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Heriot Watt University Rankings 2026

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

4.2 /5

(6 Reviews)

157 Student Q&A

Shiksha popularity ranking

#259 in World

#38 in UK

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3 Campuses
Estd. 1821

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Last updated on 14 Jul '25

Heriot Watt University Ranking

Table of content

Heriot Watt University Ranking
Heriot Watt University Course Ranking
Heriot Watt University Ranking by US News and World Report 2025
Heriot Watt University Ranking by The Guardian 2025
Heriot Watt University Ranking by the Complete University Guide 2026
Heriot Watt University Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026
Heriot Watt University Ranking by THE (Times Higher Education) 2025
Heriot Watt University ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025
Heriot Watt University Student Reviews

Heriot Watt University
Heriot Watt University Ranking

Heriot Watt University located in UK. The university has been ranked by various ranking bodies globally for its academic excellence, student diversity, job outcomes, and teaching pedagogy.

The university is recognized by Shiksha Popularity Ranking in 2025, listing it at #260, among the top universities in the world. The Shiksha Popularity Ranking also ranks Heriot Watt University at #41 for the same year among universities in UK.

The global ranking of the university has showcased dropped trend from 2025, moving from its previous rank of #220. In 2025, the Heriot Watt University also secured a rank of #287 from QS and a rank of #401 from THE (Times Higher Education).

Here are the three-year trends for Heriot Watt University rankings from various bodies:

Ranking Body	2023	2024	2025	2026
QS	Not Ranked	235	256	287
THE	501	351	401	Not Ranked
US News	725	832	937	Not Ranked
The Guardian	45	85	66	Not Ranked
The complete Guide	Not Ranked	44	42	25

#38

Country level

Shiksha Popularity Rank

World rank by different ranking providers

Shiksha

#259

QS Ranking

#287

THE Ranking

#401

ARWU Ranking

#701

US News Ranking

#937

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Heriot Watt University
Heriot Watt University Course Ranking

According to various ranking bodies, Heriot Watt University courses have been ranked well over the past few years. Some the well-ranked courses are in the stream of Engineering, Business and Management Studies, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences and Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ). The Shiksha Popularity Ranking for its Engineering courses has been recorded at rank of #171, which has a declined from its previous year’s rank of #152.

The Heriot Watt University courses in the field of Business & Management Studies are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking at #442. Also THE ranks its courses in Business & Management Studies at #251.

According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings, here’s how some of the courses are ranked:

Course Category	2023	2024	2025
Engineering	#142	#152	#171
Business & Management Studies	#394	#386	#442
Science	#213	#193	#213
Humanities & Social Sciences	Not Ranked	#465	#477
Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing )	#228	#252	#365

Search for courses/specializations

Showing 3 Courses

#27

Shiksha popularity ranking

Shiksha

#27

ARWU

#151

THE

#201

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Specializations in MS Program

Mathematics

Shiksha

#16

ARWU

#151

#201

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Mechanical Engineering

Shiksha

#16

#201

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#20

Shiksha popularity ranking

B.E. / B.Tech

Shiksha

#20

Guardian

CUG

#16

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Specializations in B.E. / B.Tech Program

Chemical Engineering

Shiksha

#10

Guardian

CUG

#16

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Mechanical Engineering

Shiksha

#16

Guardian

CUG

#23

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#19

Shiksha popularity ranking

M.Arch

Shiksha

#19

#101

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Heriot Watt University Ranking by US News and World Report 2025

US News and World Report is known to be a recognized leader in graduate school and college and other rankings as well. It also releases National, Global, Regional and Subject Rankings. In the Global Universities category, Heriot Watt University ranks at #937 in 2025 and it shows a decreasing trend with a rank of #832 in 2024.

For the Global Universities category rankings, a few of the factors on which the universities are evaluated are Global Research Reputation, Publications, Normalized Citatio

For the Global Universities category rankings, a few of the factors on which the universities are evaluated are Global Research Reputation, Publications, Normalized Citation Impact, Regional Research Reputation, etc. A few of the subjects of this university that rank well in the U.S. News & World Report Rankings are Arts and Humanities, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Public Health, Economics and Business.

