How to Apply to Physics at Heriot-Watt University: Scottish Four-Year Degrees With BSc, MPhys, an Industrial Placement Route and Mathematical Physics, a Three-Year Option Into Year 2, for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Heriot-Watt’s physics undergraduate programmes are Scottish honours degrees taught mainly on the Edinburgh campus. This guide sets out, from the university’s website, how admission works and what you need for September 2027 entry, for UK, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants. The pages used did not give the school’s structure, programme-level grades or accreditation, so check the programme pages for those. Mathematical Physics overlaps with mathematics and is only mentioned briefly.

1. Programmes and degrees

The university’s Chinese-language programme page lists the following; degrees follow the typical Scottish four-year honours pattern.

• Physics: BSc (Hons) and MPhys.
• Physics with Industrial Placement: MPhys, listed on the Chinese-language page as Physics with Industrial Placement; the length and arrangements of the placement are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Mathematical Physics: BSc (Hons), listed in the mathematics group on the Chinese-language page, a crossover between mathematics and physics.
• These names come from the university’s Chinese-language STEM programme page; the degree titles are BSc (Hons) and MPhys. The page is a list of programmes and gives no length, entry grades or course structure for each.

The university stresses a “3 Year honours degree” option on its undergraduate and international pages (see below). Some programmes can also be studied at the Dubai or Malaysia campuses, by separate application.

2. How admission works and prerequisites

• Apply directly to a named programme: you apply for a chosen programme (UCAS programme codes are on the programme pages). When streaming happens or whether you can change programme after entry is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.
• Prerequisites (university level): National 5 or GCSE grade C in mathematics and English is the floor for every programme; where Higher Mathematics is specifically required, Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted. Which subjects (mathematics, physics) and grades physics programmes need are on the programme page and were not on the pages used for this guide.
• Admission tests and interviews: the pages used for this guide mention no physics admission test or interview; the only interviews mentioned are for specialised programmes such as British Sign Language and Textiles and Design.
• Laboratories, projects and accreditation: not given on the pages used for this guide (including any Institute of Physics accreditation); check the programme page.

3. How to apply, deadlines and process

Undergraduate applications to Heriot-Watt’s UK campuses go through UCAS; applicants from overseas can also use the university’s online application form. The university’s institution code is H24 and each programme’s UCAS code is listed on its programme page. Programmes at the Edinburgh campus have no campus code; programmes at the Scottish Borders campus use campus code S. Check UCAS fees, programme codes and the latest deadlines on the UCAS website.

• Timeline (watch the year): the university’s undergraduate application page gives dates for 2026 entry: UCAS applications should reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time on 14 January 2026; later applications are still accepted but “consideration cannot be guaranteed for areas of high demand”; Clearing opens on 5 July 2026; overseas applicants can apply directly until 24 July 2026 and after that through UCAS Clearing; overseas applications are not accepted after 17 August 2026 and UK applicants can apply until 28 August 2026. The Chinese-language pages say UCAS began accepting 2026 applications in mid-September 2025 and that international students can apply through UCAS or directly until the end of June 2026, advising early applications. Dates for September 2027 entry were not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website, and do not treat the 2026 dates as 2027 dates.
• Decisions: for applications made by 14 January the university aims to decide by mid-May, typically around 14 May; decisions appear in your UCAS Hub account.
• Documents for direct applications: only your academic transcript is required at first (a transcript to date or predicted grades if you have not finished); a copy of your passport photo page and English-language evidence (with certified translation if needed) are recommended; a personal statement and other documents may be requested after review. The instructions on the page say to choose the “Undergraduate (Dubai and Malaysia)” option to reach the direct form, which does not match the UK-campus description; follow the current guidance on the application page.
• Verification and visas: you may be asked to verify your qualifications through Qualification Check, either as an offer condition or before an offer; self-funding international applicants are asked to pay an advance instalment of fees (details given at offer or acceptance); applicants under 18 need parental consent; the university can sponsor suitably qualified students for a student visa.
• Personal statement and reference: the university considers your personal statement, reference and grades; its advice is to spend about 60% of the statement on the programme and why you want it, and about 40% on skills and activities outside school work. It adds that the minimum entry requirement shown for each programme is the minimum offer it is likely to make, and that for popular programmes the offer is likely to be higher.
• Outcomes: unconditional offer, conditional offer, or no offer (which does not stop you applying again in a later year). Offer holders are usually invited to visit between January and April.

