Our Campuses
82 Months Ago
If you’ve already visited Heriot-Watt for an open day, then you’ve probably seen around the campus and had the official tour. If not, don’t worry, we’re here to give you some highlights!
Edinburgh
First of all, the campus is huge! 380 acres to be precise! Most of the academic buildings are connected on the first floor, meaning that on a rainy day you almost never have to go outside! That said, you can find some good shortcuts and beat the crowds if you do venture outside, so have an explore and see where you end up.
The campus has a lovely Loch right in the middle of it, home to our resident swan family. There’s a good chance that over your time here you’ll become pretty attached to the swans, and the day that the cygnets venture off the island every year is a highlight for most! Don't worry about enjoying the Loch when the sun is out, our swans are fairly tame. The same goes for the ducks! But please be careful of what you feed them; bread has actually been found to be harmful to swans and ducks, as well as the other wildlife in the pond, so if you want to feed them, birdfeed is available from the Union Reception.
On a sunny day, the loch may look like a tempting place to go for a swim but don’t. It’s not very nice underneath, full of algae and you will have the embarrassment of the Security Guards hauling you out.
There are lots of walks and trails around campus, from nature trails to art-trails, as well as running or jogging routes. Make the most of being out of the city and explore to see what you find.
The campus has lots of services available to you:
- There are laundries on campus where you can go to wash and dry your clothes, and when you move into your halls, the Freshers Helpers will be able to tell you which one is the closest to you.
- The library is open 24/7 during term time for all your late night studying needs! Especially handy if you’ve decided to leave a coursework deadline to the last minute.
- There is a hairdresser on campus, just opposite the student shop, you do need to make an appointment, but they often have same day appointments available.
- The Shop sells almost everything you might need and is open till
10pm during the week, so you don’t need to panic when you find you’ve run out of milk/bread/toilet roll/chocolate/beer!
- Hot food is available on campus when you don’t feel like cooking. The Student Union offers a range of freshly made, reasonably priced meals, sandwiches, soups and pizzas in Geordies and Libertys. In addition, there are several outlets throughout the campus offering a variety of different meal options, from salads and baked potatoes at Café Brio, to hot meals and international food options at Central. There’s something for everyone.
- The campus also boasts a fair number of coffee shop options, from Libertys in the Student Union to Dewey’s in the Library and The Piece in the Hugh Nisbet building; there’s always a place to go to get your caffeine fix! If you’re a high street coffee fan you’ll find your Costa Coffee in Libertys, Café Brio and Dewey’s. Or you can get Starbucks from The Piece.
- Cycling to Uni can be a great option, and there are cycle racks all around campus for you to safely store them during the day. The Union canal runs from the centre of the city all the way past Heriot-Watt which means you don’t have to cycle on the busy roads to get here.
- The University has a number of free showers available for students and staff to use, these can be particularly useful if you cycle. Visit the Transition Heriot-Watt website to download a map of where to find them.
- The Union has Amazon lockers, and you can get your Amazon parcels delivered there. This means you never need to be at home to get your post or have to worry about rescheduling deliveries for a time you’ll be in.
- There are a few dedicated spots on campus where you can have a BBQ. If you do decide to have one, be sensible and clear up after yourself.
- The Oriam sports centre - Scotland's sports performance centre opened on the campus in August 2016. You can find more about it http://www.oriamscotland.com/. It kind of looks like a spaceship and you'll spot it straight away when you arrive on campus.
- 24/7 security team and CCTV throughout the campus for your safety and security. So if you're having parties in Halls make sure you stay on their good side!
- We have a medical centre including a doctor and a dentist. Remember to register with the on-campus GP http://www.riccartongeneralpractice.co.uk/index.aspx if you're living in halls.
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders campus is located in the lovely town of Galashiels.
- You’ll find a number of places to fuel yourself during the day. The Union at SBC offers hearty salads, filled sandwiches, paninis, toasties, hearty soups, and a range of nourishing main meals. You’ll also find The Cafeteria, a bright and airy space that’s ideal for catching up with friends over a coffee in between lectures.
- You can make full use of The Advice Hub on the Edinburgh Campus either by emailing them at asc@hwunion.com or by popping over in person to the campus.
- There’s a shuttle minibus from the Edinburgh Campus and the Scottish Borders Campus, twice daily on weekdays (excluding local holidays). The timetable is as follows:
| Departs | Departure time (prompt.) | Arrives | Arrival time (approx.) | |||
| Scottish Borders Campus | 7.15am | Edinburgh Campus | 8.45/9.00am | |||
| Edinburgh Campus | 9.15am | Scottish Borders Campus | 10.15/10.30am | |||
| Scottish Borders Campus | 3.45pm | Edinburgh Campus | 5.00pm | |||
| Edinburgh Campus | 5.15pm | Scottish Borders Campus | 6.30pm |
- You should reserve a seat in advance of your journey by emailing reception@borderscollege.ac.uk. More details can be found at this page.
studentlife freshers