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
Global Universities	725	832	937

Heriot Watt University Comparison with Other Universities:

A comparison of US News rankings of Heriot Watt University with other UK universities is given as follows:

University Name	2024	2025
Heriot Watt University	832	937
Glasgow Caledonian University	1205	1309
Keele University	902	822
Manchester Metropolitan University	675	667

US News & World Report is renowned for offering ranking to top university around the world. The ranking authority evaluates a wide range of factors such as global research reputation, conferences, total citations, highly citied papers in top 1%, international collaboration, and more. Check the table listed below to know more about U.S. News & World Report ranking criteria they considered while determining rankings of Heriot Watt University:

Metric	Value
Global Score	43
Global Research Reputation	1362
Regional Research Reputation	597
Publications	1295
Books	461
Conferences	1325
Normalized Citation Impact	336
Total Citations	1087
Publications Among the Top 10% Most Cited	1058
Percentage of Publications Among the Top 10% Most Cited	418
International Collaboration (Relative to Country)	651
International Collaboration	298
Highly Cited Papers in the Top 1%	938
Percentage of Highly Cited Papers in the Top 1%	356

Also check: US News Best College Rankings Methodology

Heriot Watt University Ranking by The Guardian 2025

The Guardian University Guide Ranking is one of the top ranking authorities in the United Kingdom, providing specific rankings for UK-based universities. The ranking authority takes care of wide range of parameters while evaluating ranking to top UK-based universities. Some crucial parameters include entry standards, student-staff ratio, teaching quality, feedback, career prospects, etc.

According to the Guardian University Ranking 2025, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #66 in 2025 and #85 in

According to the Guardian University Ranking 2025, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #66 in 2025 and #85 in 2024 showing a rapid increase in the rankings throughout the recent years.

Ranked by	2024	2025	2026
University	85	66	31
Accounting and Finance	59	57	38
Business and Management	104	77	58
Chemical Engineering	15	11	2
Civil Engineering	20	23	25
Economics	14	9	7
Electronic and Electrical Engineering	16	17	25
Mechanical Engineering	45	45	8
Physics	18	17	16

Heriot Watt University Comparison with Other Universities: The Guardian Ranking

According to The Guardian Rankings, the Heriot Watt University is ranked #66 in 2025 and #85 in 2024. Showing a increase in the ranking position. Glasgow Caledonian University is ranked #46 in “The Guardian Rankings 2025”. Keele University is ranked #72 in 2025 and #74 in 2024, showing a major improvement compared to last year. Manchester Metropolitan University is ranked #57 in 2025 and #59 in 2024 under The Guardian Rankings. Check the table below for The Guardian Rankings for the Heriot Watt University alongside other top universities over the years.

University Name	The Guardian Ranking 2023	The Guardian Ranking 2024	The Guardian Ranking 2025
Heriot Watt University	45	85	66
Glasgow Caledonian University	52	40	46
Keele University	32	74	72
Manchester Metropolitan University	84	59	57

The Guardian evaluates a large variety of parameters when ranking top universities in the United Kingdom. Some major parameters include student to staff ratio, average entry tariff, satisfied with feedback, and more. Furthermore, check the table below to see the scores attained by the Heriot Watt University:

Parameters	Values
Guardian score/100	41.2
Satisfied with teaching	83.2
Satisfied with feedback	79.4
Student to staff ratio	20.9
Spend per student/10	3.7
Average entry tariff	123
Value Added score/10	4.9
Career after 15 months	77
Continuation	85.8

Also check: The Guardian Ranking Methodology

Heriot Watt University Ranking by the Complete University Guide 2026

The Complete University Guide is among the top ranking publishers all over the world. The ranking publisher first ranking report was published in 2007. The Complete University Guide evaluates top universities on a wide range of parameters. Some crucial parameters include entry standards, student satisfaction, graduate prospects, degree completion, and more.

According to The Complete University Guide Rankings, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #25 in 2026 and #40 in 2025 in the "UK University R

According to The Complete University Guide Rankings, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #25 in 2026 and #40 in 2025 in the "UK University Rankings" category. This indicates that the university has increased in its ranking by #15 position. Check The Complete University Guide ranking table listed below over the years under various categories:

Ranked by	2024	2025	2026
UK University	44	40	25
Accounting and Finance	23	22	27
Art and Design	69	66	58
Biological Sciences	49	50	44
Business and Management Studies UK	41	36	37
Chemical Engineering	16	15	16
Civil Engineering	22	22	25
Computer Science	33	42	33
Electrical and Electronic Engineering	39	34	28
Mechanical Engineering	30	28	23
Physics and Astronomy	32	29	33
Psychology	62	61	32

Heriot Watt University Comparison with Other Universities: The Complete University Guide Ranking

