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Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Edinburgh United Kingdom
# =256QS World University Rankings
81Undergraduate programs
154Postgraduate programs
20,000 GBPTuition Fee/year
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About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is valued for its pioneering research, informed by the global needs of business and industry. With a rich heritage stretching back to 1821, we are a truly global university bringing together scholars who are leaders in ideas and solutions delivering innovation, educational excellence and ground-breaking research.
We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences – subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.
With our roots in Scotland, our ambition and reach are truly international. We are a global university with around 27,000 students, five campuses and over 100 learning partners around the world. We are one of Scotland’s most international universities; around a third of Heriot-Watt students in Edinburgh are from outside the UK.
Our campuses are based in some of the world’s most inspiring locations in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. Each offers superb facilities, safe surroundings and an international welcome. We have built connected and integrated learning environments close to the vibrant cities of Edinburgh, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.
About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is valued for its pioneering research, informed by the global needs of business and industry. With a rich heritage stretching back to 1821, we are a truly global university bringing together scholars who are leaders in ideas and solutions delivering innovation, educational excellence and ground-breaking research.
We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences – subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.
With our roots in Scotland, our ambition and reach are truly international. We are a global university with around 27,000 students, five campuses and over 100 learning partners around the world. We are one of Scotland’s most international universities; around a third of Heriot-Watt students in Edinburgh are from outside the UK.
Our campuses are based in some of the world’s most inspiring locations in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. Each offers superb facilities, safe surroundings and an international welcome. We have built connected and integrated learning environments close to the vibrant cities of Edinburgh, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.
Available programs
Bachelor UG
Master PG
MBA
PHD
From top 10 rankings to opportunities to study abroad, there are many reasons to choose Heriot-Watt. Here are just a few of them.
A rich heritage
We are proud that since our foundation in 1821 we have been outward-looking pioneers of education, in pursuit of knowledge to the benefit of society and the world.
Become a global student
Heriot-Watt provides you with the opportunity to become a global student both at our UK campuses and internationally. On our Edinburgh Campus you’ll find that about one-third of our students are from countries outside the UK, bringing a real international flavour to our community. This mix of people provides a great opportunity to learn about other cultures and build friendships that stretch across the globe.
We also encourage students to take part in our global student programme, Go Global, by participating in an Inter-Campus Transfer, Exchange or Erasmus+ for a semester or year of their degree.
A world-class reputation
We are world-renowned for excellence in teaching and research. We are ranked 235th in the world and 32nd in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2024), and almost 90% of our research outputs are classed as world-leading and internationally excellent (REF 2021). View our rankings.
Strong links to business and industry
Our taught programmes and research are informed by the needs of business and industry. We actively facilitate collaborations and partnerships, building strategic alliances and promoting knowledge transfer.
Globally employable graduates
Global companies actively seek out our graduates as they are work-ready. Our programmes are designed to ensure that students receive a relevant, careerorientated education. As a result, more than 95% are in employment or further study six months after completing their programme.
Worldwide network
When you join Heriot-Watt you become part of a global family. We have around 123,000 alumni worldwide. The Watt Club was founded in 1854 and is the oldest graduate club in the UK. Lifetime membership is automatic upon graduation from Heriot-Watt and is free to all graduates of the University.
