easily travel between our halls, campus sites, city centre and train station.

Your fixed price rent in halls is all-inclusive, so you won’t have any separate bills for WiFi, electricity, gas and water, helping you to manage your budgets. Living in halls only requires you to pay a £50 deposit upfront to secure a room and we have 3 offers available:

• Value offer from £115 per week
• Prime offer (shared) from £133 per week
• Prime offer (en suite) from £148 per week

Upon arrival, you will be provided with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen pack, stocked with essential items to help you settle in. Our accommodation team also host regular activities and events where you can make friends and feel at home.

Please note: University halls of residence do not provide family accommodation​.

Private accommodation is suitable for families arriving in Derby. Private houses and apartments can cost between £70 and £120 per week and are based across the city. Usually, this does not include utility bills such as gas or electricity, so these costs will be added to the price. If you bring a family, costs could be significantly higher, between £200 and £350 per week, depending on the number of bedrooms. See more information about renting in Derby. If you choose to live in private accommodation, you will also have to provide a guarantor, or in most cases pay seven months’ rent in advance.

We strongly recommend living within Derby, close to the University – no further than 30 miles away. Teaching can start as early as 9am and finish as late as 9pm, so being within easy reach will significantly reduce your travel time and you won’t have to spend as much on transport. You will also be able to get to the University without worrying about potential rail strikes or bad weather disrupting your journey. Living close to campus will help you with your studies, as you’ll be able to make use of our library - which is open 24/7 during assessment time - and meet up with classmates for study groups. It also means you can easily get involved with our Union of Students societies and events, helping you to make friends. Not to mention, Derby is one of the most affordable cities in the UK with a lower cost of living than many other areas in the UK.

To ensure that you are enrolled in time and ready to begin your studies you must make your way to the University of Derby on the day of your arrival if you arrive before 5pm on a working day, or the following working day between 9am and 5pm. ​

You must bring the following original documents with you:​

• Passport​
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) – only if your BRP was ready for collection from the post office, otherwise you should only bring your passport​

You must bring the documents above to complete the right to study checks as part of your enrolment and to be officially registered as a student with the University of Derby.​

​You will receive emails regarding your enrolment so please ensure that you read and action as advised. 

In the event of losing your documents at the airport or after you have arrived in the UK you must immediately report this to the police. Make sure you obtain evidence of your report and visit the StudentHub to speak to one of our advisors. We will be able to contact UKVI and ensure your enrolment is complete so you do not lose your place to study.

We have a range of facilities on our campus for you to use during your time at the University: ​

• Food area - Subway, Starbucks, Eat Central canteen, Union of Students coffee shop, Basecamp
• Sports Centre
• Multi-Faith Centre
• Library
• Blackwell's book shop

Please note we do not have creche or nursery facilities on campus. These will need to be arranged privately if required.

Take a virtual tour

There's lots of support available for international students:

• StudentHub@Derby
• Union of Students
• Wellbeing support
• On-site GP
• Visa guidance
• Careers and Employability
• Personal Academic Tutors
• Derby English Language Centre

When you arrive, you should register with a local GP.​ We recommend Park Medical, our on-site GP located at our Kedleston Road site.​

Please also ensure you bring sufficient supplies of any prescribed medication for your time in the UK.​

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Make sure you budget appropriately for your time as a student in the UK.

You will need to budget for accommodation, food and other living expenses. A minimum of £1,025 per month is required per person to ensure living standards. This is separate from your tuition fees. ​You will also need to factor in the cost of flights.

As our university sites and accommodation are located close to each other and the city centre, you are within walking distance of many key places. There is also our free Unibus service you can make use of.

You can shop for food at local supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, as well as world food stores such as Pak Foods. 

September enrolment

£8,000 in advance of your CAS being issued or enrolment*, followed up by the following two payments:

• Payment one: £2,000 to be paid by Friday 18 October.
• Payment two: The remaining remaining balance of your tuition fees will need to be settled by Wednesday 1 January.

You can now pay using our online payment system.

January enrolment

£8,000 in advance of your CAS being issued or enrolment*, half of the remaining amount by 1 March and the final instalment by 1 May. You can now pay using our online payment system.

*please refer to the deadlines showed on your UDO portal once your enrolment has been confirmed and you have access to the portal

If you are a full-time student visa holder you can work whilst you are in the UK and still actively enrolled and engaged in your studies. If you hold a Short-term Study visa, or any other visitor-type visa you cannot work at all.​

Our Student Employment Agency and Careers Service can offer you support, including finding jobs, writing CVs and cover letters.

Undergraduate students: 20 hours a week during term-time, full-time hours during the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, full-time hours between successfully completing the course and your visa expiring (the wrap-up period).​

Postgraduate Taught: 20 hours a week during term-time, full-time hours during the Christmas and Easter holidays, full-time hours between successfully completing the course and your visa expiring (the wrap-up period). There is no summer break for these students.