According to The Complete University Guide, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #25 under the category of “The Complete University Guide Ranking 2026”. Comparately, Glasgow Caledonian University is ranked at #85 in 2026 and #74 in 2025. Keele University is ranked at #68 in 2026 and #61 in 2025. Check the table listed below for the Heriot Watt University rankings with top universities over the past 3 years:

University Name	The Complete University Guide UK Ranking 2024	The Complete University Guide UK Ranking 2025	The Complete University Guide UK Ranking 2026
Heriot Watt University	44	40	25
Glasgow Caledonian University	79	74	85
Keele University	65	61	68
Manchester Metropolitan University	60	55	50

The Complete University Guide is known for offering best ranking to top universities. Some essential factors included by the ranking publisher include student satisfaction, research quality, student-staff ration, and more. Furthermore, check the parameters table listed below to know about the score achieved by the Heriot Watt University:

Category	Achieved Score
Overall Score	532
Entry Standards	122
Student Satisfaction	3.08
Research Quality	2.86
Research Intensity	0.51
Academic Services Spend	1090
Facilities Spend	579
Student-Staff Ratio	20.9
Continuation	90.0
Graduate Prospects – Outcomes	73.2
Graduate Prospects – On Track	73.8

Also check: The Complete University Guide Ranking Methodology

Heriot Watt University Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026

Quacquarelli Symonds is one of the most reputed ranking unit worldwide. Quacquarelli Symonds is highly regarded for its “World University Rankings”. The ranking authority publishes an annual report which indicates 1,418 institutions in 100 places. Also, Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings are based on various factors such as employer reputation, international student ratio, employment outcomes, etc.

According to Heriot Watt University Quacquarelli Symonds World Rankings, the has been

According to Heriot Watt University Quacquarelli Symonds World Rankings, the has been a slight decline in the world university ranking. The Heriot Watt Uni was ranked at #287 in 2026 and #256 in 2025. This states that the university has dropped in its position in comparison to previous year’s ranking.

Ranked by	2024	2025	2026
Europe	121	127	– / –
World University	235	256	287
Accounting and Finance	251	251	– / –
Architecture and Built Environment	101	101	– / –
Biological Sciences	501	651	– / –
Engineering and Technology	258	254	– / –
Mathematics	151	201	– / –
Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering	251	201	– / –
Physics and Astronomy	301	301	– / –

Heriot Watt University Comparison with Other Universities: Quacquarelli Symonds

Heriot Watt University, University College London, and Imperial College London are some of the best universities in UK for higher education. According to Quacquarelli Symonds, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #416 in 2026 and #449 in 2025. The Glasgow Caledonian University ranks at #801 in 2026 and #791 in 2025 under the category of “World Rankings”. Imperial College London has gained 2 positions, it was ranked #2 in 2025 and #4 in 2024. Check below for Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings table for University of Liverpool ranking with top universities over the past three years.

University Name	Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking 2025	Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking 2026
Heriot Watt University	449	416
Glasgow Caledonian University	1001	1001
Keele University	791	801
Manchester Metropolitan University	601	643

Quacquarelli Symonds annual report is highly regarded by students all over the world. The annual report is based on a variety of parameters such as academic reputation sustainability, overall, faculty student ratio, etc. A few more parameters that Quacquarelli Symonds consider while ranking top universities is listed below:

Parameters	Value
Academic Reputation	4.7
Citations per Faculty	11.7
Employment Outcomes	14.9
Employer Reputation	4.1
Faculty-Student Ratio	4.1
International Faculty Ratio	91.5
International Research Network	78.2
International Student Ratio	100
Sustainability	5.4

Also Check: Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking Methodology

Heriot Watt University Ranking by THE (Times Higher Education) 2025

Times Higher Education is popularly known as THE is renowned for its “World University Rankings”. THE evaluates various factors when ranking the top universities in the world. A few essential factors include: Research, International Outlook, Citations, etc. Some major ranking released by THE annually include World University Rankings, Business & Economics Rankings, Computer Science Rankings, and Engineering & Technology Rankings.

According to THE, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #4

According to THE, the Heriot Watt University ranks at #401 under the category of “University Rankings 2025”. The Heriot Watt Uni was ranked at #401 in 2025 and #351 in 2024 showing a decline in its rankings throughout the past three years. This states that, there is no improvement in terms of ranking.

