Clearing information for Scottish Widening Access students

Important information for Scottish students

Please note that we will not be open for Clearing for Scottish students looking to study with us in 2025.

Applications will be open for those Scottish students who are part of the widening access programme, specifically students who live in a SIMD20 postcode area or have experience of being in care. Find out if you are eligible below.

You can find more information about other options and guidance on our Clearing page

Key dates for 2025

• 15 May – Clearing Priority Pass goes live
• 5 July – Applications open
• 5 August – SQA results day and our Clearing phone line opens
• 29 August – deadline for UK applicants to apply via Clearing

Find out more about how to apply through clearing at Heriot-Watt.

Could Heriot-Watt be the place for you?

Book a guided tour of our Edinburgh campus or arrange a visit of our Scottish Borders campus by emailing studentrecruitment@hw.ac.uk. It’s a great opportunity to explore the campus, the area and chat to academics about subjects you are interested in. You can also take a virtual tour of our campuses.

At Heriot-Watt University, we’re committed to making university more accessible for students from a wide range of backgrounds. We look at more than just grades to understand your full potential.

As part of our Widening Access work, we’ve been given extra places by the Scottish Government for students who live in priority postcode areas (also known as SIMD20 areas). We are also offering Clearing places for applicants who are Care-experienced.

Are you eligible?

To check if you are eligible for a widening access clearing place, please use the government information map, to see if you live in a priority postcode area,

• Type your postcode in the ‘area finder' box on the left of the map
• Click ‘Go' and then hover over the yellow marker for your house
• Look at the box on the right – just underneath the big box with population information in it there's some text. If you see the words ‘quintile 1' then you live in a priority postcode area (MD20).

To check if you are care-experienced or estranged, please check our care-experienced student’s page.

If you belong to other widening access categories as listed on our widening access page, please contact us too for help and advice.

If you are a Widening Access student from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, please find more information here.

Find out why it’s important to declare yourself Widening Access