Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University is an esteemed public research university located in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Founded in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, it was the world's first mechanics' institute and remains the eighth-oldest academic institute in the UK.

Heriot-Watt University is a prestigious university located in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. The name Heriot-Watt was inspired by Scottish inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist George Heriot. It is among the 23 colleges that achieved university status in the 1960s. It is often considered a plate-glass university.

Heriot-Watt University has more than 82 undergraduate courses, 146 postgraduate courses, and a wide number of research programmes. The institution is quite well known for its science and engineering courses. It has more than 100 learning partners across the globe. It is among the top universities in Scotland for the highest-paid salaries.

The university has 27,000 students on its overall campuses and over 6,000 international students. It is one of Scotland’s most famous universities for international students.

About a third of Heriot-Watt students on the Edinburgh campus are outside the UK. Every international student will feel like home as there will be many students with the same beliefs and culture.

Heriot-Watt University aims to create and exchange knowledge that benefits society. They put the community of students, staff, and alumni at the heart of everything that they do.

Their strategic themes include building flourishing communities, pioneering in education, excelling in research and enterprise, and being a global, connected university.

Heriot-Watt was formed as the School of Arts of Edinburgh in 1821. Scottish businessman Leonard Horner established it. In 1852, the name was changed to Watt Institution and School of Arts.

In 1885, the Watt institution was changed into Heriot-Watt College. The university was granted university status in 1966 by the royal charter and became Heriot-Watt University.

Heriot-Watt University holds accreditation by many professional bodies. Some of them are:

1. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
2. The Association of International Accountants
3. Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
4. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
5. Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland
6. Global Accreditation Centre for Project Management Education Programmes
7. Chartered Institute Marketing
8. Chartered Management Institute
9. Project Management Institute
10. Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner
11. Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
12. Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport
13. Charted Institute of Procurement and Supply
14. Institute of Six Sigma Professionals
15. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
16. European Foundation for Management Development
17. Responsible Research in Business and Management
18. Principles for Responsible Management Education

Heriot-Watt University is one of the oldest universities in Scotland, providing the highest campus facilities for its students.

1. There is an on-campus medical centre and dental practice that provides top-notch health care.
2. More than £9 million has been invested in the Library and Learning Commons areas.
3. There are more than 700 individual and group study spaces in the library, which is open 24/7 during the semester and exams.
4. A free ATM in the Hugh Nisbet Building and another in the Student Union Building.
5. Regarding childcare, there is a nursery called Pinocchio's at the Edinburgh Campus.
6. There is an on-campus Chaplaincy Centre open for people of every belief.
7. Six food and drink outlets offer a variety of foods at the Edinburgh campus.
8. Oriam, Scotland’s national performance centre, is based at the Edinburgh campus.

