University of Derby to welcome prospective students back to campus for Open Day Live

The University of Derby will welcome prospective students to Derby on Saturday 3 July 2021 for Open Day Live, its first on campus open day event in over a year.

Guests at the event, taking place from 10am-4pm, will be able to meet teaching teams and students, explore learning facilities and take a look around university accommodation. There will also be live entertainment and guest appearances from TV personality and author Radzi Chinyanganya, and Derby alumnus and reality TV star Baasit Siddiqui.

Visitors to campus will be given a guided tour of the Kedleston Road site, have the opportunity to visit the University’s other local sites – Markeaton Street, Britannia Mill and One Friar Gate Square – and the option to view a student flat in some of our halls of residence.

There will be a variety of subject specific activities available to try on the day, from having a go at using a unique photography process with large format analogue cameras to create portraits that visitors can take away with them, to visiting the University’s ‘crime house’ to find the evidence to prove how a crime happened, before heading to the lab to learn how pieces of evidence would be examined in a real forensic situation.

To keep everyone safe, the University is limiting places and asking all guests to book a time slot and will be staggering arrival times throughout the day. There will be contactless sign in on arrival, hand sanitising stations across the site, markings and one way systems, and all attendees will be asked to follow social distancing measures and wear a face covering indoors in line with government guidelines.

Joshua Bridgeland, (18) a student at North Hertfordshire College visited the University earlier this year on a campus tour. Speaking about how the visit benefited him, he said: "It was great to be able to come into the University and see the facilities, including the gym, library and lecture rooms. This gave me a good vibe for what life would be like at university and it was also extremely helpful to be able to visit accommodation. 

“Absolutely everyone we spoke to, from arrival, to the guy who showed us around, and staff in halls, couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. They gave a really great impression of the University."

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, added: “We are delighted to be hosting our first on campus open day event since before the first government restrictions were implemented in March 2020.

“This has been such a challenging year for students and we want to give those considering university next year, or even those still weighing up their options for this year, an opportunity to gain a real feel for both the city and the University.

“It will be wonderful to have the opportunity to meet with prospective students and their families and show them what they can expect to experience if they choose to come to Derby. There is a varied schedule for people to enjoy and we hope that at the end of the event they will feel inspired and excited by what they see.”

Following the success of the University’s virtual open day in September 2020, hosted by Radzi, the event will also be live streamed, so anyone who is unable to make it to campus on the day can still enjoy the full open day experience online.

Open Day Live is aimed at prospective students, looking into their university options for 2022 entry or those who are still exploring their options for 2021. The event, whether experienced on campus or online, will give attendees a real insight into what the University of Derby has to offer and what life there as a student is like.

To book a place for the University of Derby Open Day, visit our Undergraduate Open Days page.