George Heriot and James Watt, two giants of commerce and industry, inspired the name of the world’s first institute for mechanics, established in 1821. A university since 1966 Heriot-Watt now hosts the UK’s first purpose-built National Robotarium, which opened at its Edinburgh site in 2022. Here, students and academics from Heriot-Watt and the neighbouring University of Edinburgh are exploring how robotics and autonomous systems can address real-life issues. The centre complements laboratories applying robotics to the study of ocean systems and assisted living.
Situated to the west of Edinburgh, Riccarton is one of Heriot-Watt’s five campuses — three of them in Scotland (Riccarton, the Scottish Borders and Orkney) and the other two in Dubai and Malaysia.The university’s Go Global programme offers students the chance to move between all of the campuses for a semester, a year or longer.
What is Heriot-Watt University’s reputation?
The heritage of Heriot-Watt can be traced to Robert the Bruce himself, who in 1315 was recorded as giving the land that the university’s main Riccarton campus is based on as a dowry for his daughter.
Physics did well in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 97 per cent of the subject’s submission rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Joint submissions with the University of Edinburgh in mathematical sciences; architecture, built environment and planning; and engineering also excelled and the university is comfortably in the upper half of UK universities in our research quality index.
The Scottish universities did not take part in the government’s latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), but Heriot-Watt earned silver in the previous TEF in 2017.
Our analysis of the National Student Survey (NSS) keeps the university outside of the top 100 for teaching quality, though a slight improvement from last year by five places to 122nd. Brighter news for the wider student experience: a shift of 26 places, up to 90th.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
New degrees in interior architecture and design (replacing the former interior design programme); brewing and distilling; and games development and production welcomed their first students in September 2024.
There are broader options for graduate apprenticeships (known as degree apprenticeships elsewhere) than most other Scottish universities. These include engineering, design and manufacturing; IT software development; and civil engineering.
What are Heriot-Watt University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Courses demand from BCC to AAA at A-level and in Scottish Highers it is BBBC up to AAAB. The eligibility criteria for contextual offers covers students from low-participation postcodes and those who have been in care, and these provide a minimum course requirement instead of standard, or a one or two-grade reduction.
Applications were their highest for four years in 2023; more than 1,600 first-years were accepted on to courses, 16 per cent of them through clearing.
What are the graduate prospects?
Many degree programmes include industry placements or projects and carry professional accreditation, which is reflected in buoyant rates of graduate employment. Heriot-Watt is 23rd in our analysis of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey, fourth in Scotland, based on the proportion of leavers in highly skilled jobs or postgraduate study 15 months after leaving.
What is Heriot-Watt University’s campus like?
Riccarton, on 380 acres of parkland, is the academic headquarters, where a £6 million library refurbishment increased capacity to more than 1,000 study spaces. The original 1970s buildings are gradually being updated. Thirty-five miles south of Edinburgh the Borders campus at Galashiels hosts courses in textiles, fashion and design. The postgraduate Orkney centre specialises in renewable energy.
Undergraduate provision in Dubai focuses on management, engineering, built environment and fashion courses. The university’s £35 million campus at Putrajaya, just south of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, opened in 2014 with space for up to 4,000 students.
Everything you need to know about Heriot-Watt University’s student life and wellbeing support
Music is a feature of student life, with plenty of opportunities to join choirs, bands and groups such as the Heriot-Watt pipe band. Regular bus services link the campus to the centre of Edinburgh — ranked the sixth best student city in Europe and 13th in the world by QS Best Student Cities 2025.
The Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre opened in 2024, adding six indoor courts with the latest acrylic playing surface for year-round use. The complex also features seven grass football pitches, a hydropool and gym facilities.
Daily drop-ins help with access to a confidential and supportive counsellor. Workshops, guidance, group work and one-to-one sessions are among the services provided by qualified staff. Personal tutors may also refer students for wellbeing support.
What do the students say?
“Heriot-Watt is a university with a hugely diverse student and staff community and offers global mobility and teaches skills that employers crave — making us the number one university in the UK for producing managing directors and CEOs, according to a report by a financial services company published in 2023.”
Scott Anderson, students’ union president, and an accountancy and finance graduate
What about student accommodation at Heriot-Watt University?
With almost 2,000 university-owned rooms, accommodation is guaranteed to all first-years from out of town who apply by the housing deadline.
How diverse and inclusive is Heriot-Watt University?
Ranking eighth in Scotland for social inclusion, Heriot-Watt’s Global College is among its efforts to widen participation by providing courses at foundation and pre-master’s levels. The courses prepare students to take Heriot-Watt degrees, combining academic English and study skills with subject-specific tuition.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Heriot-Watt University
Students from Scotland who meet eligibility criteria qualify for a range of subject-specific and access bursaries. All students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive a £1,500 Travel Home Bursary in their first year of study. There are also awards of up to £3,100 per year towards living costs for “rest of UK” students from low-income homes. More than half of international students received financial assistance in 2024.
