College students

College students make up a significant part of our student population, and use a variety of routes, including SWAP access courses, a HNC or HND, or even a portfolio development course. We happily accept college students with a range of qualifications.

For information on coming to us from a SWAP access course please visit our ‘Mature students’ page.

For more advice on things like entry requirements from college courses have a look at our Fair Access Policy.

If you are studying a HNC or HND, you could get advanced entry into year two or three of some of our degree programmes.

The pathways website is a great research tool to use to find out more. This app was designed to help you discover what HNC and HND qualification will give you advanced entry into years two or three of your chosen degree. There’s also additional advice on our Fair Access Policy.

If your college or course isn’t listed, please get in touch and we’ll let you know what your options are. Even if your college isn’t listed, but your course is, you can use the app as a guide to what might be possible.

If you’re not sure if you’re on the right course, or if it would get you advanced entry into the degree you want to study, don’t worry. Just ask us and we’ll have a look at your course – email access@hw.ac.uk.

Practical and financial support

We offer a wide range of support to students coming from college. This includes advice on finances, childcare, and making the transition into university through our ‘Get Ready for Success’ programme. We go to several college career fairs every year, and we’d be happy to come and talk to your class or arrange a class visit to our campus. Just ask your course leader to get in touch with us.

We also provide tailored support sessions for college students at all our on-campus events, including Open Days and Offer Holder Days. We’d always encourage college students to come to our Open Days and Offer Holder Days. These are the best way to find out more about our courses, talk to lecturers about what you will study and talk to current students about what it’s like to be a student in your chosen subject. You can find us in the ‘widening access’ zone at each event – our staff and student ambassadors are always happy to chat and answer any questions you might have.

There are a few bursaries and scholarships that are open to college and widening access students. This is money that you don’t have to pay back. All you have to do is apply. You can find out more about what’s on offer on our Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Associate Student Scheme

Our Associate Student Scheme provides an alternative route into some of our degree programmes whilst also benefitting from time at college. This means you study for one or two years at college and then come into year two or three of the related degree programme at Heriot-Watt.

When you take part in the scheme you benefit from the facilities and resources available at both your college and our university. You’ll study a HNC or HND, and sometimes an additional course with us, and be guaranteed a place at Heriot-Watt if you get the grades required to progress.

Applications are made directly through the college website, not through UCAS, and applications normally open around December or January for a course starting in August.

We have partnerships in place with courses at local colleges, providing routes into these degrees:

• Biological Sciences degrees - Forth Valley College
• BEng (Hons) / MEng Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering - Forth Valley College
• BEng (Hons) / MEng Chemical Engineering - Forth Valley College
• BSc (Hons) Computer Science - Edinburgh College or Fife College
• BEng (Hons) / MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Edinburgh College or Forth Valley College
• BEng (Hons) / MEng Mechanical Engineering - Edinburgh College or Forth Valley College
• BA (Hons) Design for Textiles - Glasgow Clyde College
• BA (Hons) Fashion - Glasgow Clyde College