Global College
Interested in an alternative, supportive route into an undergraduate programme?
Study one of our one-year Global College foundation programmes and gain direct entry into second year of your chosen undergraduate degree.
Find your course
What is Global College?
Global College is a supportive and immersive one-year programme, which provides knowledge and expertise in a subject area, and gets students ready for degree level studies. The first-year study route is comparable to a ‘foundation year’, with a direct pathway into one of our undergraduate programmes – without an additional application process.
Aimed at students who are considering a degree and don’t have the necessary grades or required subject to meet entry requirements, or for those who have been out of education for a while, our Global College programmes have been specifically designed to provide additional support during your first year of university. The programmes follow an intensive and focused curriculum to provide you with the expertise and knowledge in your chosen subject area, to allow a smooth transition into the second year of an undergraduate degree.
The same opportunities
You will have access to the same opportunities as all our first-year undergraduate students, and can join the same clubs and societies, and learn from the same academics, in the same industry-leading facilities.
We offer six pathways in accounting and finance, business, engineering, psychology, science, and technology. With help from an academic tutor, you will be guided through a three-semester first year. Successful completion of the programme offers a direct pathway to a wide range of professionally relevant degrees.
Please view the programme listings to see all undergraduate degrees you can progress into.
programme listingsGlobal College at Heriot-Watt University
Why study at our Edinburgh Campus?
Graduate employability
2nd in the UK for undergraduate employability thanks to our industry-focused degrees and life-long career support (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2024).
Go Global
Study abroad in Dubai or Malaysia for a semester, a year or longer. Continue your studies on our inter-campus transfer and learn the exact same programme and curriculum whilst exploring another culture.
Top Rankings
Committed to teaching quality, student experience, research quality and graduate prospects, we are proud to be placed 256th in the world, 32nd in the UK and 5th in Scotland (QS World University Rankings, 2025).
Study in Edinburgh
Enjoy top-tier education in one of the top 10 most student-friendly cities in the world (QS, 2023), Edinburgh truly does have everything – a vibrant nightlife and café culture, designer retailers, nearby beaches, mountains, and plenty of green space.