Overview

Heriot-Watt University is a world-leading institution ranked in the top 350 Universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2019).

　　It offers a vibrant student experience with a global outlook, housing its main campus in Edinburgh, but also featuring bases in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

　　Heriot-Watt prides itself on being a truly global university, with over 30,000 students across the world and partner institutions in 150 countries. Students at Heriot-Watt find the world opened up to them, as well as a high-quality education, with the university ranked 37th in the world for its global outlook (THE 2019). In 2018, it was named International University of the Year by The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide.

　　Offering a wide range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, Heriot-Watt specialises in business, engineering, design plus physical, social and life sciences. It places a focus on subjects which can impact the real world and society, with students going on to have a major impact around the globe.

　　With consistently high rankings across various key university league tables, Heriot-Watt is regarded as a world-class university with favourable recognition for things such as research, student satisfaction, graduate employability and teaching quality.

　　Its three Scottish campus in Edinburgh, Orkney and the Scottish Borders offer access to inspiring surroundings, top-class facilities and a welcoming, multi-cultural environment in the UK. Elsewhere, it pioneered the first campus of its kind in Dubai with a modern learning setting, since mirrored in Kuala Lumpur to create one of Malaysia's most innovative universities. With competitively priced tuition fees, it represents a high-quality and globally-accessible institution.

　　

What's new

Exclusive Bloomberg Access

　　An academic partnership with financial giants Bloomberg has provided Heriot-Watt students with exciting and exclusive opportunities. The university has been named a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising its leadership in delivering real-life, practical learning experiences in finance. Students are now able to upload CVs to the organisation's vast network of contacts and job opportunities.

　　The partnership between the two parties also sees students use the state-of-the-art Bloomberg Finance Lab, including virtual trading rooms and connecting learning experience with real-life practical applications.

　　Engineering in Malaysia link

　　Heriot-Watt University's Malaysia campus has entered a five-year partnership by inking a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Institution of Engineers Malaysia. The partnership is designed to lead strategic collaboration between the two parties, offering exciting opportunities for engineering students including access to invaluable insight and expertise from within the industry at a national and international level.

　　

Teaching quality

As an outstanding learning environment striving to achieve the highest quality, Heriot-Watt employs world-class teaching faculty to support its students. Across each of its schools, the university features a wide range of highly qualified staff with a perfect blend of academic and industry expertise. They provide links to industry opportunities and allow students to draw upon their experiences, also offering as much support as necessary to help students achieve their learning objectives.

　　The university's academic excellence is reflected by a ranking of 302nd in the worldwide table of the QS World University Rankings 2018/19. It is also placed 35th in the UK by The Complete University Guide 2020 and top in Scotland for research impact (REF 2014), which is guided by staff and thrives thanks to passionate students.

　　

Department structure

Heriot-Watt University is made up of five academic schools and one graduate school. Each specialises in particular academic areas, offering expertise to students via highly qualified, industry-leading faculty with real-world and academic experience. The schools are:

　　Edinburgh Business School

　　A leading graduate business school with accreditation by the Royal Charter, the Edinburgh Business School offers a globally-relevant education. It offers a range of MBA, MSc, DBA and PhD programmes.

　　Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

　　A leading UK institution known for its multidisciplinary research and teaching, focusing on areas of critical importance to economic development and societal equity.

　　Engineering and Physical Sciences

　　Outstanding background of research excellence, featuring a range of courses and research institutes achieving a global impact via innovation and discovery.

　　Mathematical and Computer Sciences

　　Offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research-focused degrees in a range of disciplines related to maths and computer science.

　　Social Sciences

　　Industry-focused degree programmes with a global outlook, producing high-calibre graduates. Also offers pre-sessional English Language courses, internationally-renowned distance learning programmes, and a well-established PhD programme.

　　Textiles and Design

　　A creative school with close links to the fashion industry and outstanding facilities.

　　

Entry requirements

Heriot-Watt aims to be accessible to students from around the world, with different qualifications globally accepted for admission to courses, which have differing and specific course requirements.

　　Students who do not class English as their first language must prove their proficiency, which they can do in a number of ways. Whilst various tests are accepted as proof, the level required falls in line with IELTS scores of:

　　5.5 for Foundation courses 6.0 for Undergraduate courses 6.5 for Postgraduate coursesThose who do not meet English Language requirements can take on a pre-sessional academic English course to reach the required level to progress into full study at Heriot-Watt.

　　Students should be sure to check country-specific entry requirements, and should also note criteria can differ for the Dubai and Malaysia campuses.

　　

Facilities

Heriot-Watt offers students exceptional learning facilities around the world. It features three Scotland-based UK campuses, including its main hub in Edinburgh, and was ranked 3rd in the UK and top in Scotland for the amount it spends on student facilities (Complete University Guide, 2020).

　　It also includes two international campuses, in Dubai and Malaysia. Its five campuses are as follows:

　　Edinburgh

　　Beautiful parkland campus featuring a green environment close to the centre of the bustling Edinburgh city centre. It features world-class facilities and is renowned for art, culture and learning.

　　Scottish Borders

　　Industry-standard facilities in the heart of the Scottish luxury textiles industry, offering superb opportunities.

　　Orkney

　　A unique living laboratory, this campus features impressive natural surroundings and creates a stunning base to study the environment.

　　Malaysia

　　High-tech, GBP 35 million, green campus based in Malaysia and opened in 2013, providing access to a world-class Heriot-Watt education in south east Asia.

　　Dubai

　　The first overseas university to set up in Dubai International Academic City, pioneering foreign education in the country and offering outstanding opportunities in the gulf region.

　　

Scholarships & funding

A generous amount of scholarships and bursaries are offered to students from around the world to enable them to study at Heriot-Watt University. Hundreds of students enhance their educational experience each year via both internal and external sources of funding, with a range of opportunities created by the historic, generous and global ''Watt Club'' alumni network.

　　A number of scholarships are offered on each of the UK, Malaysia and Dubai campuses, including International Merit Scholarships awarding GBP 1500 to GBP 3000 based on academic excellence identified during the application process.

　　The commitment to funding students is shown by the fact that the university scholarship provision is around GBP 19 million each year. This includes GBP 10 million to support fees scholarship, GBP 1.5 million of maintenance and living cost bursaries and GBP 7.5 million of scholarship and bursary payments to home, EU and overseas students.