4. UK applicants (A-Levels, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, and others)

• English and mathematics at N5 / GCSE: every applicant needs English at National 5 grade C or GCSE grade C (or 4), and mathematics or Applications of Mathematics at National 5 grade C or GCSE grade C (or 4); the exceptions listed are Language and Fashion programmes and the Business Management programmes in Edinburgh Business School.
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers: offers are generally based on a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, often with specific grades in specific subjects. Entry can be from S5 or S6, and one or two Highers may be taken in S4. Highers taken over two years (S4–S5 or S5–S6) are treated the same as one-year Highers, but where places are competitive the university may raise requirements for applicants taking Highers over more than one sitting, especially re-sits, and welcomes school advice in the UCAS reference. Higher Mathematics and Higher Applications of Mathematics count as two separate subjects, but where Higher Mathematics is specifically required, Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted instead. Applicants with good Highers who are taking the required Advanced Highers are welcome to apply for direct entry to Level 2, and the university’s SCHOLAR programme is designed to support progression into Level 2.
• A-Levels and other UK qualifications: admissions tutors commonly look for specific grades and subjects, and good A-Level grades also allow entry to Level 2 of most programmes. Level 3 BTECs (including the Extended Diploma, sometimes with A-Levels), T Levels (some programmes need particular subjects or additional qualifications), Foundation Apprenticeships (treated at the level of a Scottish Higher), the Welsh Baccalaureate (with an additional A-Level) and 14–19 Diplomas are also considered. The subjects and grades each physics programme needs are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the programme page.
• Fee status and places: Scottish students normally have tuition fees paid by SAAS (apply each year); students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are “Rest of UK (RUK)” for fees. Places for Scottish applicants are limited by Scottish Government funding limits; priority goes to Scottish applicants from the 20% most deprived SIMD areas or with care experience. The university also says students with care experience or a home address in the priority postcodes are guaranteed an offer if they have the ability to meet the minimum entry requirements. Contextual or amended offers may be made to other groups; see the university’s Fair Access policy page for the groups.
• RUK offer: students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland starting in September 2026 get free on-campus accommodation for the first semester (equivalent to £3,213 at Edinburgh or £2,703 at the Scottish Borders campus), included in the accommodation offer without a separate application. The page states that if you defer to September 2027 this cannot be guaranteed; whether it continues for 2027 entry is not given on the pages used for this guide.

5. International applicants

• Open to international applicants: the university states that all its undergraduate programmes are open to international applicants.
• English language (undergraduate level): the English-language table gives, for undergraduate entry, IELTS Academic 6.0 with no score below 5.5; PTE Academic 63 (minimum 59); TOEFL iBT for tests taken before 21 January 2026, 79 (reading 18, listening 17, speaking 20, writing 21); for tests from 21 January 2026 on the new scale, overall 4 with no score below 4 except writing at least 4.5; Oxford ELLT 6 (no score below 5); Cambridge C1 Advanced 169–175; Trinity ISE II 90 overall with at least 80 in each skill; LanguageCert Academic SELT 65 overall, no component below 60; Duolingo English Test 120 overall with 110 in each component; Password Skills Plus 6.0 (no score below 5.5). Tests must be passed within two years of the start date; IELTS Indicator and General Training, the online PTE, and TOEFL MyBest/Superscore are not accepted, and minimum scores must be achieved in one sitting.
• Other ways to show English: being from a UKVI-listed majority English-speaking country or holding a UK-equivalent qualification from one (within 5 years); completing the university’s own Pre-sessional English programme (within 19 months of the start date) or a BALEAP-accredited pre-sessional at another UK university (within one year); or school-level English qualifications from a list of countries (within 5 years). Ask admissions whether a route applies to your programme.
• Age of qualifications: the country pages say qualifications used for undergraduate entry must be dated no more than five years before the programme start date (seven years for foundation entry).
• Verification and money: qualifications may be verified through Qualification Check; self-funding applicants pay an advance instalment of fees, with details at offer or acceptance. The amount of funds needed for a visa is not given on the pages used for this guide; see the university’s visa pages and the UK government website.
• Scholarships: see the International Merit Scholarship in the fees section below.