Foundation

1. Foundation Programme
2. Foundation Programme (Engineering and Sciences)

Undergraduate

1. Accountancy
2. Accountancy (Accelerated)
3. Accountancy and Finance
4. Accountancy and Finance (Accelerated)
5. Actuarial Science
6. Actuarial Science and Industrial Training
7. Aerospace Engineering
8. Aerospace Engineering (5 Years)
9. Applied Modern Languages and Translating
10. Architectural Engineering
11. Architectural Engineering (5 Years)
12. Biological Sciences
13. Biological Sciences (Cell and Molecular Biology)
14. Biological Sciences (Human Health)
15. Biology
16. Brewing and Distilling  
17. Brewing and Distilling (Partnership College Route)
18. Brewing and Distilling and Industrial Training
19. British Sign Language (Interpreting, Translating and Applied)
20. BSL and Applied Languages
21. Business Administration
22. Business and Finance
23. Chemical Engineering
24. Chemical Engineering (4 Years)
25. Chemical Engineering (Partnership)
26. Chemistry
27. Chemistry (5 Years)
28. Chemistry (5 Years) (with Placement Year)
29. Civil Engineering
30. Civil Engineering (4 Years)
31. Combined Studies
32. Communication Design
33. Computer Science
34. Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)
35. Computer Science (Cyber Security)
36. Computer Science (Data Science)
37. Computer Science (Data Science) and Industrial Training
38. Computer Science (Data Science) and Industrial Training (with Placement Year)
39. Computer Science (Games Programming)
40. Computer Science (Software Engineering)
41. Computer Science (Software Engineering) (with Placement Year)
42. Computer Systems
43. Computer Systems (Games Programming)
44. Computer Systems and Industrial Training
45. Computer Systems and Industrial Training (with Placement Year)
46. Construction Project Management
47. Data Science
48. Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art)
49. Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art) (with Placement Year)
50. Economics
51. Economics (Accelerated)
52. Economics and Business Management
53. Economics and Finance
54. Electrical and Electronic Engineering
55. Electrical and Electronic Engineering (5 Years)
56. Electrical Engineering (Partnership)
57. Engineering
58. Fashion
59. Fashion Branding and Promotion
60. Fashion Technology
61. Finance
62. Financial Mathematics
63. Games Development and Production
64. Geography  
65. Geography, Society and Environment
66. Interior Architecture and Design
67. International Business Management
68. International Business Management (Accelerated)
69. International Business Management with Year Abroad
70. Marine Biology
71. Marketing
72. Marketing (Accelerated)
73. Mathematical Physics
74. Mathematical, Statistical and Actuarial Sciences
75. Mathematical, Statistical and Actuarial Sciences and Industrial Training
76. Mathematical, Statistical and Actuarial Sciences and Industrial Training (with Placement Year)
77. Mathematics
78. Mathematics (4 Years)
79. Mathematics with Computer Science
80. Mathematics with Finance
81. Mathematics with Finance and Industrial Training
82. Mathematics with Finance and Industrial Training (with Placement Year)
83. Mathematics with French
84. Mathematics with German
85. Mathematics with Spanish
86. Mathematics with Statistics
87. Mechanical Engineering
88. Mechanical Engineering (5 Years)
89. Mechanical Engineering (Partnership)
90. Mechanical Engineering and Energy Engineering
91. Mechanical Engineering and Energy Engineering (5 Years)
92. Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating)
93. Modern Languages for Business Management
94. Physics
95. Physics (5 Years)
96. Psychology
97. Psychology and Economics
98. Psychology and Marketing
99. Psychology with Management
100. Quantity Surveying
101. Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems
102. Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems (5 Years)
103. Software Engineering
104. Sport and Exercise Science
105. Statistical Data Science
106. Structural Engineering
107. Structural Engineering (5 Years)

Postgraduate

1. Accountancy
2. Actuarial Management
3. Actuarial Management with Data Science
4. Actuarial Science
5. Actuarial Science and Management
6. Advanced Mechanical Engineering
7. Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Application
8. Advanced Structural Engineering
9. Analytical Science for the Biosciences Industries
10. Applied Mathematical Sciences
11. Applied Mathematical Sciences (2 Years)
12. Applied Mathematical Sciences with Climate and Environmental Modelling
13. Applied Psychology
14. Artificial Intelligence
15. Artificial Intelligence (2 Years)
16. Brewing and Distilling  
17. Brewing and Distilling with Entrepreneurship
18. Business Analytics and Consultancy
19. Business Analytics and Consultancy with Advanced Practice
20. Business Psychology
21. Business Psychology with Coaching
22. Business Psychology with Human Resource Management
23. Business Strategy, Leadership and Change
24. Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting
25. Civil Engineering (with Placement Year)
26. Civil Engineering and Construction Management
27. Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment
28. Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying
29. Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying (with Placement Year)
30. Computational Data Science
31. Computational Mathematics and Data Analysis
32. Computer Science for Cyber Security
33. Computing (2 Years)
34. Construction Project Management
35. Construction Project Management with Industry Placement
36. Data Science
37. Data Science (2 Years)
38. Design Management
39. Digital Design and Innovation
40. Digital Marketing
41. Digital Marketing with Advanced Practice
42. Economics, Banking and Finance
43. Energy
44. Energy and Economics
45. Energy with Entrepreneurship
46. Fashion and Textiles Design
47. Fashion and Textiles Design (with Placement Year)
48. Fashion and Textiles Management
49. Finance
50. Finance (1 Year)
51. Finance and Management
52. Food Process Engineering
53. Games Design and Development
54. Global Environmental Change and Policy
55. Global Sustainability Engineering
56. Global Sustainability Engineering (with Placement Year)
57. Human Resource Management (HRM)
58. Imaging, Vision and High Performance Computing
59. Information Technology (Business)
60. Information Technology (Software Systems)
61. Intercultural Business Communication
62. Interior Architecture and Design
63. International Accounting and Finance
64. International Banking and Finance
65. International Business Management
66. International Business Management (1 Year)
67. International Marine Science
68. International Marketing
69. International Marketing with Consumer Psychology
70. International Master in Industrial Management
71. International Sport Management  
72. International Sport Management (with Placement Year)
73. Interpreting
74. Interpreting and Translating
75. Investment Management
76. Logistics and Supply Chain Management
77. Marine Renewable Energy
78. Mathematical Biology, Ecology and Medicine
79. Mathematical Sciences
80. Mathematics (1 Year)
81. Mathematics of Sustainable Finance
82. Mature Field Management
83. MBA
84. Network Security
85. Operations Management
86. Petroleum Engineering
87. Real Estate
88. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition
89. Renewable Energy Engineering
90. Research Methods
91. Reservoir Evaluation and Management
92. Robotics
93. Robotics with Industrial Application
94. Sign Language Interpreting
95. Social and Behavioural Research Methods
96. Software Engineering
97. Software Engineering (1 Year)
98. Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development
99. Sport Psychology
100. Strategic Project Management
101. Subsurface Energy Systems
102. Sustainable Finance with Fintech
103. Toxicology  
104. Translating
105. Urban Strategies and Design