Arts and Humanities (6)
BA (Hons) Communication Design
BA (Hons) Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art)
BA (Hons) Fashion
BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Promotion
BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
MA (Hons) Applied Modern Languages and Translating
MA (Hons) BSL and Applied Language Studies
MA (Hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies)
MA (Hons) Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating)
MA (Hons) Modern Languages for Business Management
MA (Hons) Modern Languages, Communication and Culture
Business and Management (6)
BBA (Hons) Bachelor of Business Administration
MA (Hons) Accountancy
MA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance
MA (Hons) Business and Finance
MA (Hons) Economics
MA (Hons) Economics and Business Management
MA (Hons) Economics and Finance
MA (Hons) Finance
MA (Hons) International Business Management
MA (Hons) Marketing
Engineering and Technology (6)
BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering
BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering
BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
BEng (Hons) Engineering
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering and Energy Engineering
BEng (Hons) Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems
BEng (Hons) Structural Engineering
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering
BSc (Hons) Computer Science
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Cyber Security)
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Data Science)
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Games Programming)
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Software Engineering)
BSc (Hons) Computer Systems
BSc (Hons) Computer Systems (Games Programming)
BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management
BSc (Hons) Games Development and Production
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
MEng Aerospace Engineering
MEng Architectural Engineering
MEng Civil Engineering
MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering
MEng Mechanical Engineering
MEng Mechanical Engineering and Energy Engineering
MEng Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems
MEng Software Engineering
MEng Structural Engineering
MEng Chemical Engineering
Life Sciences and Medicine (6)
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Cell and Molecular Biology)
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Human Health)
BSc (Hons) Psychology
BSc (Hons) Psychology and Economics
BSc (Hons) Psychology and Marketing
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Management
MBiol Biology
Natural Sciences (6)
BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science
BSc (Hons) Brewing and Distilling
BSc (Hons) Chemistry
BSc (Hons) Financial Mathematics
BSc (Hons) Geography
BSc (Hons) Marine Biology
BSc (Hons) Mathematical Physics
BSc (Hons) Mathematical, Statistical and Actuarial Sciences
BSc (Hons) Mathematics
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Finance
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with French
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with German
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Spanish
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Statistics
BSc (Hons) Physics
MA (Hons) Geography, Society and Environment
MChem Chemistry
MMath Mathematics
MPhys Physics
Social Sciences and Management (6)
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
BSc (Hons) Statistical Data Science
Heriot-Watt is one of the world’s leading universities with strong links to international business and industry driven by our established reputation as a top research-led institution. Heriot-Watt is world-renowned for conducting ground-breaking research which is relevant to business and industry. We aim to find radical innovations and solutions to real world challenges for the benefit of society.
We offer over 180 Postgraduate courses that will provide you with the knowledge to solve real world challenges. There are around 2,400 postgraduate students studying at our Edinburgh Campus. It is a friendly, welcoming place, where you will have the opportunity to meet with students from all over the world.
Heriot-Watt is regarded as a top UK university across a range of subject areas. The QS World’s University Rankings ranked Heriot-Watt 302nd in the world, 39th in the UK and 7th in Scotland.
The international outlook of our university has been ranked 37th in the world, 13th in the UK and 3rd in Scotland by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. This is based on the percentage of the university's international staff, the level of international co-authorship of academic papers and the percentage of international students studying with the university. The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide named Heriot-Watt University ‘International University of the Year 2018’.
REF 2014 named Heriot-Watt in the top 25% of UK universities, with 82% of our research ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent. We ranked 9th university in the UK and 1st in Scotland for research impact. View our rankings.
Arts and Humanities (6)
MA Digital Design and Innovation
MA Fashion and Textiles Design
MA Fashion and Textiles Design with Industry Placement
MA Interior Architecture and Design
MPhil Textile Design and Clothing Manufacture
MSc Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting
MSc Design Management
MSc Fashion and Textiles Management
MSc Interpreting
MSc Interpreting and Translating
MSc Sign Language Interpreting (EUMASLI)
MSc Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development
MSc Translating
MSc Urban Strategies and Design
Business and Management (6)
Business Analytics and Consultancy with Advanced Practice
Digital Marketing with Advanced Practice
International Business Management with Advanced Practice
