How to Apply to Biology at Heriot-Watt University: Scottish Honours Degrees in Biological Sciences and Marine Biology, a Three-Year Option Into Year 2, for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Heriot-Watt University is based in Edinburgh, and Scottish honours degrees normally take four years. 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, in a separate section) and transfer students. The pages used for this guide do not give the school or department for Biology, the entry grades for each programme, course structure or professional accreditation, so please check those on the programme pages. Brewing and Distilling, Sport and Exercise Science and other science programmes listed under other headings are outside this guide; see their programme pages on the university website.

1. Degrees

The Chinese-language programme list on the website shows these Biology programmes:

• Biological Sciences: BSc (Hons).
• Marine Biology: BSc (Hons).
• The degree-title table also lists MBiol, but the biology entry in the programme list shows only the two BSc (Hons) programmes above; whether an MBiol programme exists is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the programme page.

The degree-title table lists BSc (Hons), MChem, MBiol and others. The website says Scottish honours degrees take four years; the length of each programme and the length of any placement are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the programme page. Some courses can also be studied at the Dubai or Malaysia campuses and need a separate application.

2. How admission works and what you need

• You apply to a specific programme on UCAS or the direct application form; UCAS programme codes are on each programme page. When you choose or can change programme after entry is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.
• University-wide minimum: 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 (except language and fashion programmes and business management in the Edinburgh Business School). Where a degree specifically requires Higher Mathematics, Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted instead.
• Subjects and grades for Biology: the programme pages list Highers, Advanced Highers, A-Level and IB subjects and grades (for example whether biology, chemistry and mathematics are required), but the pages used for this guide do not show them, so check the programme page; the country pages also say some programmes have subject-specific requirements.
• The website says the minimum entry requirement shown on a programme page is the minimum offer the university is likely to make, and for popular programmes the offer may be higher; the personal statement, reference and background are also considered.
• Tests and interviews: the website mentions interviews only for specialised programmes such as British Sign Language or Textiles and Design. Whether Biology has an admissions test or interview is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the programme page.
• Laboratory and field courses, research projects, any placement year and professional accreditation (for example by the Royal Society of Biology) are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the programme page.

3. How to apply, deadlines and process

• Route: applicants from the UK apply through UCAS; overseas applicants can use UCAS or the university’s online application form. The UCAS institution code is H24; programme codes are on each programme page; Edinburgh Campus programmes have no campus code and Scottish Borders Campus programmes have campus code S. Check the UCAS fee and the latest deadline on the UCAS website.
• Timeline (mind the year): the undergraduate application page is headed “starting in September 2026” and gives 2026 dates: UCAS applications to arrive by 18:00 UK time on 14 January 2026, after which the university still accepts applications but cannot guarantee consideration for areas of high demand; Clearing opens on 5 July 2026; overseas applicants can apply directly until 24 July 2026 and then through UCAS Clearing; no overseas applications after 17 August 2026; UK applicants until 28 August 2026. The corresponding 2027 dates are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website; do not treat the 2026 dates as 2027 dates.
• The Chinese-language application page words this differently: UCAS opened in mid-September 2025 for 2026 entry and international students can apply through UCAS or directly on the website until the end of June 2026, with a recommendation to apply early. That does not match the English page’s 24 July 2026 for direct overseas applications, so follow the current application page.
• Decisions: the university aims to decide applications submitted by 14 January 2026 by mid-May, typically around 14 May; results and replies are handled in the UCAS Hub account.
• Direct application documents: the only document required at first is the academic transcript or marks sheet (transcript to date or predicted grades if you have not finished); the website recommends also uploading the passport picture page and evidence of English, with certified translations where needed. After review you may be asked for a personal or supporting statement, CV or academic reference. The page also says to choose the “Undergraduate (Dubai and Malaysia)” option to reach the direct form, which does not sit comfortably with the UK-campus wording, so follow the current guidance on the application page.
• Personal statement: the website suggests about 60% on why you want the programme and what you know of it, and about 40% on skills and experience outside school (jobs, voluntary work, sport and so on).
• Responses: 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. If you cannot start as planned you can ask to change your start date under the deferral policy.
• Verification and other points: the university may ask you to verify your qualifications through Qualification Check, as an offer condition or before an offer; self-funding overseas applicants are asked to pay an advance instalment on fees (details with the offer or at acceptance); applicants under 18 need parental consent; the university can sponsor a student visa for suitably qualified students.

