Established in 1821, Heriot-Watt University is the 8th UK’s oldest higher education institution. With a history of 200 years, the institution has touched several milestones and is now ranked amongst the top 50 universities in the UK. In addition to its culturally rich campus in Edinburgh, the university has international campuses in Malaysia and Dubai.
The Edinburgh campus of Heriot-Watt is home to over 29,000 students, out of which 20.6% students are from 150 countries worldwide. HW offers 120+ UG programs, 247 master’s and 185 doctoral programs. The university is known for its courses in Design, Engineering, Life Science, and Business.
Check: Heriot-Watt Courses
Heriot-Watt graduates are offered some of the best starting salaries in the UK. In 2020, the university was placed at #35 in the UK (of 131 universities) for its campus placements. Companies like Cisco, Deloitte, KPMG, IBM were amongst the top recruiters and offered Heriot-Watt business graduates a starting salary between 30,000 to 70,000 GBP.
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Heriot-Watt University Rankings
- #301 in the world, #35 in the UK as per QS Global World Rankings in 2021.
- #10 for Petroleum Engineering program as per QS World University Rankings by subject in 2021
- #351-400 by Times Higher Education in 2021
- #201-250 for Engineering and Technology, #25 UK universities for Engineering and Technology as per Times Higher Education rankings
- #29th in the UK and #5 in Scotland as per the complete university guide rankings 2021
Highlights
| Type of University | Public |
| Established | 1821 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Number of campuses | 5 |
| Student population | 29,000 |
| International students | 20.6% |
| Student Faculty Ratio | 12:1 |
| English Language Tests | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE |
| Student Satisfaction rate | 90% |
| Graduate employment rate | 95% |
| Financial Aid | Scholarship |
| Official Website | https://www.hw.ac.uk/ |
Heriot - Watt University Top Courses
HW offers over 120 bachelors, 247 masters and 185 doctoral degree programs through its 5 campuses. Details about top courses offered by the university are tabulated below:
| Program | Fees (per annum in GBP) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) | 9,250 | Jan 15 2021 |
| B.Sc. Biological Sciences (Human Health) | 9,250 | Jan 15 2021 |
| BSc Chemistry | 9,250 | January 15 2021 |
| MSc International Marketing | 19,176 | May 31, 2021 |
| MBA Executive | 22,000 | May 31, 2021 |
| M.Sc. Applied Data Sciences | 7,520 | May 31, 2021 |
| MSc Accountancy | 16,728 | May 31, 2021 |
Heriot-Watt University Campus and Accommodation
Heriot-Watt University comprises 3 Campuses based within the UK and 2 international campuses in Dubai and Malaysia. The main campus lies in the UK at three different locations, namely Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney.
- The 380 acres Edinburgh campus houses 10,500 international students and staff, making it one of the most diverse campuses within HW university.
- The campus at scottish borders houses the school textiles and designs and is well equipped with specialised workshops, computer aided design suites, museum and library and gallery.
- HW dubai campus houses 4000 students from 150 nationalities
Heriot-Watt University Accommodation
Over 2000 residences are available for housing UG and PG students at HW university Edinburgh Campus. Accommodation types include en suite rooms, standard rooms and flats. All residential halls are self catered. The housing for UG and PG students are totally separate.
- Housing facilities include Wifi, laundrette, security, heating, bike storage, dining halls, kitchen, etc
- Housing costs range between 147-182 GBP per week
- Rooms are allotted to UG students for 40 weeks whereas contract length of PG students is 50 weeks.
Accommodation facilities, types and rents are tabulated below:
| Room type | UG Housing rent (in GBP) | PG Housing rent (in GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional en suite rooms | 5880 | 7350 |
| Contemporary en suite standard room | 7000 | Not Available |
| Contemporary en suite room in flat | 7280 | 9100 |
| Contemporary studio flats | Not available | 10,200-10,750 |
Heriot-Watt University Admissions
With a moderately selective acceptance rate of 70%, students with a good academic record who meet the entry requirements can easily get admission in the university.
The application process for both domestic and international students are quite similar. International students are required to follow the admission process mentioned below:
Application Portal: UG: UCAS, PG: University admission portal
Application fees: UG: 20 GBP, PG- NA
Supporting documents:
- Academic Transcripts
- Proof of English Proficiency - IELTS, TOEFL (IBT), PTE, etc.
