Heriot-Watt University is one of the most popular choices among international students moving to the United Kingdom. The university is renowned for its high standards of teaching and innovative sense of pedagogy. It offers more than 123 postgraduate, 110 undergraduate, and 65 research programmes for international students in different majors. When considering the admission process here, one of the most important factors is the admission percentage. The Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate is around 70%. To learn more about this figure and its trends, continue reading our guide!
What is the Heriot-Watt University Acceptance Rate?
Heriot-Watt University does not release its admission statistics at all. When the university does so, we can safely infer the admission percentage and make an accurate estimate. However, in this case, we must derive the figure by other means.
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- Looking at the number of enrolments against the estimated total applicants, we can say that the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate lies between 60% to 80% for both Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate masters and bachelor’s.
- This range indicates that the university is mildly selective when it comes to admissions. Students who fulfil all the requirements and submit the documents stand a good chance at admission.
- Although the acceptance rate of Heriot-Watt University is quite high, it does not indicate the university’s mettle in any sense but only the admission statistics.
Heriot-Watt University Acceptance Rate Trends
Because the university does not release any admission details, we must look at the trends of Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate to determine more insights. In the recent three to four years, the acceptance rate has remained strictly in the range of 65% to 80%. Before that, in the academic year commencing in 2020, the acceptance rate was found to be around 60%. And in the academic year of 2019, we observed that the figure was only 42% for both Heriot-Watt University postgraduate acceptance rate and UG percentage. What conclusion can we infer from this?
- The Heriot-Watt University admissions have gotten easier over the years.
- When only 42 students were admitted over 100 applicants in 2019, more than 70 candidates against 100 applicants were enrolled last year.
- Either the university has increased the number of available seats, or they have diluted their selection criteria.
- Any of the above possibilities only makes it an advantage for all international students targeting this university for their higher education.
How To Get Ahead Of The Acceptance Rate?
Although relatively high, the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate is still not a complete 100, which means competition still exists. How can you, as an international candidate, make it to the university? The most obvious answer is to make your application stand out. When you’re preparing to apply for this university, ensure that you show your unique characteristics and the aspects that make you a valuable addition to the university’s student community. Utilise the personal statement to elaborate on these points.
- Another non-negotiable factor is fulfilling the entry requirements. The university’s set of admission prerequisites is typically the selection criteria that they would be following when scanning the applications.
- Candidates must fulfil these to the T. Ensure that you have the required grades and GPA for admission. Show your academic progress and achievement, if possible through transcripts of previous degrees and courses.
- Additionally, extracurriculars and community service are also often considered. In the end, the university will only pick those candidates who can make the institute’s student community better.
Top Courses
Now that we’ve looked at the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate, let’s look at the top courses. Analysing the popular programmes among international students gives us an insight into the list of courses that are more likely to have a high number of applications. Check out the detailed list here. Also, find the tuition fees for each of these courses, since it will help you learn more about the cost of studying in the UK for students.
| Courses | Average Annual Tuition Fee |
| Master of Business Administration | GBP 22,140 |
| MSc in Economics, Banking and Finance | GBP 20,376 |
| MSc in Data Science | GBP 24,496 |
| MSc in Artificial Intelligence | GBP 24,496 |
| MSc in Civil Engineering and Construction Management | GBP 24,496 |
| MSc in International Business Management | GBP 23,248 |
Heriot-Watt University Entry Requirements
As mentioned in the above sections, fulfilling the entry requirements is unavoidable if you wish to beat the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate. Of the following admission requirements, minimum GPA or grades, CV, personal statement, and letter of recommendation are often the top selection criteria, which are assessed under great scrutiny to proceed with any candidate’s application. Check out all the details in the following list. Since financial documents are also required, applicants are advised to check out the cost of living in the UK for students to plan better.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 or a minimum of 70% in 12th-grade examinations both aggregate and in individual subjects
- A minimum of 55% or above in aggregate grades of bachelor’s degree (For postgraduate applicants)
- Official transcripts and certificates of all previous degrees
- Curriculum Vitae
- Scores of English proficiency tests
- Personal statement (may not be mandatory)
- Letter of recommendation (at least 2)
- Home Institute Approval and Course Form
- Copy of passport
- Financial documents
English Language Proficiency Tests
English language proficiency tests are mandatory for application at this university and for a UK visa. However, the most prominent reason why we must pay special attention to these is because they may act as “tie-breakers” for applications. Better scores on these tests show a candidate’s dedication and academic prowess. Thus, relatively improved results in English tests can directly enhance your Heriot-Watt University undergraduate acceptance rate or PG one.
