Heriot-Watt University Scottish Borders Campus - Student View

It's modern and purpose-built on the outskirts of Galashiels, a small country town in beautiful Scottish Borders, 33 miles south of Edinburgh. Hourly bus service runs most of the week to Edinburgh; local transport is both good and cheap.

It's home to the entire school of textiles, as well as management and computing departments. Formerly the Scottish College of Textiles, it's internationally recognised for the high calibre of its design graduates; excellent employment record in textile industry.

Most students come from Scotland but some international too (from about 30 different countries); high ratio of women to men. Teaching excellent and 600 students receive personal tuition from teaching staff. Many courses have industrial element; assessment by mix of coursework and exams. Course leaders helpful if you want to change course.

Excellent facilities for recreation and study with specially designed laboratories and design studios. Design department has vast hand-weaving shed, extensive high-speed weaving and knitting looms so students get first-hand experience of designing fabrics; printing facilities are some of the best in Europe. Excellent library, lecture theatre, recreation hall, refectory.

Halls of residence (self-catering) 2 minutes away on hillside overlooking campus; students may have visitors (either sex) on Thursday-Saturday evenings. Some student flats in Galashiels, including some university-owned.

Social and sporting links with Riccarton campus in Edinburgh (inter-site visits by bus and mini-bus). Non-political SRC provides welfare, social and cultural facilities including yoga, aerobics, Christian Union, club tours, drama classes, DJ, photography and film societies. Regular discos and visiting DJs, live music, annual charities week. No gay scene in Galashiels but range of pubs, clubs etc and very busy at weekends.