University is often described by many as the “best years of their life”, usually due to the vast quantity of experiences that the lifestyle offers. As someone who loves to throw themselves into any and all opportunities available to me, picking the right uni was key. But finding the right balance between course, living accommodations, city/campus life, and having a social life was also important to me.
I fell in love with Derby when I went to an Open Day and now that I’m in my second year, I can absolutely vouch for Derby being the perfect choice for me for five particular reasons:
1. Ideal learning environment
I do BSc (Hons) Psychology, a subject I’ve always been passionate about. Derby first appealed to me when I saw that they had modules that aligned with what I was interested in, some of which I hadn’t seen at other universities. When I visited an Open Day, it really cemented my desire to go here. The lecturers seemed genuinely friendly, both to each other and everybody else, making them feel like real people. The course talk was engaging and their passion for their subject and areas of expertise were so apparent. I really liked this as I knew it would be a crucial factor in helping me stay focused (and awake) during lectures and seminars.
Upon actually starting the course, this sentiment continued across the entire department, which I loved and still enjoy. Every member of staff is passionate, engaging, and beyond helpful when it comes to assessments and responding to feedback. There have also been opportunities to get involved in research as a participant or a research assistant, which has been beneficial for furthering my understanding of the course and networking with people in the industry.
2. Feeling at home
Touring the halls during an Open Day was also something that drew me to Derby. I particularly appreciated each accommodation having its own common room, fitted with a TV and various video game consoles. Throughout my time at Derby, I have frequently used the common rooms for different fun social events, ranging from halls-hosted events like playing Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) and doing arts and crafts, to friend events like parties, movie and game nights, and karaoke nights. I also really liked the modern and spacious rooms that halls offer.
I’ve lived at Peak Court for my first and second year (I opted to go back into halls with some of my friends) and absolutely loved it due to its aesthetic and because it is close to shops, city centre, and the University, with its own free to use Unibus stop right outside the gate! All the halls staff are lovely as well, I’ve built up a nice relationship with the weekly cleaners, and the hall managers are very friendly and quick to sort out any issues (maintenance or personal) you have, which is very useful when you’re busy with university work.
3. Having everything nearby
Speaking of the location, the city of Derby itself is very pleasant. I’ll be honest, originally it wasn’t a factor in why I chose Derby, but the city itself is a large part of why I love being at university here. Derby only gained city status relatively recently, which means it’s big enough to have a bunch of good shops, cafes, restaurants, and activities - but it’s still small enough to not be completely overwhelming. Now if bustling city life is your style, Nottingham is only about 30 mins away by bus or train, with Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester being quite nearby as well. Personally though, I prefer having the amenities of a city without the chaos and noise of one, which Derby truly balances well.
There’s lots of food shops near the accommodations, and a big Lidl roughly 10 mins away that’s entirely flat to walk (which after touring the University of Bath and seeing the massive hills there, I truly appreciate every time I carry my shopping back!). Derby also has loads of beautiful parks that helped me fall back in love with nature and spending time outside. I've visited some with friends and even gone alone to clear my head when coursework starts piling up - I highly recommend Darley Park! Markeaton Park is even right opposite campus on Kedleston Road, a great spot to enjoy nature and unwind while killing time between lectures. The Peak District is also relatively close, which I’ve gone to a couple times with Hiking Society, and is very good for getting away from everything for a bit if needed.
4. Finding my people
Societies were definitely something I looked into before coming, and I dipped my toes into quite a few of them (Taekwondo, Dodgeball, Board and Card Games, etc.). Ultimately Musical Theatre (MT) and DnD (granted this was a halls-hosted group) were the ones I stuck with. People really aren’t kidding when they say that you meet some of your best friends at uni through societies. The best people I know and call friends are people who I met through one of these two societies, and I’m forever thankful that I met them.
But societies don’t just let you meet future friends, they also help build your confidence, or at least they sure helped mine to flourish. I threw myself right in and became basically the equivalent of Social Secretary for halls DnD in my first year and was responsible for helping plan and run semi large-scale events which was incredibly fulfilling watching come to fruition and be enjoyed by my peers. MT also helped encourage me to perform in front of people and not be afraid of larger crowds, which are traits that I’m glad to have developed on a personal level but also have been great for expanding my CV through a fun hobby. Through people I’ve met, I’ve also managed to pick up extra work opportunities alongside my studies, which have been absolutely wonderful experiences.
5. Earning through experiences
While societies were not where I’d expected to pick up work, Derby’s wide range of ways to get work experience was another factor that drew me towards the Uni. During my Open Day, I’d learned that the Student’s Union employs students in their cafes (Blends) and shop (Keddie’s). I really liked that they were willing to work around your university timetable and schedule, and that some other jobs available through the University are opt-in for the same reasoning.
I’ve taken advantage of the variety of opportunities the University offers for work (I’m a Halls Ambassador and Content Creator) and managed to massively build upon my CV and increase my awareness of how the University functions. These two factors make me greatly appreciate the Uni, and the genuine kindness of all my colleagues makes working fun and rewarding instead of just an obligation.
Overall, Derby has allowed me to truly thrive, and I definitely couldn’t have chosen a better place to have gone to uni. But don’t just take my word for it! I recognise everyone has different interests and things that matter to them, so go check out Derby and the University for yourself! I truly hope you’ll fall in love with it just as much as I have, and find opportunities that allow you to grow and flourish as a person and into who you want to be.
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