Welcome to Heriot-Watt University
Step-by-step guidance from accepting your offer to starting your first class. Select each step to find out what you need to do, when, and how. Work through them in order so you don’t miss anything important.
Your key steps
Step 1: Accept your offer
If you are an undergraduate student you can accept your offer through UCAS. The deadline for you to respond to your offers will be displayed on your UCAS Hub account. Please ensure that you respond by the deadline stated.
If you are a postgraduate student you can log in to your application account to check the status of your application and accept your offer.
If you are an international student, we recommend that you check visa requirements and consider your student finance options early. You may also receive emails from the University with requests for specific information.
Step 2: Receive your student ID
To access the myHWU Student Portal and all University facilities you will need your Heriot-Watt student ID and username. This will be sent to you in an email with the subject line Welcome to Heriot-Watt if you hold an unconditional firm offer, or if you hold a conditional firm offer and you have met the conditions of your offer.
Step 3: Student finance
Being a student comes with a lot of financial obligations, and it is important that you are aware of these before you start your studies with us.
Tuition fees will most likely be the biggest financial obligation you have, and you should make sure you understand how and when to pay these before you start with us.
There may also be Scholarships and Bursaries available to you, which can give you some additional support and funding during your university career.
If something unexpected happens to you during your studies which means you come into financial difficulties, the University may be able to support you during this time. Cost of living support is available to Heriot-Watt students.
Step 4: Apply for accommodation
We offer on-campus accommodation in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. For students studying at our Orkney Campus, the University provides information and advice on looking for accommodation.
If you have questions about Edinburgh on-campus accommodation, you can email halls@hw.ac.uk. For Scottish Borders accommodation, you can email bordershalls@hw.ac.uk
Step 5: Enrolment
Enrolment is the process of formally joining the University and becoming a Heriot-Watt student. You agree to abide by the rules of the University as set out in the Student Declaration, confirm that we have your details correct, and to pay any fees.
When enrolment opens and as long as you have a confirmed offer, you will enrol online using Student Self Service. You log in using your Heriot-Watt University username. You will need this username to set up your password. By clicking on the link to set up your password you accept the University's IT and Communications Acceptable Use Policy. To help keep your Heriot-Watt account safe you will need to set up Multi-Factor Authentication. You may have used a similar system to access online banking or a personal email account.
Off-campus research students, please go to Step 8.
Step 6: Registering for classes
After you enrol online, you will need to register online for your courses using the Student Self Service (each programme – the degree in the subject you are studying – is made up of a number of courses). Access to course registration may vary depending on your programme, as you may require guidance before making your choices, so if you have questions about your courses, make sure you discuss these with academic staff at your induction.
Step 7: When you arrive
The Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney campuses all vary in size with the Edinburgh campus an impressive 300 acres. To help you find rooms for your induction and beyond you can access a map of your campus.
If you’ll be staying in campus accommodation, then we recommend that you arrive during the Arrivals Weekend which is 30-31 August, the weekend before your Induction. Our teams will be on-hand to support you and there will be a range of social events so you can get to know other students and your flatmates. Please do keep a look out for emails from our accommodation team with compulsory training and information on how to book an arrivals slot.
We are organising transfers from Edinburgh Airport to the Edinburgh campus on 30 and 31 August from 08.00 to 18.00. Look out for an email in August with more guidance. If you arrive outside of these times, we recommend taking a taxi from the taxi rank which costs £25-30 and takes 15 minutes.
If for any reason your airline is unable to check your permission to travel (your eVisa) or you have been unable to access your eVisa, you can ask them to contact the UK Border Force Carrier Support Hub. Get prepared now by checking that your immigration permission is correct before travelling and if there are problems this UKVI page gives advice on what they can do.
Step 8: Induction
Induction is the organised programme of welcome and introductory activities you will participate in as a new student joining a particular programme of study, and takes place during Welcome Week 5 to 9 January 2026
You need to make sure you participate in all of your induction programme.
For new taught postgraduate students starting in January 2026 your induction starts with Kick-Start Your Success on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 January. This programme is the first part of your induction, so please make sure you complete the online registration form
- Find out the distinctive features of being a postgraduate student at Heriot-Watt University.
- Find out more about the academic skills that are essential for success in your degree, especially if you have never studied in the UK before, and how you can develop them.
- Find out about some of the resources (IT, Library, myHWU Student Portal etc.) that you will need for university.
- Meet and talk to current students and learn about their experiences.
- Find out some essential tips for making the most of your time and resources at university, including wellbeing and career support and extracurricular activities.
The second part of your induction is your subject induction which will take place from during Thursday 8 (morning) and Friday 9 January.
In your subject induction, you will find out about your programme of study: what you will be studying, how it will be assessed, who will be teaching you and who you will be studying with. You will also find out about the support and resources available in your subject.
When you enrol online you will automatically be registered on your discipline site on Canvas, Heriot-Watt's Virtual Learning environment. Details of the times, venues and session content of your subject induction will be accessible there. Make sure you know where you have to be and when. Use the Campus Map to find out where to go.
Kick-Start Your Success and your subject induction are the essential first steps to being for new to being a Heriot-Watt taught postgraduate student and will start to equip you with what you need for a successful start at Heriot-Watt.
New research postgraduate students should contact their School for information on induction events.
Global College Students, please see the information about your induction on the Global College discipline site on Canvas, Heriot-Watt's Virtual Learning environment.
Prioritise Your Induction.
It is the most important part of Welcome Week.
Find Your Induction Details on Your Canvas Discipline Site
Make sure you know where you have to be and when. Use the Campus Map to find out where to go.
Come Prepared For Your Induction:
Bring something to write with/on, be ready to get involved, to ask questions, to talk to staff and students.
Enrolment Completion
While on campus, you can complete your enrolment, which involves having your ID checked after which you will be issued with a Heriot-Watt Student Card. Please bring your Passport or Driving Licence or other ID showing your name and photo. You need to make sure you do this at a time that does not clash with your induction programme. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to do this at other times.
Resources for your first few weeks
You’ll be taking lots in during your first week so here are some key links and resources that you want to save now to make things easier.
Canvas
All information on your course will be published on Canvas.
Student A-Z guide
If you’re not sure where to go for help you can refer to the student A-Z guide.
Student Portal
Once you have enrolled you can use AskHWU on the myHWU Student Portal to have any questions answered.
Student events calendar
All social events will be published on the student events calendar.
Student Union
The Student Union run events, provide support and representation, and manage over 30 student-ran societies that you can get involved with. There will be taster sessions at the start of the semester.
Sports Union
At the Edinburgh campus, the Sports Union have over 60 sports clubs for all levels of ability with free taster sessions at the start of the semester. Many clubs train at Oriam, Scotland’s National Sports Performance Centre, and it offers student membership options.
Accommodation arrivals information
All the steps you need to take before and after you move into campus accommodation.
Edinburgh Campus information
Summary of accommodation, facilities, transport and student life.
Scottish Borders Campus information
Summary of accommodation, facilities, transport and student life.
Orkney campus information
Summary of nearby accommodation options and transport.
Accommodation at Orkney Campus
There are no halls of residence or University leased flats at the Orkney Campus, but our Orkney Professional Services Staff are happy to help you find private accommodation locally.
Maps and directions
You can get to Orkney either by air or by car/bus/train and ferry. While in Orkney there is a regular bus service between the two main towns of Kirkwall and Stromness.