Heriot Watt University

PROFILE HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY

locationUnited Kingdom

Ranked #287 in the world

QS World University Rankings 2026.

Ranked #34 in the United Kingdom

Ranked #34 in the United Kingdom

Established in 1821

Year of Establishment

Heriot-Watt University is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland, with additional campuses in the Scottish Borders and Orkney, plus international campuses in Dubai and Malaysia. It focuses strongly on research informed teaching and industry linked study across areas such as engineering, built environment, mathematical and computer sciences, business, social sciences, and textiles and design. For international students, it offers multiple entry routes including undergraduate degrees, postgraduate taught programmes, research degrees, and English language preparation, with on campus facilities and accommodation designed around a campus based student experience.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Heriot-Watt reports research strength across multiple disciplines and publishes performance outcomes from national assessments and league tables, alongside investment in student facilities and global campus development.

  1. REF 2021 reported 86.8% of Heriot-Watt research as world leading and internationally excellent.
  2. REF 2021 outcomes ranked Mathematical Sciences and Engineering first in Scotland and third in the United Kingdom, and Architecture, Built Environment and Planning first in Scotland and fourth in the United Kingdom.
  3. Edinburgh campus is home to Oriam, described by the university as Scotland’s national Sports Performance Centre.

FACILITIES

Heriot-Watt’s campuses combine teaching spaces, specialist labs and studios, library and learning spaces, sport facilities, and student support services, with facilities varying by campus location. On its Edinburgh campus, facilities include major sports infrastructure alongside academic buildings and residences, while Scottish Borders supports textiles and design activity, and Orkney supports marine and island focused study.

  1. Oriam Sports Performance Centre, Edinburgh Campus
  2. Cameron Smail Library, Edinburgh Campus
  3. Student Union, Edinburgh Campus
  4. Learning Commons and student support services, Edinburgh Campus
  5. Textiles and design facilities, Scottish Borders Campus
  6. Marine and island focused facilities, Orkney Campus

LOCATION

INTAKE & PROGRAMMED OFFERED

Intake

PRE UNIVERSITY

January February March April May June July August September October November December

IELTS: 5.5

UNDERGRADUATE

January February March April May June July August September October November December

IELTS: 6.5

POST GRADUATE

January February March April May June July August September October November December

IELTS: 7.0

Programmes

List of all foundation programmes

  1. Bachelors Degree Accelerator Foundation Programme
  2. Degree Accelerator Programme in Science

List of all programmes (UK campuses fee schedules 2026/27):

Global College

  1. Business with Accelerator Programme, BA
  2. Technology with Accelerator Programme, BSc
  3. Engineering with Accelerator Programme, BSc
  4. Accounting and Finance with Accelerator Programme, BA
  5. Psychology with Accelerator Programme, BSc

School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

  1. Marine Biology, BSc
  2. Geography, BSc
  3. Biological Sciences, BSc
  4. Biology, MBiol
  5. Sport and Exercise Science, BSc
  6. Architectural Engineering, BEng
  7. Architectural Engineering, MEng
  8. Civil Engineering, BEng
  9. Structural Engineering, BEng
  10. Structural Engineering, MEng
  11. Civil Engineering, MEng
  12. Quantity Surveying, BSc
  13. Construction Project Management, BSc
  14. Geography, Society and Environment, MA

School of Engineering and Physical Sciences

  1. Chemistry, BSc
  2. Chemistry, MChem
  3. Medicinal Chemistry, BSc
  4. Medicinal Chemistry, MChem
  5. Physics, BSc
  6. Physics, MPhys
  7. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BEng
  8. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, MEng
  9. Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems, BEng
  10. Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems, MEng
  11. Chemical Engineering, BEng
  12. Chemical Engineering, MEng
  13. Aerospace Engineering, BEng
  14. Aerospace Engineering, MEng
  15. Mechanical Engineering, BEng
  16. Mechanical Engineering, MEng
  17. Mechanical and Energy Engineering, BEng
  18. Mechanical and Energy Engineering, MEng
  19. Engineering, BEng
  20. Brewing and Distilling, BSc

School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences

  1. Mathematics, BSc
  2. Mathematics with Computer Science, BSc
  3. Mathematics with a European Language, BSc
  4. Mathematics with Statistics, BSc
  5. Mathematics with Finance, BSc
  6. Mathematical, Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, BSc
  7. Computer Science, BSc
  8. Computer Science (Cyber Security), BSc
  9. Computer Science (Data Science), BSc
  10. Computer Science (Software Engineering), BSc
  11. Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence), BSc
  12. Games Development and Production, BSc
  13. Software Engineering, MEng
  14. Actuarial Science, BSc
  15. Statistical Data Science, BSc
  16. Data Sciences, BSc

School of Social Sciences (including Edinburgh Business School)

  1. Bachelor of Business Administration
  2. International Business Management, MA
  3. Marketing, MA
  4. Economics, MA
  5. Economics and Finance, MA
  6. Accountancy and Finance, MA
  7. Finance, MA
  8. Accountancy, MA
  9. Business and Finance, MA
  10. Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating), MA
  11. Modern Languages, Communications and Cultures, MA
  12. British Sign Language (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies), MA
  13. Psychology, BSc
  14. Psychology with Management, BSc
  15. Psychology and Marketing, BSc

School of Textiles and Design

  1. Interior Architecture and Design, BA
  2. Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art), BA
  3. Fashion Branding and Promotion, BA
  4. Communication Design, BA
  5. Fashion, BA

List of postgraduate programmes

  1. MSc Strategic Project Management
  2. MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy
  3. MSc International Business Management
  4. MSc Finance
  5. MSc Robotics
  6. MSc Data Science
  7. MSc Petroleum Engineering
  8. MA Fashion and Textiles Design

List of other programmes

  1. Pre-Sessional English 6
  2. Pre-Sessional English 10
  3. Pre-Sessional English 14
  4. Pre-Sessional English 20

TUITION FEE & LIVING COST

TUITION FEE

APPLICATION FEE

£28.95

PRE UNIVERSITY

UNDER GRADUATE

POSTGRADUATE

£20,080 per year

£20,080 to £25,808 per year

£20,456 to £29,992 per year

Living Cost

Approximately £1,171 per month

ACCOMODATION

on-campus
Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh campus residences

University managed halls are located on the Edinburgh campus and are designed for student living close to teaching buildings and facilities. Options include multiple room types with different price points and contract lengths.

  1. Traditional en suite room: £189.00 per week, 40 weeks, £7,560 per tenancy (2026/27 shown on the room page).
  2. Contemporary en suite room in a flat: £224.00 per week, 40 weeks, £8,960 per tenancy (2026/27 shown on the room page).
  3. Halls listed on campus map include Anna Macleod Hall, Christina Miller Hall, George Burnett Hall, Home Hall, Leonard Horner Hall, Lord Thomson Hall, Mary Fergusson Hall, Muriel Spark Hall, Robert Bryson Hall, Robin Smith Hall.