The University of Derby, formerly known as Derby College, is a public university in the city of Derby, England. It traces its history back to the establishment of the Derby Diocesan Institution for the Training of Schoolmistresses in 1851. It gained university status in 1992.
The university provides over 300 study programmes at undergraduate level. Undergraduate programmes as well as short courses, foundation degrees and postgraduate degrees cover most academic disciplines and sub-disciplines. Currently, the university is home to around 34,000 students in all areas of study.The university's main campus is in the city of Derby. The Kedleston Road site in Allestree, in the north-west of Derby, is the largest and main campus and serves as the university's headquarters. It is situated close to the A38 and opposite Markeaton Park. A contemporary-styled building for Arts, Design, and Media, as well as a STEM building, on Markeaton Street in Derby, was formally opened in early November 2007 by Richard Branson. Courses are also run at the Britannia Mill site in Derby.
In addition, the university also owns Derby Theatre in Derby city centre where courses in Theatre Arts are delivered. Derby Law School and the Department of Law, Criminology and Social Sciences operate at the One Friar Gate Square building in the centre of Derby.
The Derby Campus also has a variety of specialist facilities, including computing laboratories, two computer games development suites, a doctor's surgery, conference facilities, multi-functional lecture theatres, art and culture venues, concert venues, recording studios, sports centre and fitness suites, outdoor pitches, student union facilities, and a multi-faith centre.