Research

1. Accounting
2. Acoustics and Noise Control
3. Affordability, Housing Markets and Private Renting
4. Applied Geoscience
5. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
6. Carbonate Reservoirs
7. Centre for Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Solutions
8. Cereal Science
9. Civil Engineering Materials
10. Commercial Property Markets
11. Comparative Housing and Urban Research
12. Construction Management and Innovation
13. Diversity/Black and Minority Ethnic Communities
14. Eco-Housing
15. Economics
16. Estuary and Coastal Geosciences
17. Finance
18. Flow Assurance and Scale Team (FAST)
19. Geomaterials
20. Geomechanics
21. Health and Wellbeing in the Built Environment
22. High Speed Railways
23. Housing Design, Development and Regeneration
24. Housing Policy, Housing Management and Governance
25. Human Resource Management
26. Hydrates and PVT
27. Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering
28. Institute of Chemical Sciences
29. Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering
30. Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences
31. Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems
32. Intercultural Research
33. International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD)
34. Logistics
35. Marketing
36. Mathematics
37. Microbial Physiology
38. Nano-Safety Research
39. Neighbourhoods and Deprivation
40. Oilfield Chemistry
41. Pore-Scale Modelling
42. Poverty, Homelessness and Social Justice
43. Production Engineering and Technology
44. Psychology
45. Reservoir Geophysics
46. Strategy, Operations and Leadership
47. Structures
48. Sustainability and Carbon Management
49. Sustainable Materials
50. Sustainable Transport
51. Systems, Sustainability and Society
52. Translation and Interpreting
53. Uncertainty Quantification
54. Urban Design and Planning
55. Urban Energy
56. Water Conservation and Drainage
57. Water Management
58. Yeast Research

Heriot-Watt University has seven schools. These are:

1. Edinburgh Business School
2. Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
3. Engineering and Physical Sciences
4. Global College
5. Mathematical and Computer Sciences
6. Social Sciences
7. Textiles and Design

Heriot-Watt University has a prestigious staff community. The Chancellor has been given Scotland’s highest royal honour, the Order of the Thistle.

1. Professor Sir Geoff Palmer (Chancellor)
2. Professor Richard A Williams (Principal and Vice-Chancellor)
3. Professor Steve McLaughlin (Vice-Principal and Provost)
4. Ms Ruth Moir (University Secretary)

Heriot-Watt University’s student life is pretty amazing, as the Edinburgh campus is a great way to meet people from all over the world and make lifelong friends.

1. Edinburgh is one of the top cities in the UK for culture, nature, adventure,  and the arts.
2. The Students' Union has more than 30 clubs and 60 societies for students, including music, robotics, culture, and faith groups.
3. The Edinburgh campus has live music, club nights, quiz nights, a bar, and a cafe.
4. The events held in Edinburgh attract millions of tourists every year. These include the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh's Hogmanay, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
5. For outdoor activities, there is the Portobello beach. You can also climb Arthur's Seat or 'bag' a Munro, as you will find plenty nearby.
6. A wide range of cafes, pubs, clubs, and restaurants are available in Edinburgh.
7. There are many designer shops and high-street retailers in Morningside.
8. Murrayfield Stadium is home to the Scottish Rugby team and is becoming a popular venue for music artists on their UK tours.
9. 25 on-campus and 2 off-campus indoor sports facilities.
10. Seven on-campus outdoor sports facilities.

1. Undergraduate: 68%
2. Postgraduate: 32%
3. Full-time students: 86%
4. Part-time students: 14%
5. UK students: 71%
6. EU students: 7%
7. International students: 22%
8. Female: 62%
9. Male: 38%

The transportation routes are pretty flexible in Edinburgh, and the campus is close to the accommodation halls; therefore, students prefer cycling or walking to meet their desired places.

