Student satisfaction
National Student Survey
Relative position34th percentile
Official source →
University profile
Heriot-Watt University in profile
Heriot-Watt University is a university with around 29,000 students. Profile, courses, entry and funding at a glance.
29,000
Students
1821
Founded
109
Programmes listed
Published outcomes & experience
Comparable indicators for Heriot-Watt University, calculated from published official datasets. This is not an overall university ranking.
Graduate outcomes
Graduate Outcomes survey
Relative position69th percentile
Official source →Continuation
Students continuing after their first year
Relative position48th percentile
Official source →Provider percentiles are StudySmarter calculations across providers with sufficient comparable coverage. Missing or stale dimensions are omitted, and small differences should not be overinterpreted. No commercial review scores are used.
Subject strengths
Heriot-Watt University ranks in the UK top 10 for 2 subjects. UK subject ranks from the Complete University Guide league tables.
#4 Building#7 Town & Country Planning & Landscape Design#19 Mechanical Engineering#22 Marketing#23 Chemical Engineering#25 Civil Engineering
Complete University Guide subject league tables. Only subjects where Heriot-Watt University ranks in the UK top 25 are shown.
About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a university with around 29,000 students, founded in 1821.
It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so its degrees are nationally recognised. It is based in Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Campus, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS.
Numbers & facts
The key facts about Heriot-Watt University at a glance.
1821
Founded
29,000
Students
Edinburgh
Location
109
Programmes listed
University
Institution type
✓
Degree-awarding body
I am a …
Applying from school or college
With A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, a BTEC, T-level, IB or another accepted Level 3 route, you apply to Heriot-Watt University through UCAS, up to five choices in one application, by the late-January equal-consideration deadline. Offers are usually conditional on your predicted grades, confirmed on results day.
Returning to study
If you're 21+ or don't have traditional qualifications, Heriot-Watt University considers an Access to HE Diploma, relevant work experience and contextual factors. Many courses also offer a part-time route, and a foundation year can bridge the gap where entry requirements aren't yet met.
Applying from outside the UK
International applicants apply to Heriot-Watt University through UCAS too, with an English-language qualification (typically IELTS) and international fee status. An International Foundation Year is a common entry route if your qualifications aren't a direct match.
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Programmes at Heriot-Watt University
109 programmes at Heriot-Watt University. Search live or filter by subject, level and study mode:
No course found. Browse courses at every UK university.
Complete programme list for Heriot-Watt University; full-time, part-time and delivery variants are grouped (109 programmes, 2026).
Campus & locations
Heriot-Watt University is a campus-based university in Edinburgh.
Teaching runs on campus: lectures, seminars and labs alongside libraries and study spaces, with a student community of societies, sport and events around them. The day-to-day exchange with tutors and coursemates is a big part of the experience.
On campus
Libraries & study spaces Labs & teaching facilities Students’ union & societies Sport & fitness Support services
Locations
Edinburgh
Typical campus facilities; the university’s own pages are authoritative.
Students & campus life
Who you’d study alongside at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The student body in numbers, from official HESA data.
9,845
Students
enrolled (HESA, 2024/25)
31%
International
students from outside the UK
22%
Mature students
aged 25+ on entry
UK students by ethnicity
White82%
Asian9%
Black4%
Mixed4%
Other2%
Ethnicity of UK-domiciled students (HESA); international students not shown here.
Is Heriot-Watt University right for you?
A particularly good fit if you …
- want a recognised UK degree with student finance eligibility
- like the idea of student life in Edinburgh
- prefer campus teaching with societies, sport and people around you
Less suitable if …
you need a fully flexible, distance-learning degree alongside a job. Check whether the individual programme offers online or part-time study.
For parents
The questions parents ask most about Heriot-Watt University, answered briefly.
A recognised UK degree
Heriot-Watt University awards its own degrees and is regulated in the UK higher-education framework. Its degrees are nationally recognised and a basis for postgraduate study.
Regulated fees & student finance
Tuition is set under Scotland’s own student-finance system. SAAS pays tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students; living-cost support is applied for separately.
A clear, structured route
Fixed term structure, defined assessment rules and academic support give orientation from day one.
Support from day one
Personal tutors, wellbeing and careers services accompany students from enrolment to graduation.
Career prospects
Graduate outcomes are tracked in the national Graduate Outcomes survey. Every course page here shows real earnings and employment data where available.
Structure & campus life
A fixed term rhythm in Edinburgh with in-person teaching, exchange and campus life gives structure and motivation.
Accreditation & recognition
How to read Heriot-Watt University’s formal standing, the seals and what they mean:
Recognised degree-awarding body
Recognised UK degree-awarding body
Heriot-Watt University awards its own degrees, which are accepted nationally and are the basis for Master’s and doctoral study.
Student finance eligible
Courses at recognised providers may qualify for tuition and maintenance support; eligibility depends on the student, course and home-nation system.
Admissions & entry routes
Apply through UCASUndergraduate applications run through UCAS, up to five course choices in one application.
Check the entry requirementsCheck the course’s accepted route: A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, BTEC, T-level, International Baccalaureate, Access qualifications or an international equivalent.
Mind the deadlinesThe main UCAS equal-consideration deadline is in late January; Clearing runs from July for remaining places.
Offers & resultsUniversities respond with conditional or unconditional offers; places are confirmed on results day.
Fees & funding
Heriot-Watt University is in Scotland. Your funding route depends on where you normally live, not only where you study. Eligible Scottish-domiciled students apply through SAAS. The main routes:
SAAS tuition payment
Paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students. Applied for through SAAS, not Student Finance England.
Living-cost support
A mix of bursary and loan, depending on household income.
Scholarships & bursaries
University-specific awards for grades, subjects or circumstances. Check the university’s funding pages.
Repayment
Only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
Tuition fees vary by course and fee status (Home vs International). Please check the university's own course page.
Named scholarships & bursaries
Named awards Heriot-Watt University offers, on top of standard student finance, pulled from the university’s own pages. Always confirm current eligibility and deadlines on the source page.
Means-tested · up to £3,100 per year
Heriot-Watt University Bursary
undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
Details →Sport
Heriot-Watt Sports Scholarships
talented athletes balancing academic studies with sporting ambitions
Details →Extracted from Heriot-Watt University’s official course and funding pages.
Frequently asked questions about Heriot-Watt University
Is Heriot-Watt University officially recognised?
Yes. Heriot-Watt University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised.
How big is Heriot-Watt University?
Around 29,000 students, founded in 1821.
What can I study at Heriot-Watt University?
109 programmes are listed on this page, each with entry requirements, outcomes and fees. Use the filter above to find your subject.
How do I apply to Heriot-Watt University?
Undergraduate applications run through UCAS, with up to five course choices in one application. Each course page lists the typical entry requirements.
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