| 1821 |
Edinburgh School of Arts, the world’s first mechanics’ institute, founded by Leonard Horner and Robert Bryson in Niddry Street |
| 1836 |
First working class representative joined the Board of Governors |
| 1837 |
Move to Adam Square |
| 1851 |
Watt Subscription Fund donates funding to School as Edinburgh’s monument to James Watt |
| 1852 |
School becomes Watt Institution and School of Arts |
| 1854 |
Watt Club alumni association founded: Peter Slater’s Watt statue unveiled |
| 1869 |
Women students admitted- thanks to campaign by Mary Burton |
| 1872 |
Foundation stone laid for Chambers Street Building |
| 1874 |
Mary Burton is the first woman to join board of Governors |
| 1885 |
Merger with George Heriot endowment to create Heriot-Watt College |
| 1887 |
First Professors appointed in Chemistry, Physics and Mechanics and Engineering |
| 1902 |
The College becomes a Central Institution, teaching to degree standard |
| 1928 |
Heriot-Watt College becomes independent from George Heriot Trust; Students’ Representative Council established |
| 1966 |
Heriot-Watt gains University status by Royal Charter |
| 1969 |
Riccarton estate gifted to the University by Midlothian Council |
| 1971 |
Research Park opened: first university research park in Europe |
| 1973 |
First phase of development at Riccarton |
| 1989 |
Orkney Campus opens in Stromness |
| 1992 |
Relocation to Edinburgh campus at Riccarton complete |
| 1998 |
Merger with Scottish College of Textiles to create Scottish Borders Campus |
| 2005 |
Dubai Campus opens |
| 2012 |
Malaysia Campus opens |
| 2016 |
University celebrates 50th anniversary of Royal Charter |
| 2021 |
University celebrates its bicentennial |