Heriot-Watt University - In Depth

Founded: 1821, granted charter in 1966. Merged in 1998 with Scottish College of Textiles, Galashiels.

Site: Main site at Edinburgh Campus; modern campus at Riccarton, 6 miles from city centre. Also Scottish Borders Campus (textiles) in Galashiels, 35 miles away.

How to get there: Edinburgh easily accessible by train, coach from all over the UK: Waverley railway station and central bus station (St Andrew's Square) nearby; airport 8 miles (cheap flights from London and other centres); for university, bus from central Edinburgh. Scottish Borders Campus: by road A7; by bus (hourly service from Edinburgh): from Berwick-on-Tweed or Carlisle, both 1½ hours by bus or by train.

Academic features: Most courses on modular system. Combined studies degrees offer scope for choice and flexibility. Unusual specialist degrees eg brewing & distilling, interpreting and translating, actuarial mathematics.

Awarding body: Heriot-Watt University.

Main undergraduate awards: MA, BA, BEng, BSc, MChem, MEng. MPhys.

Length of courses: 4 years; 3 years for some ordinary degrees; 5 years for Meng, MPhys, MChem.

Library & information services: 150,000 volumes, 2500 periodicals; online information system. Separate library at Galashiels, 18,000 volumes, 300 periodicals, 80 study places. Annual expenditure on information provision, £107 per (FTE) student. Access to IT facilities 24 hours/day; IT support in open access computer centre.

Other learning facilities: Television centre, computer-based learning. At Galashiels, handloom weaving workshop, studios, textile and clothing workshops; special collections of fabric samples and shawls.

Study abroad: 5% of first degree students (plus language specialists) spend a period abroad. Large number of formal exchange links in EU, some allowing an additional qualification from partner institution. Some industrial placements abroad.

Careers: Information and advice service; close links with employers. Student advice & services: GP and dental services. Counsellor, tutor/mentors, university chaplains, nursery.

Amenities: Purpose-built SU at Riccarton and Galashiels shop, bank, travel office, hairdresser.

Sporting facilities: Excellent sports centre with football academy on main campus. Sports hall at Galashiels.

Accommodation: All new students who require it in university accommodation, 40% of all students. 2000 places available (70% ensuite): £64-£82 per week, with 12 contracted meals; also 200 places in flats on campus, 100 off campus. Most students live in privately owned accommodation for 1-2 years, rents average £210 per month. 10+% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5721 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: No university policy on part time work. Holiday work only available on campus in catering and residences; careers service helps find work off-campus.

Financial help: Government funds.

Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £7350 pa (classroom), £9700 (lab/studio).