🥃Heriot-Watt University

Edinburgh, UK

Edinburgh's specialist engineering and actuarial science university, with its own global campus network.

About Heriot-Watt

Heriot-Watt runs the world's oldest university-level Brewing and Distilling programme, reflecting Scotland's whisky industry, alongside one of the UK's top-rated Actuarial Science departments. It's also one of the few UK universities with fully-fledged branch campuses of its own, in Dubai and Malaysia.

Why students choose it

  • World's oldest Brewing and Distilling degree programme
  • Top-rated Actuarial Science department
  • Own branch campuses in Dubai and Malaysia

🎓 Free application support for Heriot-Watt

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Heriot-Watt — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation.

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Typical entry grades

ABB (A Level)  ·  IB 32

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£20,000–£28,000/yr

mid tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Edinburgh

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Heriot-Watt's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Actuarial Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Brewing and Distilling

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Computer Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics · TMUA / ESAT (top universities)

Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

See where Heriot-Watt ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether Heriot-Watt is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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Heriot-Watt FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Heriot-Watt as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Heriot-Watt?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Heriot-Watt expects around ABB at A Level or 32 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Heriot-Watt's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Heriot-Watt's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Heriot-Watt cost for international students?

International tuition at Heriot-Watt typically falls in the £20,000–£28,000/yr range (mid tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Heriot-Watt's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Heriot-Watt?

Heriot-Watt follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on Heriot-Watt's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Heriot-Watt?

UK universities, including Heriot-Watt, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is Heriot-Watt known for?

Edinburgh's specialist engineering and actuarial science university, with its own global campus network. Heriot-Watt runs the world's oldest university-level Brewing and Distilling programme, reflecting Scotland's whisky industry, alongside one of the UK's top-rated Actuarial Science departments. It's also one of the few UK universities with fully-fledged branch campuses of its own, in Dubai and Malaysia.

Can I apply to Heriot-Watt with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Heriot-Watt accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Heriot-Watt and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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