Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney Campus students
We are looking forward to welcoming to campus our new students starting with us in September 2023. Here is some important information to help you get started.
Induction is the mandatory programme of introductory and welcome activities you will take part in when you start at Heriot-Watt University during Welcome Week, 4 to 8 September 2023. During induction you will have the opportunity to meet your lecturers, your fellow students and your personal tutor. You will also find out more about your programme of study and what being a Heriot-Watt student is really like
New student checklist
Make sure you have read through our new student checklist below. This will take you through the practical steps that you should complete or think about before you start your studies with us.
1. Enrol
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 and to pay any fees, and we ask you to confirm that we have your correct details.
When enrolment opens, you will enrol online using Student Self Service.
You log in using your Heriot-Watt University student ID number, beginning with H followed by eight digits which you can find on any recent correspondence from us. You will also need a PIN number, which is your date of birth in ddmmyy format.
The first time you log in, you will be asked to change your PIN number. Please keep these details safe, as you'll need them the next time you log in.
Enrolling online involves checking and updating your personal details, checking your programme and fees and agreeing to our terms and conditions.
You must also upload a photograph for your student identity card. This should be a clearly identifiable passport-style photograph.
After you complete online enrolment you will need to register for your courses online. Access to course registration may vary depending on your programme, as you may require guidance before making your choices.
On completion of online enrolment you will be given access to your University email and myHWU Student Portal through which you can access many other services and facilities.
Please note you can only enrol online once you have an unconditional offer.
2. Induction
Induction takes place during Welcome Week, 4 to 8 September 2023. Induction is an organised programme of welcome and introductory activities you will participate in as a new student joining a particular programme of study. Once you enrol, you will have access to the induction site for your subject on Canvas, our Virtual Learning Environment.
Induction is your opportunity to -
- Meet your lecturers.
- Find out about the programme.
- Find out about the resources and support available to you for study.
- Ask any questions.
- Meet the students you will be studying with.
3. Finances
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.
More information about finances can be found on the Financial Matters page.
4. Accommodation and travel
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 accepted your unconditional firm offer, you can apply for accommodation online. For those with a conditional offer, you will need to wait until this becomes unconditional. Make sure you apply when you accept your unconditional offer.
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. For information about accommodation in Orkney, please email icit@hw.ac.uk.
Travel
If you are commuting to campus, you should plan how you are going to get there and how long it may take. Also consider how often you may be on campus and how long you will spend travelling every day/week.
Maps and directions to the UK campuses:
5. IT access
Becoming a Heriot-Watt student gives you access to a whole range of IT services and equipment, including email, file storage, and on-campus WiFi access.
Find out more about getting connected at Heriot-Watt University.
You can also visit the IT Essentials page to find out what resources are available to you.
Once you enrol, you will have access to the myHWU Student Portal (within 24 hours), which is your one-stop shop for all things Heriot-Watt whilst you are a student with us. Make sure you check out the student portal before you commence your studies.
6. Get involved
There will be a range of activities and events taking place during Welcome Week and beyond to will help you settle in and feel part of the global Heriot-Watt community. The Student Union, Sports Union, Chaplaincy, Student Wellbeing Services, Residence Life (ResLife) and others will be running events where you can meet other students and find out more about university life. You can find a calendar of events on the Student Union website.
7. Questions
If you have questions about what the Heriot-Watt university experience will be like, or about the range of support and resources that will be available to you, you can email a Student Success Advisor at studentsuccess@hw.ac.uk
Questions about your application or entry requirements should be sent to studywithus@hw.ac.uk
The sections below will give you more information on the different aspects of your university experience and the opportunities available to you whilst studying at Heriot-Watt.