1. Accommodation at the Edinburgh and Scottish Borders campuses is just a 10-minute walk away from the teaching facilities.
2. You will find a regular bus service on the Edinburgh campus that runs every 10 to 15 minutes and will take you to the city centre in just 30 minutes, and there is also a night bus available.
3. By train, you can get to London, Newcastle, Liverpool, and other major UK cities.
4. Edinburgh Airport is just 4 miles away and offers direct flights to London, Birmingham, Belfast, and other UK and European cities.
5. There is a free minibus service that runs between Edinburgh and Borders campuses.

Self-catered accommodation costs £140- £245 per week

Heriot-Watt University’s accommodation aims to provide maximum facilities to all the students.

1. There is a guaranteed accommodation scheme for all first-year students who reside outside of Edinburgh.
2. You will find more than 2,000 modern rooms equipped with top-notch facilities.
3. All the rooms are self-catered and single occupancy, and most of the rooms have en suite bathrooms.
4. There’ll be your own study bedroom with WI-FI, and there are also laundry facilities available.
5. There is a Residence Life team that will make you feel more welcome.
6. 24-hour stringent security that will assist you with any issues.

Heriot-Watt University offers a variety of activities for students. Such as-

1. Aikido
2. Football
3. Archery
4. Badminton
5. Basketball
6. Boat
7. Boxing
8. Cheerleading
9. Cricket
10. Cycling
11. Dance
12. Eque
13. Strian
14. Fencing
15. Football
16. Futsal
17. Gaelic Football
18. Golf
19. Handball
20. Hockey
21. Ice Skating
22. Kayak
23. Lifting
24. Mountaineering
25. Netball
26. Rugby
27. Snowsports
28. Squash
29. Swimming
30. Table Tennis
31. Taekwondo
32. Tennis
33. Ultimate Frisbee
34. Volleyball
35. Lothian Disability Sport (LDS)

Heriot-Watt University has partnerships with some of the most esteemed organisations. These include:

1. Edinburgh Strategic Alliance (ESA) in Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
2. Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering (ERPE)
3. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology for Scotland (MASTS)
4. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA)
5. ScotChem
6. Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA)
7. Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR)
8. Interface Food & Drink, Agritech and Aquaculture

Heriot-Watt University provides an expansive research effort. Its leading research is finding the solutions to the challenges of living sustainably and achieving net zero, which is a pillar of its sustainability strategy. 96% of the research is either world-leading or internationally excellent.

The university has 5 research institutes. These are:

1. Biological Chemistry, Biophysics & Bioengineering
2. Institute of Chemical Sciences
3. Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering
4. Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences
5. Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems

Fee range for international students: £13,500 - £17,440 per annum

Heriot-Watt University provides many generous scholarships for international students willing to study in Scotland, making their costs more reasonable.

Heriot-Watt University has some notable alumni. Some of them are:

1. Theodore S. Clerk (Architect)
2. Taqi Nazeer (Scottish actor)
3. Nivetha Pethuraj (Indian actress)
4. Douglas Stuart (British writer and fashion designer)
5. Greg Wise (British actor and producer)
6. Robert Buchan (British/Canadian businessman)
7. Nathif Jama Adam (Somali banker and politician)
8. Jock Clear (Formula One engineer)
9. Luke Crosbie (Scotland national rugby union team player)
10. Jack Ross (British professional footballer)
11. Kirsty Smith (Scottish soccer player)

Heriot-Watt University’s students and graduates benefit from professional and confidential advice and guidance from the career consultants. They will organise a wide number of workshops and fairs where you can connect with graduate recruiters.

They will also help if you:

1. are unsure about your plans and how to make decisions.
2. want help with application forms or your CV.
3. need to know more about where and how to look for jobs.
4. want information or advice on postgraduate study.
5. need to practice your interview techniques.

Heriot-Watt University is among the top universities for its awards and recognition. The Research Futures Academy has won awards for its work, including an ARMA award for public engagement and advocacy.

The Watt Club Medal is awarded each year for exceptional distinction in the final honours year and, as such, recognises the highest achievement possible in undergraduate studies.

1. 42nd in the UK and 6th in Scotland in The Complete University Guide 2025
2. 51st in the UK in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
3. 256th in QS World University Rankings 2025
4. 17th in the UK and 1st in Scotland for graduate employability

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is situated in the southeastern part of the country. It is the second-most populous city in Scotland. It lies among the beautiful mountains. It features historic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and more.

There are many beautiful parks, including Holyrood Park, which offers stunning views of Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano. It attracts millions of tourists every year.