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
University	501	351	401
Arts and Humanities	176	151	251
Engineering	251	176	201
Life Sciences	301	401	401
PG Business and Economics	251	251	251
PG Computer Science	301	251	301
Psychology	– / –	301	251

THE (Times Higher Education) 2025: Ranking Criteria

Times Higher Education evaluate top universities based on five criteria: industry income, research, teaching, citations, and international outlook. Check below the ranking parameters that Times Higher Education evaluates while ranking top universities:

S. No.	Ranking Parameters	Performance Indicators
1	Teaching	Reputation survey Staff-to-student-ratio Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio Institutional income
2	Research	Reputation survey Research income Research productivity
3	Citations	Field Weighted Citation Impact
4	International Outlook	Proportion of international students Proportion of international staff International collaboration
5	Industry Income	Research income from industry & commerce/ academic staff

Heriot Watt University
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
Universities	901	801	701
Mathematics	151	151	– / –
Physics	– / –	401	– / –

Heriot Watt University
Students Ratings & Reviews

4.2/5

4 Verified Reviews Info Icon

Vibe of Campus

Friendly
Academically oriented
Multi-dimensional
Easy going

Student Views

67% students never faced discrimination in this university

Internships3.5

Part time work4

Post study jobs3.8

Quality of faculty4.5

Student Life5

Value for money3.8

Public transportation4.5

Safety5

Indian Food4.5

Permanent Immigration3.8

Vaishnav Vijayakumar Sasikala Verified Icon

MSc Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying - Batch of 2023

4.5

Heriot-Watt university where safety, peace and future lies ahead

Tips: First of all life and the thought process change after coming to a different country. Britain is a place where most people are open-minded hence coming from a religious background makes us think as normal human beings. I got a scholarship of 1500 pounds from my university for an interview that they conducted before providing CAS. University life was so good that never made me regret it during my entire course. United Kingdom is a place where nature is touched with development so the feel while living in Edinburgh is perfect. The course and the study structure are so good that enable us to get a deep understanding of the course as well as prepares us for the current engineering situation.

Likes (Student Life): I study at Heriot-Watt University at Edinburgh, the university is situated towards the countryside which has a nice view. This provides the peaceful experience that I and other students have at the university. Each day we would go to the university for our daily classes and is most enjoyable when we are friends with the professor. Our university conducts different events. The most fun is the beer festival which of course is one good experience. Participation in the events depends on our classes and the timing of the events. There are different student clubs that are active all throughout the year.

Dislikes (Post study jobs): There are wide variety of jobs here in UK which can obviously be found in the largest job-serving platform called "indeed". No matter what the job is the candidate must go through the interview process. The hiring people look into the candidate's capability of doing the work and the ability to adapt to their environment. The minimum wage in UK is 10.42 pounds so usually the starting salary range is around 21000 pounds. As we all know each job has its own value and the pay of the job lies in parallel to the nature of the work done. One thing I like to point out is about visa sponsorship, many companies offer work visa sponsorship and the number of companies that offer Tier-2 work visas is growing day by day. All the details of it can be found on the official website of UK Visa and Immigration. The chance of getting an offer for visa sponsorship depends on the candidate's performance in the company.

Reviewed on 10 May 2023Read more

Rushikesh birhade Verified Icon

MSc in Construction Project Management - Batch of 2023

4.2

One of the best experience

Tips: There are scholarships provided at the start of the admission. You need to ask about those. The university is very particular about the assignments. Lots of skills are polished. Personality is developed overall. The country and university are really safe for students.

Likes (Student Life): There are lots of activities present in the student union. The library has an immense collection of books. The student union weekly has some other activities for students to keep them engaged. Games night, movies are also planned to make you feel less homesick.

Dislikes (Internships): The university helps in the preparation of CV and cover letter for applications. It helps you in interview preparation. They do not give interview opportunities. There are no on-campus placement options. The student has to take their own efforts to grab any internship.

Reviewed on 9 May 2023Read more

Jagatheesh P Verified Icon

MSc in Data Science - Batch of 2024

3.8

Great faculty and highly engaging student life.

Tips: Students should be prepared to work hard since they'll be on their own a lot. The cultural shift was noticeable but manageable. The university has good faculty, but it's really up to you how you use it. Don't slack. Do lots of personal projects, go to career fairs, and network like crazy. Above all, though, if you're in IT, build a portfolio website. The country is safe and offers a warm welcome, and there are no other issues based on gender, sex or colour.

Reviewed on 10 Apr 2025Read more

Gurwinder Singh Verified Icon

BBA (Hons) in Bachelor of Business Administration - Batch of 2015

4.4

Helpful teachers at Heriot Watt University.

