Key dates
- 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
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Exhibitions
Visit our exhibitions showcasing Heriot-Watt University's special collections and 200 year history.