4. Home (UK) applicants

• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers: an offer is generally based on a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, often with grades in specific subjects; entry may be from S5 or S6; one or two Highers may be taken in S4. Highers taken over two years (S4 and S5, or S5 and S6) are treated equally with those taken in one year, but where places are limited requirements may be raised for applicants taking Highers over more than one sitting, especially if re-sitting more than one subject, and the university welcomes schools’ explanation of delivery patterns in the UCAS reference. Higher Mathematics and Higher Applications of Mathematics count as two separate subjects. Direct entry to Level 2 is welcomed from applicants with good Highers who take the required Advanced Highers, and the SCHOLAR programme is designed for smooth progression into Level 2.
• A-Levels and others: admissions tutors commonly look for specific grades and subjects, and good A-Level grades also enable entry to Level 2 of most programmes. Level 3 BTEC (including the Extended Diploma, sometimes with A-Levels), T Levels (some subjects may be required), Foundation Apprenticeships (at the level of a Scottish Higher), the Welsh Baccalaureate (with one more A-Level) and 14-19 Diplomas are also accepted. The subjects and grades for Biology are not given on the pages used for this guide; see the programme page.
• Fee status: Scottish students normally have tuition fees paid by SAAS, which you must apply to every year; students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are charged as Rest of UK (RUK), and all undergraduate programmes are open to them. Places for Scottish applicants are limited by Scottish Government funding, and priority goes to Scottish applicants from the SIMD20 most deprived areas or with care experience.
• Fair access: the website says students who are care experienced or live in a Scottish government priority postcode (SIMD20) are guaranteed an offer if they can meet the minimum entry requirements; other groups may get contextual or adjusted offers, listed on the Fair Access policy page.
• RUK incentive: the three-year honours page says RUK students starting in September 2026 get a free first semester of on-campus accommodation (saving over £3,000 in Edinburgh or about £2,700 at the Scottish Borders campus). Whether it continues for 2027 is not given on the pages used for this guide.

5. International applicants

• Which programmes: the website says all undergraduate programmes are open to international applicants.
• English requirement (undergraduate column): IELTS Academic 6.0 with no score lower than 5.5; PTE Academic 63 (minimum 59); TOEFL iBT for tests before 21 January 2026, 79 (reading 18, listening 17, speaking 20, writing 21); for the new scoring from 21 January 2026, an overall score of 4 with no score lower than 4 and writing at least 4.5; Oxford ELLT 6 (no score lower than 5); Trinity ISE II 90 overall with at least 80 in each skill; LanguageCert Academic SELT 65 overall with no component below 60; Duolingo English Test 120 overall with 110 in each component. Tests must be passed within two years of the start date; the IELTS Indicator and General Training are not accepted, PTE online is not accepted, TOEFL myBest and Superscore are not accepted, and minimum scores must be reached in one sitting. Actuarial, translation and interpreting programmes have higher requirements.
• Other ways to show English: a qualification from a UKVI majority-English-speaking country, or a degree-equivalent qualification taught there (within 5 years); the university’s own Pre-sessional English (completed within 19 months of the start date); a BALEAP-accredited pre-sessional at another UK university (within a year); and school-level English results from a list of countries (within 5 years; for example A-Level or O-Level English at C, or IB SL4 or HL4). Whether a route works for a given programme should be confirmed with admissions.
• Age of qualifications: the country pages say qualifications for undergraduate entry must be dated no more than five years before the start date, and seven years for foundation entry.
• Verification and funds: qualifications may be verified through Qualification Check; self-funding students pay an advance fee instalment; the funds required for the visa are not given on the pages used for this guide, so see the university’s visa pages and the UK government website.
• Scholarships: see section 8.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao and huikao: the China entry on the “Information for your country” page says that for undergraduate entry 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 “how to apply” page words it as a huikao result of 75, or a gaokao total of 60 with required subjects at 60%, and also considers A-Level, IB, OSSD and other international curricula. The website adds that these figures are a guide, do not guarantee entry, that some programmes require higher scores and have subject requirements. The score and subject requirements for Biology are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the China office.
• Other China entries: the country page also says it will consider the AST (Aptitude Scholastic Test) with three papers each at 180 or above plus a senior high certificate average of 70% or above. The website does not explain which applicants this is for; ask admissions.
• Foundation: for foundation entry the country page says it would typically accept completion of Senior High 2 at an average of 70% or Senior High 3 at an average of 65% or above. The foundation page says foundation programmes are open to overseas students; the benefit of the four-year route (foundation plus degree) is that the university can sponsor one visa covering the whole period, with English at CEFR B2; foundation English is IELTS 5.0 (no score below 4.5, UKVI SELT required) for the one-year route and IELTS 5.5 (no score below 5.5) for the four-year route. Whether Biology has a foundation route is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the foundation page and programme page.
• Documents and contact: whether Chinese high school transcripts and huikao materials need an authentication body is not given on the pages used for this guide. The website gives the China office email ChinaEastAsia@hw.ac.uk and the general enquiry email studywithus@hw.ac.uk for questions about specific programmes and applications.

