Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has educated students since 1861, and today stands as a leading institution for both teaching and research. With our record of producing world class innovation of relevance to business and industry and culture of collaboration between postgraduates and staff, we're a great place for you to continue your education.

Each year we welcome a cosmopolitan mix of UK, European and International students onto our postgraduate courses, both on-campus and on our external programmes. Our main Edinburgh campus, set in beautiful parkland at the west of one of Europe's most vibrant capital cities, is complemented by our specialist facilities in the Scottish Borders and Orkney Islands. We also have a satellite campus in Dubai, giving us a truly international reach.

What you can study

Heriot-Watt offers a range of both taught and research programmes for postgraduate study, many of which are available through both distance and flexible learning. Courses are offered in eight separate schools, each of which excels in its field:

The School of the Built Environment

The School of the Built Environment has a recognised commitment to high quality research, as shown by its high score in the UK Government's 2008 Research Assessment Exercises (RAE). Postgraduate students in the school can enjoy access to a wide range of specialist facilities and laboratories thanks to the university's investment in engineering.

The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences

The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences spans the boundaries between computer, electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering, as well as the disciplines which underpin them. With a diverse range of interests among its research staff backed up with specialist skills, the school is able to apply new thinking to the needs of modern industry.

The School of Life Science

The School of Life Sciences builds on a century of research at Heriot-Watt to investigate biological disciplines from biochemistry to psychology. With over 50 academic staff covering a wide range of interests, the school offers a broad range of research possibilities.

The School of Management and Languages

The School of Management and Languages offers postgraduate courses in accountancy and finance, business management, economics and languages. It has close links to relevant professional bodies and industry, which play a part in the excellent employment prospects of its graduates. With staff that work in internationally renowned research centres, the school is a strong choice for further study.

The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences

The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences has an excellent reputation, with the quality of both its teaching and research held in high regard. With courses available in actuarial, statistical, mathematical and computational fields the school caters for many different future career paths, and its links to industry provide the means for students to embark on them.

The School of Textiles and Design

The School of Textiles and Design offers taught and research courses across several aspects of textiles and is located at Heriot-Watt's Borders Campus. Students on taught courses choose from a flexible range of modules that accommodate both full and part time study, as part of the school's interdisciplinary approach. Students will find some of the best teaching and research facilities in Europe on campus, as well as some of the most advanced machinery available for textile production.

The Institute of Petroleum Engineering

The Institute of Petroleum Engineering is internationally recognised for its quality. Its research was awarded the highest possible grade in 2008's RAE, while its teaching was rated exemplary by the Quality Assurance Association for Higher Education. Its reputation has allowed it to attract a high quality team of academics and researchers, who display a diverse range of knowledge about the oil and gas sector.

Edinburgh Business School

Edinburgh Business School offers business education courses both in Edinburgh and around the world, with all its courses available for distance learning. Giving its students the option to take exams whenever they want and to learn in a variety of languages, the school stresses flexibility while maintaining the standards expected of those who look to succeed in international business.

A place to study

Heriot Watt's Postgraduate Centre is a place for postgraduates from all disciplines to meet, learn and study, encouraging links between departments to grow. Featuring rooms and spaces for tutorials, group study and socialising, the centre also has video conferencing facilities and wireless internet.

Living in Edinburgh

Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh campus has a range of furnished self-catered accommodation options including rooms, en-suite rooms and flats, with a new £14m residences development due to open this year. Many postgraduate students also live off-campus around Edinburgh. Rent for private accommodation is around £275-£330 a month excluding bills.

The Borders campus has its own self-catered accommodation, with its new £12m student village set to open later in the year to accommodate all on-campus students. The university also owns a number of flats nearby the campus, many of which are rented to postgraduates.

Accommodation on both campuses is guaranteed to full-time postgraduate students who apply for it before 5.00pm, 22 August 2012.

Life in the city

Edinburgh is one of the world's great cities, and postgraduates are well placed to experience it. With students making up one-fifth of the cities population, there are several places to meet like-minded people, from bars to clubs to coffee shops. In addition Edinburgh boasts museums, galleries, a range of professional and recreational sporting experiences and 112 public parks- as well as a beautiful centre designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

More information

For further information on our postgraduate courses and research please visit our website or contact us.

Postgraduate scholarships

Each year Heriot-Watt distributes around fee and stipend scholarships worth around six million pounds to more than 400 students. A wide range of scholarships are available for postgraduate study.

Postgraduate prospectus

Prospective students interested in reading the prospectus can view a digital edition or order a paper copy online.