What Heriot-Watt University Is Known For: Research Strength and Graduate Outcomes

Updated

Heriot-Watt University is a specialist university based in Edinburgh with campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia, and it is known for two headline claims: research quality and graduate employability. On research, 86.8% of its work is ranked world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021). On outcomes, it states it is first in Scotland for graduate outcomes and produces the highest percentage of CEO and Managing Director roles among graduates (Graduate Outcomes, 2024 and Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2025). These figures are the university's own published claims, so treat them as its positioning rather than an independent ranking.

Research: what the 86.8% figure means

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK system for assessing university research, and its 2021 results are the basis for the 86.8% claim. In practice this means the majority of Heriot-Watt's submitted research was graded at the top two levels of the scale.

The university describes itself as creating "world renowned, innovative research," and its research identity is closely tied to applied and industry-connected fields rather than a broad classical offering. That specialist framing is consistent with its self-description as a specialist university.

The Lyell Centre as a research example

A concrete illustration of its research partnerships is The Lyell Centre, a strategic partnership between Heriot-Watt University and the British Geological Survey, which celebrated its 10th anniversary. For a prospective student or partner, this is the kind of arrangement that signals access to joint expertise and facilities in geoscience and related areas, rather than a purely internal research effort.

Graduate outcomes: employability and leadership

The employability claims are the second pillar of the university's reputation:

  • First in Scotland for graduate outcomes — the university cites Graduate Outcomes, 2024.
  • Highest percentage of CEO and Managing Director roles — cited from Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2025.
  • Student ranking — students ranked it top in Scotland for 2027 with Uni Compare, according to the university.

These are outcome-oriented measures, which is why the university frames its offer around "highly employable graduates." If your priority is a degree that maps to employment and leadership trajectories, these are the claims to weigh. If your priority is research intensity in a specific discipline, the REF figure and partnership examples are the more relevant evidence.

Where this reputation comes from: a global, multi-campus model

Heriot-Watt operates campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia, plus Heriot-Watt Online. Each location has a distinct focus:

Campus Character
Edinburgh 380 acres of parkland; widest variety of programmes and specialist facilities
Scottish Borders Countryside location at the heart of Scotland's textile industry; textiles, fashion and design facilities
Orkney One of the UK's most unique university locations; over 25 years of research, teaching and consultancy
Dubai Research-informed degree programmes in a global study environment with strong business and industry links
Malaysia British education at a modern campus in Putrajaya, with global study opportunities

This spread matters for the reputation question because "Heriot-Watt" can mean different things depending on where you study. The research and employability claims are university-wide, but the facilities, industry links and programme availability differ by campus.

How to verify these claims for your own decision

  1. Check the REF 2021 results for the specific subject you care about — the 86.8% is an institutional figure, and subject-level results vary.
  2. Look at the graduate outcomes data behind the "first in Scotland" claim, and check whether it covers your level of study (undergraduate, postgraduate, research).
  3. Review the campus pages for the location you are considering, since programme availability and industry links are campus-specific.
  4. Use the programme search on the university site, filtering by level (Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research, Graduate Apprenticeships) to see what is actually offered.

The main caveat: all the headline numbers here come from the university's own homepage, including third-party citations it has chosen to highlight. They are a reasonable starting point for understanding its reputation, but they are not a substitute for checking the underlying data or comparing against other universities on the same measures.