7. Three-year route into Year 2, and transfers

• Three-year honours degree: the website says eligible applicants can start in Year 2 and complete the usually four-year Scottish honours degree in three. Select “point of entry 2” on the application; if your qualifications are not enough for Year 2, the university automatically considers you for Year 1 or foundation entry. Year 2 entry requirements are on the programme pages; the contact is ugadmissions@hw.ac.uk. The website says it saves a year of fees and accommodation costs, and Year 2 entrants get Welcome Week and a personal tutor.
• Transfers: it is sometimes possible to enter Year 2 or Year 3 depending on previous qualifications and availability; if you are transferring from another university, contact the university to discuss compatibility and provide your transcripts. The subject and grade thresholds for transfer into Biology are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.
• College qualifications: the entry requirements page lists college qualifications and other routes to entry for Scottish students; check that page for the agreements and requirements.

8. Fees and scholarships

• RUK students: the website says the variable tuition fee for 2026 entry is £9,790 a year for a BA/BSc/MA honours degree; the maximum is regulated by government and may rise, and the university reserves the right to increase fees in line with it for new and continuing students. The 2027 figure is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Scottish students: fees are normally paid by SAAS; apply every year.
• International students: the fee varies by programme and is shown under “Fees and funding” on each programme page; no figure appears on the pages used for this guide, so check the programme page for the 2027/28 amount. If your fee status is unclear you can use the fee status enquiry form. New EU students (other than the Republic of Ireland) are charged international fees unless they hold EU Settlement Scheme settled or pre-settled status.
• Other charges: re-assessment is £35 per course; bench, studio or consumables fees vary by programme; self-funding students must pay fees within 30 days of the start of the programme.
• International Merit Scholarship: over £500,000 in merit scholarships for international fee-paying students enrolling in January and September 2027; in most cases a partial fee abatement for the first year only unless the offer letter says otherwise; amounts vary by region, so contact the regional team manager; only for overseas-fee-status students residing overseas, not those already living in the UK; only one university-funded scholarship per programme, not combinable with the alumni discount. The Chinese-language page adds that international students including Chinese students can get merit scholarships as tuition fee reductions, and the China office (chinaeastasia@hw.ac.uk) can advise on the latest awards. Whether it is assessed automatically is not stated; check with the regional team.
• The scholarships list also names the Undergraduate European Union Scholarship and others whose conditions were not read for this guide.

9. Not given on the pages used for this guide; please check

• The school or department for Biology, course structure, laboratory or research projects, placement length and professional accreditation.
• 2027 UCAS and Clearing dates, the overseas direct-application cut-off, and international tuition by programme.
• Programme-level entry grades (Highers, Advanced Highers, A-Level, IB) and first-year common courses; these are on the programme pages; please check programme by programme.
• Contacts: studywithus@hw.ac.uk (general), ugadmissions@hw.ac.uk (three-year and Year 2 entry), ChinaEastAsia@hw.ac.uk (China office), scholarships@hw.ac.uk (scholarships).

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Check the Highers, Advanced Highers or A-Level requirements for your target programme on its page, and confirm you hold English and mathematics (or applications of mathematics) at National 5 or GCSE grade C
• Apply through UCAS (institution code H24) by the deadline on the UCAS website; Scottish students apply to SAAS for fees

International and Chinese applicants:

• Confirm your English result (for example IELTS 6.0 with no score below 5.5) is within two years of the start date
• Prepare transcripts (including gaokao or huikao results) and the passport page, and ask the China office about programme-level requirements
• For a direct application, upload the transcript first; further documents are requested after review

Transfer students:

• For the three-year route choose “point of entry 2” and contact ugadmissions@hw.ac.uk; for transfer from another university, contact the university first with your transcripts

Sources: Heriot-Watt University website: Chinese-language STEM programme list; Undergraduate programmes; Entry requirements; School qualifications; English language requirements; Information for your country; Chinese-language undergraduate application page; Three-year honours degree; Foundation programmes; Undergraduate tuition fees; International Merit Scholarship; Chinese-language scholarships page. The school-level pages read for this guide give dates for 2026 entry; check the corresponding 2027 dates. The university website is always the final authority.