Reviewed on Jan 21, 2026(Enrolled 2024)
What Students Say
Likes
- The campus had a great library, with 24/7 access
- Qualified and helpful faculty, and a personal tutor who guided me throughout the course
- Student community is great, the student union conducts many events across the year
Dislikes
- I actually do not dislike anything about my university. A genuinely good place to study, meet new connections and learn. The only thing that I wish there was at the university was probably any major store (ASDA or sainsbury) nearby. But we do have a student shop for our essentials so that is okay.
Course Curriculum
10
- The course curriculum was a bit challenging. It was a mix of theoretical and practical work.
- The positive aspects were that we were going at a good pace, where we were able to keep up with the curriculum and go through it quickly.
- There were probably 2 - 3 classes daily. And the timings are between 9 am to 5 pm. Classes were not scheduled every day.
- We had around 30 students in our class.
- There were many Indian students, around 50% of the class.
Admission Experience
- I have applied to only Heriot-Watt University. I applied it way earlier than other colleges and got accepted into the university therefore I haven't applied anywhere else. It took few weeks for the acceptance letter to arrive once I submitted my application. And the process later was very easy. The process of getting the confirmation of acceptance of studies was also very easy.
- I chose this college particularly as it was very reputed for their actuarial science and management programs.
- The admission process was very simple, once the application was created and submitted, I received an acceptance letter in a few weeks, after that. There were few eligibility interviews. once those were done, we were presented with support of alumni and then students who guided us with our further application and visa processes. everything was very streamlined and idiot proof.
- I didn't give any exams, as my Undergraduate scores were considered as eligibility for my department and regarding the English language exams, my CBSE class 12 marks were considered as language proficiency.
- The overall admission experience was great, it was stress-free, and I was provided with guidance through out.
- I have applied for the September 2024.
- I received my conditional acceptance letter in January, the whole process took around 3-4 months. The first step was to get unconditional acceptance letter. This was given once I submitted all my undergraduate results, certificates. Later I had to get the CAS - Confirmation of acceptance of studies. This was given, once I completed my health related tests and once unconditional offer letter was given. Once I got the CAS, I was told to apply for the VISA. The whole admission process, was easy, even though it sounds like a long process, it is easy enough for everyone and guidance was provided all along.
Faculty
10
- We had a faculty for each subject and also had a personal tutor, who specifically focused of a very small number of students. The faculty came to each student during our tutorial sessions to see how they are doing.
- The teaching methodology was to take a lecture, give us time to go through it, and it was followed by a tutorial class, where the lecture was more interactive and helped students solve practical problems.
- Faculty members do not assist students in a job hunt, but we have a career guidance team that helps us in the specific area.
Campus Life
10
- My campus experience has been positive and well-balanced, combining academics with a variety of events and extracurricular opportunities. The university regularly organizes activities that encourage student involvement, cultural exchange, and personal development. These events help students socialize, reduce academic stress, and feel more connected to campus life.
- Major campus events include Freshers’ Week, cultural and international festivals, academic workshops, guest lectures, and career fairs. There are many clubs and societies covering sports, culture, academics, and hobbies. Students can participate in sports, cultural activities, volunteering, and student organizations, which help develop teamwork, leadership, and communication skills while making the overall campus experience enjoyable and meaningful.
Part Time Jobs
- We do have many on campus jobs, at the cafeteria, at the student union, the student shop, and many other spots.
- Many students do work part-time, and the pay is around £12 per hour with an additional £1.5 per hour as holiday pay.
- Students are allowed to work 20 hours a week.
- It is fairly easy to secure on-campus part-time jobs. We have an Unitemps site dedicated to searching for on-campus jobs.
- Students earn around £12 - £13 hourly on campus. It is fairly easy and simple; the Unitemps staff helps us in securing these jobs. Once the application is posted, and if students are selected, they are required to give their NI number and other details.
- Whenever students are confused, the unitemps staff and the career guidance staff stay on campus, so it is easy to contact them for support
Placement
10
- After completing the course, most students look for full-time roles through internships, networking, university career support, and online job portals.
- Many students secure jobs within 6 months after their graduation.
- Starting salaries are usually around £25k–£35k.
- My batchmates have joined insurance firms, consultancies, and finance teams in analyst and actuarial roles.
Accommodation
Off Campus
10
- I stayed at the university's accommodation.
- The monthly rent depends on the type of room; it is around £600 - £800 per month. There are rooms with a common kitchen and bathroom, or you can choose a shared kitchen but with an en suite in the room, or there are studio rooms available.
- There weren't many challenges; it is basically first-come, first-served. So I applied for the rooms online and got them way before the start date.
- Our accommodation was on campus, and it was very close. Most of the Indian students stay in and around the campus. But so do chose to stay closer to the city.
Exams
- I did not write any additional exams, but TOEFL and IELTS are usually required for language proficiency.
- The documents necessary were a conditional offer letter, undergraduate provisional degree, course completion certificate, consolidated marksheet, medium of instruction, then the unconditional offer letter and CAS letter.
- There was an interview part, it was to see if the student is aware of what they are applying for, and what their course is. It was an eligibility interview.
Fees
- £27200 was the initial fees, but I was provided with a £5000 scholarship.
- The tuition fee was charged yearly, but we were provided with many options, to pay the advance first, and then opt to a monthly payments. The finance department at the university is very considerate and will try to help students as much as possible to help them with the finance-related issues.
- The monthly expenses come around £1000 - £1200, including the living expenses and depends whether you are living in the city, or in the university halls.
Scholarship
- £27200 was the initial fees, but I was provided with a £5000 scholarship, it was specifically for Actuarial Science students, and the eligibility criteria was based on merit.
- £5000 was the award amount.
- Yes, many of my batchmates did receive the scholarships.
- It depends based on the number of students in the cohort, but the typical award amount is £5000 for international students.