MSc Accountancy
MSc Business Analytics (online)
MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy
MSc Business Strategy, Leadership and Change
MSc Business and Organisational Psychology (online)
MSc Construction Project Management (online)
MSc Digital Marketing
MSc Economics with Data Analytics
MSc Economics, Banking and Finance
MSc Energy and Economics
MSc Finance
MSc Finance and Management
MSc Financial Management (online)
MSc International Accounting and Finance
MSc International Banking and Finance
MSc International Business Management
MSc International Marketing
MSc International Marketing with Consumer Psychology
MSc International Master in Industrial Management (IMIM)
MSc Investment Management
MSc Operations Management
MSc Strategic Project Management
MSc Sustainable Finance with Fintech
Pre-Masters Graduate Diploma in Business Studies
Pre-Masters Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Accelerated)
Engineering and Technology (6)
Artificial Intelligence (2 years)
Data Science (2 years)
MDes Games Design and Development
MSc Advanced Computer Science
MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering
MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Application
MSc Advanced Structural Engineering
MSc Advanced Structural Engineering (online)
MSc Artificial Intelligence
MSc Building Services Engineering (online)
MSc Civil Engineering and Construction Management
MSc Civil Engineering and Construction Management (online)
MSc Civil Engineering with Industry Placement (2 years)
MSc Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying
MSc Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying (online)
MSc Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying with Industry Placement (2 years)
MSc Computational Data Science
MSc Computer Science for Cyber Security
MSc Computing (2 years)
MSc Construction Project Management
MSc Construction Project Management with Industry Placement (2 years)
MSc Data Science
MSc Energy
MSc Energy (online)
MSc Food Process Engineering
MSc Global Sustainability Engineering
MSc Global Sustainability Engineering with Industrial Application (2 year)
MSc Imaging, Vision and High Performance Computing
MSc Information Technology (Business)
MSc Information Technology (Software Systems)
MSc Mature Field Management
MSc Mature Field Management (online)
MSc Mature Field Management (online)
MSc Network Security
MSc Petroleum Engineering
MSc Petroleum Engineering (online)
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering
MSc Robotics
MSc Robotics with Industrial Application
MSc Safety, Risk and Reliability Engineering (online)
MSc Software Engineering
Master of Architecture
Life Sciences and Medicine (6)
MPhil Psychology
MSc Applied Psychology
MSc Business Psychology
MSc Business Psychology with Coaching
MSc Business Psychology with Human Resource Management
MSc Business Psychology with Intercultural Communication
MSc Sport Psychology
MSc Toxicology
Natural Sciences (6)
Applied Cyber Security
Applied Mathematical Sciences (2 years)
Graduate Certificate in the Mathematical Sciences
MSc Actuarial Management
MSc Actuarial Management with Data Science
MSc Actuarial Science
MSc Actuarial Science and Management
MSc Analytical Science for the Biosciences Industries
MSc Applied Mathematical Sciences
MSc Applied Mathematical Sciences with Climate and Environmental Modelling
MSc Brewing and Distilling
MSc Brewing and Distilling with Entrepreneurship
MSc Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment
MSc Computational Mathematics and Data Analysis
MSc Energy with Entrepreneurship
MSc Global Environmental Change and Policy
MSc International Marine Science
MSc International Marine Science (online)
MSc International Marine Science (online)
MSc Marine Renewable Energy
MSc Marine Renewable Energy (online)
MSc Mathematical Biology, Ecology and Medicine
MSc Mathematics
MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition
MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition (online)
MSc Reservoir Evaluation and Management
MSc Subsurface Energy Systems
Social Sciences and Management (6)
MSc Brewing and Distilling (online)
MSc Human Resource Management (HRM)
MSc Intercultural Business Communication
MSc International Sport Management
MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MSc Mathematics of Sustainable Finance
MSc Real Estate
MSc Real Estate (online)
MSc Safety and Risk Management (online)
MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods
MSc Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development (online)
MSc Supply Chain Management and Logistics (Online)
Online/Distance MBA (1)
MBA Essentials (online)
MBA with a Specialism in Business Analytics (online)
MBA with a Specialism in Finance (online)
MBA with a Specialism in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (online)
MBA with a Specialism in Strategy (online)
Master of Business Administration (online)
Arts and Humanities (6)
PhD Textile Design and Clothing Manufacture
Business and Management (6)
DBA Business Administration
PhD Accounting
PhD Economics
PhD Finance
PhD Marketing
PhD Strategy, Operations and Leadership
Engineering and Technology (6)
PhD Construction Management and Innovation
PhD Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering
Life Sciences and Medicine (6)
PhD Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering
PhD Psychology
Natural Sciences (6)
PhD Institute of Chemical Sciences
PhD Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences
PhD Mathematics
PhD Sustainability and Carbon Management
Social Sciences and Management (6)
PhD Intercultural Research
PhD Logistics
University information
Visit our website to find out what you need to apply for undergraduate or postgraduate programmes at our Edinburgh, Scottish Borders or Orkney campuses and how to complete your online application. You can also apply for Academic English programmes at our Edinburgh Campus.
