Heriot Watt University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Heriot-Watt University is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, it holds the distinction of being the world’s first mechanics' institute, created to provide practical education in science and technology to working men. The institution was the initiative of Scottish businessman Leonard Horner, who was inspired by Anderson’s College in Glasgow. Initially, lectures were held twice a week in rented rooms, and the school maintained a small library of technical works. Despite limited resources, it quickly became popular, attracting more students than it could accommodate. Funding came from middle and upper-class sponsors, including notable figures like Robert Stevenson and Walter Scott. In 1824, the school was associated with the name of James Watt as a fundraising strategy to secure a permanent building, which was eventually achieved in 1851. To honor this milestone, the school was renamed the Watt Institution and School of Arts in 1852. A statue of Watt was erected in front of the school in 1854 and has since been relocated as the university has expanded. The university was granted university status by royal charter in 1966 and is named after both James Watt and Scottish philanthropist George Heriot. Heriot-Watt is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the UK and is sometimes classified as a plate glass university, reflecting its modern university status acquired in the 1960s alongside institutions like Lancaster and Warwick. It specializes in science and engineering, and today has campuses in Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia. In the academic year 2022–23, Heriot-Watt reported an income of £259.5 million, including £33 million from research grants, against an expenditure of £266.7 million. The university continues to honor its legacy of combining academic rigor with practical, career-focused education.