- Medical Insurance
- Work Experience (if applicable)
- Proof of Financial Stability
- Statement of purpose
- Reference letter
- Statement of Declaration
- Research Proposal (for PG Research)
English Language Proficiency test scores
| Tests | UG programs | PG programs |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 78 | 90 |
| PTE | 55–57 with 51 in each component | 58–64 |
| Duolingo | 100 with 90 in each section | 110 with 100 in each section |
Heriot-Watt University Cost of Attendance
Tuition Fees
The average tuition fees for UG and PG programs are tabulated below:
| Program | Cost (in GBP per annum) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Courses | 9,250 |
| Postgraduate Taught Courses | 18,000 (average) |
| MBA | 11,000 |
| Postgraduate Research Courses | 4,500 |
Living costs
Cost of living for international students range between £2000 to £2500 for each semester. The estimated living costs are tabulated below:
| Expenses | Cost (monthly) in GBP |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 500-735 |
| Food/laundry/toiletries | 175 |
| Social | 140 |
| Mobile phone | 25 |
| Books and equipments | 25 |
| Travel | 1.80 |
| Total | 865-1,100 |
Heriot-Watt University Scholarships
Heriot-Watt is committed to offering financial support to its incoming students. Internally, the university offers scholarships upto 3,000 GBP to assist students with the tuition fee for their UG and PG programs.
Explore: Heriot Watt University Scholarships for International Students
In addition to that, Heriot-Watt students are eligible for full-expenses scholarships like Chevening scholarships, commonwealth scholarships, etc. Some of the scholarships for international students, commencing studies at Heriot-Watt University, are given below:
| Scholarship Name | Benefits | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Merit Awards | 1500 to 3000 GBP | International Student; Self-funded students Commencing UG program in September 2021; Academic grades in Class XII |
| Postgraduate Merit Awards | 1500 to 3000 GBP | International self-funded student; Commencing PG program in September 2021 or January 2022; Academic grades in UG degree |
| Commonwealth Shared Scholarship | Full-tuition fees, flight expenses, & living expenses | Academic background |
| Overseas Scholarship Program | 2,500 GBP | Entering PG program in Engineering and Physical Sciences Schools; International student |
Heriot-Watt University Alumni
Currently, Heriot-Watt University has a strong network of 1,40,000 alumni from around 190 countries. One of the prime benefits for Heriot-Watt University alumni includes 20% fee reduction in their further education.
The alumni association, Watt Club Connect, is the oldest graduate club in the UK. The club allows students to connect with their old classmates and access the Watt University connections to expand their horizons.
Few notable alumni of Heriot-Watt University are:
- Prof. Ian Baikie, Stellar Scientist, educationalist, and inventor.
- Camden Winkelstein, Former US Submariner
- Stephanie Gutnik, Vice President, DIgital Strategy and Programming Sales at OUTFRONT Media
Heriot - Watt University Placements
HW university offers many opportunities in the industrial and technical field to its students. Annually, the university organizes 2 university-wide recruitment events and 7 industry-specific recruitment networking events.
Within six months, 80% of university graduates go for further studies or graduate level jobs. As per the statistics, the top paying degrees at Heriot-Watt include:
| Degree | Average Salary (GBP) |
|---|---|
| MBA Executive | 76,769 |
| MBA | 58,797 |
| Doctorate | 56,604 |
| Masters in Management | 49,528 |
| Masters in Finance | 33,396 |
The graduates of these courses have gone on to work in the following profile with astonishing starting salaries.
| Jobs | Average Salary (in GBP) |
|---|---|
| Executive Management & Change | 70,775 |
| Logistics, Operations & Purchasing | 67,228 |
| Financial Services | 66,520 |
| Energy, Chemicals & Environmental | 61,567 |
| Compliance, AML, KYC & Monitoring | 58,739 |
In 2019, Heriot-Watt University provided over 70 employer events on campus including career fairs, and networking events. Over 9000 internship and graduate job vacancies are advertised by the career services. Around 95% of HW graduates are placed in top companies after six months of graduating. Ranked among top 350 universities across the globe, the university is developing learning standards everywhere.
FAQs
Ques. What is meant by one-semester accommodation offered by Heriot - Watt University?
Ans. Heriot - Watt University provides its students with an opportunity to stay in the residential complexes for a single semester during the academic year. This scheme proves to be helpful for exchange or visiting students that may not stay in Edinburgh for a greater period of time. Individuals can apply for this scheme through the online portal of the university.
Ques. How long does it take an individual to receive the confirmation of admission from Heriot - Watt University?
Ans. A general candidate receives the confirmation mail from the university within one month of application. However, A-level students may receive the confirmation mail within 7 days.
Ques. Is the interview process mandatory for all the applicants of Heriot - Watt University?
Ans. Heriot - Watt University does not call each and every candidate for an interview. However, some candidates are called for an interview depending upon their course, specialization, and application details such as statement of purpose. All candidates are required to bring their respective portfolio in the interview.
Ques. Can mature students apply for admissions in Heriot - Watt University?
Ans. Students at or above the age of 21 years are considered as mature students. Heriot - Watt University relaxes some of the entry requirements for mature students that do not possess a formal qualification. Mature students can apply for the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) that primarily focuses on admitting mature students in the university.
Ques. In how many ways does Heriot - Watt University respond to students' applications?
Ans. The Heriot - Watt University responds to applications of students in the three ways:-
- Unconditional Offer:- This means that the applicant has fulfilled the entry requirements and is eligible to get admission in the university
- Conditional Offer:- This means that the applicant must fulfill some of the conditional requirements proposed in the offer prior to the admissions.
- No Offer:- The candidate is not selected.