Tips: Students can expect a great time studying here. The campus is amazing, classrooms are upbeat and equipped with modern technology. Faculty is up to the mark. Just hunt out for cheaper accommodation if you can near the campus to save on traveling cost.

Likes (Quality of faculty): The teachers are great here. Very helpful when it comes to taking special classes and attending student queries. They have a great sync-up with students and encourage doubts even after classes. Every professor is highly acclaimed and qualified to deliver great learning.

Dislikes (Value for money): The university is quite expensive when it comes to transportation and living. I am living with my relatives but still due to lack of time for pursuing part time opportunities, the cost goes way higher for students with a tight monthly budget. Fee is high as well.

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2022Read more

KRANTHI KUMAR SHOLINGAPURAM Verified Icon

BSc (Hons) Data Sciences - Batch of 2023

4.3

Best campus experience. Good opportunities at HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY.

Tips: With the number of international students here, it's a very easy transition just the weather is a little cold so be prepared for that. Other than that, feel right at home! Scholarships are available if you apply for them early on in the process. Overall, quite happy with my choice of course and the HERIOT WATT University is a beautiful place to live, would definitely consider studying here. Likes;- The university has a job board through which students can apply for part-time jobs and internships. However, they should also check LinkedIn regularly for any new openings. Often, professors and university staff post vacancies on LinkedIn as well as emails, so keep a tab on your emails as well. Dislikes;-Hostel may improve the taste of food.

Reviewed on 27 Nov 2023Read more

Ram Pradev Verified Icon

MSc Business Strategy, Leadership and Change - Batch of 2023

4.9

This university is worth for money and a respectable one in Edinburgh.

Tips: Do research about your course details correctly before selecting one, go through the entire website for courses, accommodation and the living culture. Talk to the seniors if have chance to contact them. Join groups in social media to find the information.

Likes (Safety): High safety rules and always monitored in the city and inside university. Good ethical safety culture maintained in the university. No need to worry on getting lost inside university as you can find security officials everywhere who can guide you.

Dislikes (Indian Food): If you can self cook, then you have no issues, if not then getting native food is expensive. You can still get ready to eat food inside university but not in large volume. If you have good baggage weight then pack good amount of packed foods from India itself.

Reviewed on 29 Sep 2022Read more

View All 6 Reviews

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Heriot Watt University

Student Forum

Anything you would want to ask experts?

Write here...

What are the admission deadlines for Heriot-Watt University for international students?

Answered a month ago

Although the university considers late applications, students are advised to submit their applications before the deadlines. Heriot-Watt application deadlines are mentioned in the table below:

Particulars	Application Opens	Application Deadlines
Fall Semester	March 1	July 1
Spring Semester	September 1	December 1

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

How much does it cost to study at Heriot-Watt University?

Answered a month ago

Tuition fee for undergraduate courses for first semester is GBP 9,000 (10.7 L), whereas tuition fee for PG courses ranges between GBP 12,088 - GBP 12,790 (INR 14.3 L - 15.2 L). Students must plan their budget according to the living expenses that include food, travel, mobile phone, entertainment, so

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

Is Heriot Watt University hard to get into?

Answered a month ago

Heriot Watt University as an acceptance rate of around 55%. It means that around 55 out of 100 students are accepted to the university, making the university moderately competitive. Students must work really hard on their applications and make it outperform to increase the chances of getting selecte

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

Who are some of the famous graduates of Heriot Watt University?

Answered a month ago

Heriot Watt University consists of more than 159,000 alumni members in 190 countries in the world. Some of the notable ones are as follows:

Graham Watson (Politician)
Kirsty Smith (Football Player)
Nivetha Pethuraj (Indian Actress)
John Thomson (Scottish photographer, geographer, and traveller)
Jock Clea

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

What is the ranking of Accounting and Commerce at Heriot Watt University?

Answered a month ago

Accounting and Commerce is ranked #39 by Shiksha Popularity Ranking, #27 by CUG, #57 by Guardian and #251 by QS Ranking. Rankings for these courses by reputed ranking bodies are mentioned below:

Ranking Bodies	2024	2025	2026
CUG - Accounting and Finance	#23	#22	#27
Guardian - Accounting and Finance	#59	#57	-
QS - Accounting and Finance	#251	-

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

About the author

Anushree Sinha

Study Abroad Expert

Anushree is a Graduate in Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and takes keen interest in content creation. She has affinity for writing and travelling around the world takes the top spot on her bucket list. Bringing out the creativ...Read Full Bio