Postgraduate International Students

Scotland is a small and friendly northern European country of around 5 million people. We are part of the United Kingdom, but we have our own devolved parliament based in the capital, Edinburgh, and our own very distinctive culture. From majestic glens and tranquil lochs to exciting concerts and pulsing city night-life, Scotland offers an unrivalled range of things to see and do. As well as being a popular destination for students, Scotland is a fantastic place to live and work.

Edinburgh, the second largest city in Scotland, has been the capital since 1437 and is now once again the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city is dominated by Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcanic crag, and the long sweep of the Old Town trailing after it along the ridge and was one of the major centres of the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. Edinburgh is well known for the annual Edinburgh Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world and for its New Year celebrations, which include the largest street party in Europe.

Advice on entry requirements for taught and research programmes, guidance for completing and submitting an online or printed application form, and the acknowledgement and responses you can expect are explained here. If you receive an offer from us, please respond promptly. Information on registering as a student will be sent to you.

An on-campus student must complete the requirements for registration at the beginning of each academic year. Fees are payable at Registration. The full schedule of fees and a guide to likely living costs is available from Academic Registry. All fees are payable in advance.

A range of scholarships are available to cover all or part of an applicant's fees and living expenses. The scholarships available depend upon the applicant's country of residence and the course or research they wish to undertake. You are advised to check funding availability within the appropriate School.

Heriot-Watt University offers a range of courses specially designed to help speakers of other languages improve their academic English skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. These courses will help you to reach the proficiency required for degree programmes and can also provide support while you study.

Overseas students who need to extend their visa or wish to invite their spouse to join them in the UK can seek advice from the Heriot-Watt International Student's Advice Office. Forms and advice are available to assist you with your arrangements.

The staff in our International Students Advice Office (ISAO) are on hand to help you make the transition to life in a new country. They can help you with practical advice such as setting up a UK bank account, driving in the UK, registering with the police for visa renewal, local travel arrangements, the details of embassies and consulates in Edinburgh and much more. The International Student Guide also provides much of the information that you will need.

The accommodation service allocates places on campus. There are approximately 4,500 students studying at Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh campus and just over 1800 residential places are available. The majority of these places are allocated to new students. This site holds information on our accommodation options and charges, our policy for allocating accommodation, and our procedures for applying. A useful guide on visitor accommodation is also accessible here.

Heriot-Watt has around 7,000 on-campus students in Scotland, more than a quarter of whom are from outside the UK. This international focus creates a very cosmopolitan environment - approximately 10,000 students from 150 countries world-wide are currently studying on international programmes. We welcome students from a variety of routes and consistently perform above the UK average for graduate recruitment.

This Guide is intended to help you with your preparations for coming to Heriot-Watt and also contains lots of information which you will find useful during your time with us. Leaving home to study in a different country is an exciting experience but we appreciate that you may also be feeling a little anxious or apprehensive. As you will see when looking through the Guide, there is a whole team of people here at Heriot-Watt who will be very pleased to help you with any questions or difficulties that you might encounter either before you come here, or once you arrive.

To apply to our Postgraduate Admissions Office, complete the online form or print and post a paper form. You will be asked to supply various documents including a copy of your degree certificate and relevant transcripts, proof of your ability in the English language if this is not your mother tongue, proof of how your tuition fee and personal maintenance costs are to be met, and two academic references.

You can request a printed Heriot-Watt Postgraduate Prospectus. Simply enter your contact details in the online form attached, indicating your areas of interest and one will be posted to you.