Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted university status by royal charter in 1966. It is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the United Kingdom.[5] The name Heriot-Watt was taken from Scottish inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot.
Motto
Leaders in ideas and solutions
1821 – School of Arts of Edinburgh
1852 – Watt Institution and School of Arts
1885 – Heriot-Watt College
1966 – university by Royal Charter
925 Scotland based (2023)[2]
1,737[3]
Edinburgh: 8,150 (2019/20)[4]
Edinburgh: 3,005 (2019/20)[4]
Suburban
The annual income of the institution for 2022–23 was £259.5 million of which £33 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £266.7 million.[1] Known for its focus on science as well as engineering, it is one of the 23 colleges being granted university status in the 1960s and sometimes considered a plate glass university similar to the likes of Lancaster and Warwick.[6][7]
The university has three campuses in Scotland and one each in the UAE and Malaysia.
Heriot-Watt is divided into six schools and one institute that coordinate its teaching and research:
From 1 August 2016, the former School of Life Sciences was merged with other schools, with programmes transferred to the School of Management and Languages, the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society and the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences.[51]
National rankings
40=
85
64
901–1000
256=
351–400
Student life[edit]
Student Union[edit]
The Student Union at Heriot-Watt is a student-led organisation headed by individuals elected from the student population. The association has represented students both locally and nationally since its foundation in 1966,[82] and is a member of both the Edinburgh Students' Forum and the National Union of Students (NUS).[83] It is also responsible for running the university's Student Union, which runs events for students and supports student societies. Over 50 societies currently exist, including the Brewing Society which organises an annual charity beer festival.[84] In addition, the Student Union runs many services at the Edinburgh and Scottish Borders campuses including catering facilities, a nightclub, an advice centre and a student shop.[85] The Student Union also works closely with the Heriot-Watt University Dubai Student Council[86] and the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Student Association.[87] In 2018 the Student Union won the University Student Union of the Year and also Officer Team of the Year at the NUS Scotland Awards 2018.[88]
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