About
Heriot-Watt University 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 was subsequently granted university status by royal charter in 1966. It is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the United Kingdom. The name Heriot-Watt was taken from Scottish inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot.
Ranked Top 287 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 66 subject rankings
Ranking Overview
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
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Key Facts
Historical Trend
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
Top Subjects
Subject Rankings
QS
26 subjectsARWU
21 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality & Tourism Management | 76-100 | - | 2023 |
| Mathematics | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Oceanography | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Chemical Engineering | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Statistics | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Finance | 151-200 | - | 2018 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Telecommunication Engineering | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Materials Science & Engineering | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Civil Engineering | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Energy Science & Engineering | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Physics | 401-500 | - | 2024 |
| Chemistry | 401-500 | - | 2022 |
| Earth Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Biological Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2022 |
| Economics | 401-500 | - | 2018 |
| Psychology | 401-500 | - | 2021 |
| Management | 401-500 | - | 2022 |
US News
12 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Optics | =136 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Mathematics | 284 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Energy and Fuels | =362 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Engineering | =392 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | =408 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Geosciences | 496 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Physics | 585 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =615 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | =674 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =700 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Materials Science | =826 | 41.8 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | =888 | 41.8 | 2026 |
THE
7 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering & Technology | 251–300 | 45.5 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 301–400 | 41.5 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 301–400 | 43.0 | 2026 |
| Business & Economics | 301–400 | 39.5 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 301–400 | 31.0 | 2026 |
| Psychology | 301–400 | 38.3 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 501–600 | 35.5 | 2026 |