Heriot-Watt University: Fees, January Intake and Entry

TL;DR: Heriot-Watt University is a Scottish university with UK campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders and Orkney, ranked 325th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Many of its master's courses start in January 2027, with fees such as £26,296 for MSc Data Science, and it accepts IELTS 6.0 for most courses, plus PTE and Duolingo.

Heriot-Watt is worth a look for students interested in engineering, energy, data, construction and business in Scotland's capital. This guide covers fees, January entry, English tests and scholarships, all taken from the university's own pages. Want a quick read on your chances? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What is Heriot-Watt University known for?

Heriot-Watt University dates back to 1821 and has "five campuses across the world: Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia", with around 27,000 students from 154 countries. This guide covers the UK campuses, mainly Edinburgh.

Heriot-Watt reports these results on its own pages:

• QS World University Rankings 2027: 325th in the world, 36th in the UK and 6th in Scotland
• Guardian University Guide 2027: 29th out of 123
• Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024: 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK
• QS by Subject 2026: top 20 in the UK for Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Petroleum Engineering

Some courses carry professional accreditation. MSc Construction Project Management, for example, is accredited by RICS and CIOB.

Heriot-Watt University fees for international students

Heriot-Watt publishes fees on each course page, with separate figures for January 2027 entry and for September 2027 or January 2028 entry.

For undergraduates, the MA International Business Management lists £22,040 for September 2027. Heriot-Watt notes that tuition fees are subject to revision each year.

Your offer letter states the deposit you must pay, and Heriot-Watt checks your documents before it issues a CAS. The UK Student visa also needs living funds of £1,171 a month for up to nine months outside London, held for 28 days. Our guide to the UK student visa 28-day rule explains how that works.

Check your eligibility ›

Heriot-Watt January intake

Heriot-Watt confirms "entry available in January 2027" for a wide range of master's subjects, including:

• Accounting and Finance, Business and Management, Economics, Marketing and Logistics
• Computer Science and Data Science
• Civil and Structural Engineering, Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and Energy and Renewables
• Construction Management and Surveying
• Fashion and Textiles, and Psychology

A January start lets you begin study without waiting for September. It also means the offer, deposit, CAS and visa all have to fit into the weeks before term, so start your application now if January is your target. Our guide on how to apply for a UK student visa explains each step.

Heriot-Watt entry requirements and English tests

For master's courses, Heriot-Watt generally asks for "a second class honours degree or non-UK equivalent" in a relevant subject.

Its English language requirements are:

Heriot-Watt also accepts TOEFL iBT, Oxford ELLT, Cambridge, Trinity ISE II, LanguageCert, PSI Skills for English and Password Skills Plus. Results must be within two years of your start date. Our Duolingo English Test guide explains the test format and fee.

Heriot-Watt scholarships

The International Merit Scholarship covers students enrolling in January or September 2027 on undergraduate and taught master's courses at the UK campuses. Its value varies by region and is usually a partial fee reduction for the first year. It is for students with overseas fee status who live overseas, and you can hold only one Heriot-Watt-funded award. Heriot-Watt lists it as open, without a closing date.

Undergraduate degrees in Scotland usually take four years. Heriot-Watt lets students who meet the requirements start in year two on some degrees, which shortens the course to three years.

Applying from Sri Lanka

Heriot-Watt groups Sri Lanka with India and Nepal for the International Merit Scholarship and names regional managers for the region, so ask about the award for your region when you apply.

Heriot-Watt does not publish a separate entry page for Sri Lankan qualifications. Its admissions team answers country questions at [email protected], so send your degree transcript or A/L results before you apply. Our guide to documents required for a master's in the UK lists what to prepare.

UK visa biometrics are taken at VFS Global Colombo, after the IOM Colombo TB test.

FAQ

Is Heriot-Watt University good for international students?
Heriot-Watt University is ranked 325th in the world and 36th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings 2027. It reports students from 154 countries and ranks 1st in Scotland in the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024.

Does Heriot-Watt University have a January intake?
Yes. Heriot-Watt offers January 2027 entry on many master's courses, including Data Science, Petroleum Engineering, Construction Project Management and Finance.

What IELTS score does Heriot-Watt need?
Heriot-Watt asks for IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no part below 5.5 for undergraduate and STEM master's courses. Non-STEM master's courses also need 6.0 in writing.

Does Heriot-Watt accept the Duolingo English Test?
Yes. Heriot-Watt accepts the Duolingo English Test at 120 overall with at least 110 in each part, and 115 in writing for non-STEM master's courses.

How much is the MSc Data Science fee at Heriot-Watt?
Heriot-Watt lists £26,296 for a January 2027 start and £27,080 for September 2027 or January 2028, for international students in Edinburgh.

PS: A January start depends on the offer, deposit and CAS fitting into a short window. If Heriot-Watt is on your list, tell us your degree and English score, and we will show you which intake is realistic. Check your eligibility with Prosper. Thinking about other Scottish options too? Read our guide to the University of the West of Scotland.

Check your eligibility ›

References

1. University profile, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/profile
2. Scottish Borders campus, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/campuses/scottish-borders
3. MSc Data Science, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/data-science
4. MSc Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/petroleum-engineering
5. MSc Construction Project Management, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/construction-project-management
6. MSc Finance, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/finance
7. MA International Business Management, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/international-business-management
8. January intake, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/january-intake
9. English language requirements, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements
10. International Merit Scholarship, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/international-merit-scholarship
11. Three-year honours, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/three-year-honours
12. Postgraduate tuition fees, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/postgraduate-tuition-fees
13. Guardian top 30 news, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.hw.ac.uk/news/2026/heriot-watt-university-returns-to-guardians-top-30-universities-list
14. Student visa: money, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money

Team Prosper