General
Bachelor
Master
At Heriot-Watt University, we offer a wide range of services to help you deal with all aspects of your life with us, whether these be academic, personal, technical, financial or social.
Library and Learning Commons
Edinburgh students can expect high quality, technology-enabled study spaces in our Library and Learning Commons areas. The recurrent resources budget ensures easy and plentiful access to textbooks and journals, both online and in paper format. The on-campus library is open 24/7 during semester and exam times, giving you plenty of time to find and use the books, journals and other material.
Oriam
In 2016, our Edinburgh Campus became home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre. Whether it's an occasional visit to the gym or a daily squash game, Heriot-Watt can accommodate and help develop all levels of sporting ambition.
Oriam, Scotland's Sports Performance Centre at the Edinburgh Campus is recognised as one of the best university sports centres in the UK. Facilities include sports halls, playing pitches, squash courts, gyms and fitness classes, and new for 2024 we have just opened a new indoor tennis centre, with six indoor courts. There are also physiotherapy, podiatry, sports massage, and sports science testing services.
GRID
GRID is a new ground-breaking facility to advance our global research, innovation and discovery. It has been designed to create cohesion between academic disciplines, industry partners and the global community, providing an innovative teaching and learning environment for mathematics, engineering, physical sciences and computer science students and staff.
Student life
Around 10,500 students are based on our Edinburgh Campus creating a lively environment for studying and socialising. It is designed to help you work and play and is full of high quality facilities to accommodate your needs, be they academic, social, sporting, cultural, religious, transport or health related.
There are excellent services to ensure you feel fully supported while studying here, including our Student Wellbeing Centre (including counselling and disability services), Global Student Office (international student advice, student funding and Go Global) and Accommodation Office, an award-winning Careers Service, a Health Centre and the Chaplaincy.
In between studying you’ll find the Campus a great place to unwind and relax with so much to do. You can wander the peaceful parkland or access some of Scotland’s state-of-the-art sports facilities at ORIAM, or socialise in our vibrant Student Union, or join one of our many student clubs and societies.
The Careers Service aims to assist Heriot-Watt University students and graduates to make informed career choices by providing a professional, high quality careers guidance and information service for students and recent graduates of Heriot-Watt. We work closely with employers and academic Schools to support students by developing the skills they need to maximise their employability.
Tuition fee and scholarships
Domestic Students
International Students
One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.
In this guide you will find:
Where to look for scholarship opportunities
How to apply to scholarships relevant to you
A list of available scholarships around the world
A scholarship application checklist
Rankings & ratings
Heriot-Watt University is one of the top public universities in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is ranked #=256 in QS World University Rankings 2025.
QS World University Rankings
QS WUR Ranking By Subject
Europe University Rankings - Northern Europe
Europe University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
Heriot-Watt University
Videos & media
Videos & media
Campus locations
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FAQs
As a global research-led university, Heriot-Watt has five campuses located in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. Students are encouraged to join the wide range of events, clubs, and societies to feel part of this global community.
Many Heriot-Watt graduates progress into leading roles around the world, delivering a positive influence on communities and affecting change. A fact recently borne out when the University topped a UK-wide survey that found 15.7% of its graduates transitioned into CEO or MD positions ( Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2023).
Whilst most Heriot-Watt graduates are successful in securing professional roles in organisations ranging from large global multinationals to SMEs, studying at Heriot-Watt also opens opportunities for entrepreneurial graduates to start their own business.
The University has a distinguished history in enterprise and entrepreneurship with a range of academic programmes and key links with industry. This unique learning experience gives students real-life insight into how modern business works and equips them with the confidence, knowledge and experience required to succeed.