Address: Riccarton Campus, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, United Kingdom
Engineering, Business, Design
Heriot-Watt University began in 1821 as the Edinburgh School of Arts, founded by Leonard Horner and described by the university as the world’s first mechanics’ institute. It became the Watt Institution and School of Arts in 1852 and Heriot-Watt College in 1885, and it received a Royal Charter with university status in 1966.
The university now operates five campuses: Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. The Malaysia campus is in Putrajaya and opened in 2014, while the Dubai campus, founded in the mid-2000s, moved to Dubai Knowledge Park in 2021.
Its graduate association, the Watt Club, was founded in 1854 and is described as the oldest alumni association in the United Kingdom. Programmes, entry requirements and fees for each campus are published on the university’s official website.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Robotics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong global presence with international campuses. Partnerships with industry for research and graduate employment, particularly in engineering, energy, and AI. Home to the National Robotarium (with UoE).
Research:
Research strengths in engineering (petroleum, renewables, robotics), energy, infrastructure, business, AI, data science, and design. Focus on industry relevance and global challenges.
Famous Alumnis:
Irvine Welsh (attended briefly), Sarah Collins (CEO, Wonderbag), Bob Keiller, Nasif Kayed
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2100
Current students***:
21500
Foreign students***:
35%
Cumulative former students***:
125000
Pros
Strong in engineering and business, international campuses offer global opportunities, good industry links, leader in robotics and AI applications.
Cons
Main Edinburgh campus is outside the city centre, can feel less integrated with city life for some.
Best For
Students interested in engineering, business, or design, with a global outlook, strong industry connections, and opportunities in robotics and AI.
University of Aberdeen lists Energy, Health Sciences, Environmental Science among its main specialties.
Brunel University London lists Engineering, Design, Sports Science among its main specialties.
University of Liverpool lists Medicine, Veterinary Science, Engineering among its main specialties.
University of Exeter lists Environmental Science, Business, Humanities among its main specialties.
University of Warwick lists Business (WBS), Economics, Engineering (WMG) among its main specialties.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of New South Wales in Australia lists Engineering, Medicine and Health, Business among its main specialties.
University of Texas at Dallas in United States lists Computer Science, Engineering, Business (Jindal School) among its main specialties.
Flinders University in Australia lists Business Government and Law, Education Psychology and Social Work, Humanities Arts and Social Sciences among its main specialties.
CentraleSupélec in France lists Engineering (Generalist; Energy; Computer Science), Information Sciences, Applied Physics among its main specialties.
University of Auckland in New Zealand lists Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Business among its main specialties.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
How did Heriot-Watt get its name?
The institution that began in 1821 became the Watt Institution and School of Arts in 1852 and then Heriot-Watt College in 1885. The names honour James Watt and George Heriot.
When did Heriot-Watt gain university status?
A Royal Charter granting university status was issued in 1966. Before that it had operated as a college.
Where are the Heriot-Watt campuses?
There are five: Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. Three of them are in Scotland.
Who started the institution in 1821?
Leonard Horner founded the Edinburgh School of Arts. The school is described as the first mechanics' institute in the world.
What is the Watt Club?
It is the university's alumni association, founded in 1854. It is described as the oldest alumni association in the United Kingdom.
Can I study at Heriot-Watt outside Scotland?
Yes, the university has campuses in Dubai and in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The Malaysia campus opened in 2014, and the Dubai campus moved to Dubai Knowledge Park in 2021.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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