Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University is ranked 44 in the Guardian University Guide and 37 in The Times Good University Guide. Student satisfaction (from the National Student Survey) sits at 78%. Rankings shift annually — always check the latest published tables before relying on a specific position.

No. Heriot-Watt University is not a Russell Group member. In Scotland, only Edinburgh and Glasgow are in the Russell Group. However, non-Russell-Group Scottish universities — including St Andrews (consistently top 5 in the UK), Strathclyde (one of the UK's top engineering schools) and others — are widely respected. Russell Group membership is not a reliable quality indicator on its own.

Average monthly rent in Edinburgh for Heriot-Watt students is approximately £700 in university halls and £720 in private rented accommodation. Other living costs (food, transport, utilities, social) add roughly £820 per month on top. These are indicative averages — actual costs depend on the specific hall or flat. Always check the university's accommodation pages for the latest prices.

If you're a Scotland-domiciled undergraduate studying at Heriot-Watt University, SAAS pays the tuition fee (£1,820 per year) directly to the university — you pay nothing. The SAAS institution code for Heriot-Watt is H24. Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland pay a different fee set by the university. International students pay a higher fee again. Apply for SAAS at saas.gov.uk before the recommended deadline of 30 June.

Heriot-Watt University's strongest subject areas include Engineering, Petroleum, Actuarial Science, Built Environment. These are the departments most commonly cited in league tables and by employers. Heriot-Watt also has strong graduate employment in these areas — check the university's own graduate outcomes data for the most current figures.

Heriot-Watt University is a modern Scottish university with a strong emphasis on applied teaching and research with industry links.