6. Applicants from China (separate section)

• Gaokao and Huikao: the China entry on the university’s “Information for your country” page says that for undergraduate study it would typically accept a Huikao at 75% overall with required subjects at 75%, or a Gaokao at 60% overall with required subjects at 60%. The Chinese-language application page (whose entry-requirements sentence is cut off at the start) says the same: Huikao 75, or Gaokao total 60 with required subjects at 60%, and also considers A-Level, IB and OSSD applicants. The university says these entries are a guide and do not guarantee entry, that some programmes require higher scores and have subject-specific requirements. Programme-specific scores for physics are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the China office.
• Other China entries: the same page says it will consider the AST (Aptitude Scholastic Test) with three AST papers each at 180 or above plus a Senior High certificate at an average of 70% or above; for foundation entry it accepts Senior High 2 at an average of 70% or Senior High 3 at 65% or above. The page does not explain which applicants each entry is meant for; ask admissions.
• Foundation: foundation programmes are an alternative route into Year 2 of the undergraduate degrees and are open to students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and overseas. International students who apply for the four-year route (foundation plus degree) can be sponsored for a visa covering the whole period, with English at CEFR B2. Foundation English: IELTS 5.0 (no score below 4.5, UKVI SELT only) for the one-year foundation and IELTS 5.5 (no score below 5.5) for the four-year foundation. Which foundation covers which subject area should be checked on the foundation programme pages.
• Transcripts and contacts: whether Chinese school transcripts or Huikao materials need a particular certification body is not given on the pages used for this guide. The China office email is ChinaEastAsia@hw.ac.uk and the general enquiries address is studywithus@hw.ac.uk.

7. Three-year honours degrees, Year 2 entry and transfers

• 3-year honours degree: eligible applicants can begin in Year 2 and complete the typical four-year Scottish honours degree in three years. Choose “point of entry 2” on the application; if your qualifications do not reach Year 2 you are automatically considered for Year 1 or foundation entry. Year 2 entry requirements are on each programme page; the contact address is ugadmissions@hw.ac.uk. The university says this saves a year of tuition and accommodation costs and lets you enter the job market at the same time as students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Support: students joining in Year 2 receive Welcome Week, a personal tutor, a tailored orientation for Year 2 entrants, and access to the Maths Gym and English Gym.
• Transfers: direct entry to Year 2 or 3 is sometimes possible depending on previous qualifications and availability; applicants considering transferring from another institution should contact the university to discuss compatibility and provide transcripts. The subject and grade requirements for transfer into a specific programme are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Scottish college qualifications: HNC/HND holders can get advanced entry to years two or three through articulation agreements with local colleges, some of which require specific college modules.

8. Fees and scholarships

• RUK students: for 2026 entry the variable tuition fee is £9,790 per year for a BA/BSc/MA honours degree; the maximum is regulated by government and may rise, and the university reserves the right to raise fees in line with it for new and continuing students. The 2027 figure is not given on the pages used for this guide; check it.
• Scottish students: fees are usually paid by SAAS, applied for each year.
• International students: tuition varies by programme and is shown under “Fees and funding” on each programme page in the programme finder; no figure appears on the pages used for this guide, so check the 2027/28 fee on the programme page. A fee status enquiry form is available if your status is unclear. New EU students (other than the Republic of Ireland) are international-fee students unless they hold settled or pre-settled status.
• Other charges: re-assessment costs £35 per course; bench, studio or consumables fees vary by programme; self-funding students must pay tuition within 30 days of the start of the programme.
• International Merit Scholarship: for international fee-paying students enrolling in January or September 2027, with over £500,000 awarded in total. In most cases it is paid as a partial fee reduction for the first year only, unless the offer letter says otherwise; the value varies by region and East Asia applicants should contact the regional team (an email is listed). It is only for overseas-fee students residing overseas; students already living in the UK with overseas fee status are not eligible. Only one Heriot-Watt-funded scholarship can be held per programme and it cannot be combined with the alumni discount. The Chinese-language pages add that international students including those from China can receive tuition-reduction scholarships and that current scholarships for Chinese applicants can be asked about at chinaeastasia@hw.ac.uk. Whether it is assessed automatically is not stated; ask the regional team.
• Other awards: the university’s overall scholarships and bursaries list also names the Heriot-Watt University Bursary, the Dr David McGillivray Access Bursary, the Widening Access Bursary (Scotland) and an Undergraduate European Union Scholarship, among others; their conditions were not on the pages used for this guide.
• Accommodation: the university says first-year students are guaranteed accommodation, with more than 2,000 rooms on the Edinburgh campus.

9. Not given on the pages used for this guide (check the website)

• The school hosting physics, the course structure, laboratory and research projects, the length of the industrial placement and any professional accreditation are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• UCAS, Clearing and overseas direct-application deadlines for 2027 entry, and international tuition figures for each programme.
• Programme-level entry requirements (subjects and grades in Highers, Advanced Highers, A-Levels and IB), the structure of the first year and any streaming, which sit on the programme pages and the programme finder; the finder was not used here, so check each programme.
• Contacts: studywithus@hw.ac.uk (general), ugadmissions@hw.ac.uk (three-year degrees and Year 2 entry), ChinaEastAsia@hw.ac.uk (China office), scholarships@hw.ac.uk (scholarships).

This guide draws on Heriot-Watt University’s website (www.hw.ac.uk): its application, entry-requirements, country, fees and scholarship pages and the Chinese-language programme pages. Websites change, so check the university and UCAS websites before you apply.