Fortunately, the university accepts a wide range of different tests for bachelor’s and master’s students. Moreover, it also accepts a 70% aggregate 12th CBSE or CISCE exams as valid English proficiency test proofs for Indian students. Check out the details in the table below.
| Exam | Minimum Scores for UG | Minimum Scores for Pre-Masters | Minimum Scores of Masters |
| IELTS | 6.0 (5.5 in sub-sections) | 5.5 (5.5 in sub-sections) | 6.5 (6.0 in sub-sections) |
| PTE | 65 | 60 | 68 |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 (Reading: 18, Listening: 17, speaking: 20, Writing: 21) | 72 (Reading: 18, Listening: 17, speaking: 20, Writing: 17) | 85 (Reading: 20, Listening: 19, speaking: 20, Writing: 21) |
| Cambridge (new) | 169 – 175 | Not applicable | 176 – 184 |
| Trinity ISE II | Pass (in all sub-sections) | Not applicable | Pass (in all sub-sections) |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | B2 (minimum 33 in sub-sections) | B2 (minimum 28 in sub-sections) | B2 (minimum 36 in sub-sections) |
| CEFR | mid-B2 | B2 | Mid-high B2 |
Heriot-Watt University Specific Intakes
Why consider UK intakes when it comes to the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate? Universities rarely offer all available courses in all the intakes. Some courses are specifically for summer intake, some for fall. This change also affects the total number of applicants, which, in turn, affects the admission percentage.
Since we do not have precise data for the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate, we can assume that the figures may vary. However, ultimately, which intake you wish to choose is a personal decision depending on your application and convenience. To make the decision easier for you, we have mentioned the standard deadlines here:
| Intake | Deadlines |
| Fall Intake | 31st May |
| Spring Intake | 31st October |
What Are The Top Reasons To Choose Heriot-Watt University?
Source: https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/heriot-watt-university
Having discussed the Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate and its connotations in detail, it is possible that you may feel confused about the university. To help you out, listed here are some of the top reasons why it is a great choice for international applicants.
- The institution climbed to 256th in QS World University Rankings and 42nd in the UK by 2025, a substantial leap from its 501st global position in 2022-2023. Notably, Heriot-Watt University rankings reached 121st in Europe and 351st globally in THE rankings by 2024, demonstrating consistent progress across various ranking systems.
- Heriot-Watt University offers excellent career support. Over 95% of graduates are either employed or enrolled in universities for higher education within only six months of graduation.
- The university exclusively hires only the best experts and top academicians in their field as faculties here to ensure that students receive education of the highest standards.
- With five campuses and over 150 learning partners around the world, Heriot-Watt University can help students elevate their networking and build connections that would last a lifetime.
- Students can explore many Heriot-Watt University scholarships, bursaries and financial aid options to supplement their finances.
FAQs
Q1. What is the current Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate?
Ans: Currently, the average Heriot-Watt University acceptance rate is around 70%. However, students can expect the admission percentage to fall in the range of 60% to 80%.
Q2. What factors influence the acceptance rate?
Ans: Typically, the total number of applicants, available seats, offered courses, available intakes, selection criteria and a strict screening process influence the acceptance rate at Heriot-Watt University.
Q3. Are there specific programmes or majors with higher or lower acceptance rates at Heriot-Watt University?
Ans: The university does not release any admission statistics or data after each cycle of admissions. Thus, we can only infer that the acceptance rate lies in the range of 60% to 80%. There are no specific programmes or majors that have a different acceptance rate.
Q4. How does the acceptance rate compare to other universities in the region?
Ans: The two most popular universities in the same region are the University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Napier University. The acceptance rate of the University of Edinburgh is around 46% and that of Edinburgh Napier University is 56%. This implies that Heriot-Watt University has the easiest admission process.
Q5. What are the admission requirements that applicants should focus on to improve their chances given the acceptance rate at Heriot-Watt University?
Ans: To increase the chances of admission, candidates must focus on maintaining consistent grades, portraying academic excellence, writing an impressive personal statement, and acquiring good letters of recommendation.
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