Undergraduate opportunities

The best possible start

What you do after you leave us is as important to us as what you do while you're here. That's why we work with employers to help you get the best possible start. Our degrees are designed to help you along your career path - and there are opportunities inside and outside your course that will help you stand out in the market place.

Our graduates have gone on to great things, whether that is creating stunning video games for Xbox, running a tasting room at a prestigious wine farm in South Africa or starting their own business.

Video: Christina Vassell

Our Joint Honours student Christina Vassell has been helped by our Careers and Employability Service to find opportunities inside and outside of the University.

Vlogger Christina Vassell talks about her employability experiences

What happens next ...

Gaming student lands dream job with Xbox

Graduate Daniel Fern credits us with steering him towards a career with Microsoft Xbox after completing his degree in Computer Games Modelling and Animation.

From Business Studies to Dragons’ Den success

Graduate Ed Hollands went on the BBC's Dragons' Den TV show and used the skills he gained on our Business Studies course to win a £30,000 investment.

How Elsje landed her dream job in South Africa

Elsje Hugo credits the reputation of the University of Derby for helping her secure a job as Tasting Room Manager at a prestigious South African wine farm.

Our three-year promise

You’ve done it! You’ve got the work experience from part-time jobs and placements, you’ve honed your CV, practised for your interviews and you’re ready to graduate. But don’t worry if you haven’t found that perfect job yet. We are committed to staying with you for three years after you graduate, supporting you, guiding you and helping you get that job that’s ideal for you.

Employability and Enterprise Hub

This facility at our Kedleston Road site enables you to:

Network with and be mentored by senior business figures
Attend exclusive business seminars and workshops
Access funding to start up your own enterprise
Gain employment with top-level companies
Use your skills to help good causes

Employers use the hub to interview and talent-spot students, so it’s somewhere to get yourself noticed.

Get your business idea off the ground

If you are interested in starting your own business, we can offer you a range of support:

Our employability award focuses on enterprise and business start-up
Be The Boss, our award-winning programme of enterprise support aimed at students and graduates who want to become self-employed
Introductory workshops cover business basics, generating ideas and business planning
Links to online tutorials and resources help you get your business started
Networking events help you build your confidence and widen your contacts
Our Start-Up Project provides specialist in-depth support, workshops and business advice appointments