Heriot-Watt University Offers £1,500 Scholarships for Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has announced a new financial support scheme called the Travel Home Bursary. The £1,500 bursary is available to students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland who choose to study in Scotland.

The amount will be paid in three equal installments of £500 — in October, February, and April — and can be used at the student’s discretion. While the scheme is intended to help cover travel expenses for trips home, the funds may also be spent on accommodation, food, or educational materials.

Why It Matters: The Post-Brexit Decline

Since 2020, the number of students from the rest of the UK, particularly from England, enrolling in Scottish universities has been declining. Rising costs and post-Brexit uncertainty are largely to blame. While Scottish students still receive free higher education, students from other parts of the UK must pay tuition fees ranging from £9,250 to £9,535 per year in Scotland.

Like many universities in Scotland, Heriot-Watt has been facing a growing financial deficit. Providing scholarships to students from other regions of the UK is one way to attract additional funding.

The Travel Home Bursary is therefore an effort to reignite interest in studying outside one’s home region. It also reinforces the message that students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland remain an important part of both the Heriot-Watt community and the Scottish academic landscape.

Quick Facts About the Scholarship

• Amount: £1,500
• Eligibility: Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland starting university in 2025
• Purpose: To support travel home or other living/study-related expenses
• Disbursement: Three equal payments of £500 in October, February, and April
• Application Process: Automatically awarded — no separate application required

Other Available Scholarships

In addition to the Travel Home Bursary, Heriot-Watt University offers several other financial aid options, including:

• Heriot-Watt University Bursary — up to £3,100 per year, based on household income
• Go Global Travel Bursaries — support for students participating in exchange programs or inter-campus transfers

About Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University is one of the UK’s oldest higher education institutions, founded in 1821 in Edinburgh as Scotland’s first mechanics’ institute. The university is named after two renowned Scots: inventor James Watt and philanthropist George Heriot.

Today, Heriot-Watt is an international research-led university known for its strengths in applied sciences, engineering, mathematics, construction, energy, robotics, business, and design. It actively supports student mobility and offers financial aid to those from diverse economic backgrounds.

The university has a global presence with several campuses:

• Main campus in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Dubai campus (opened in 2005)
• Putrajaya campus in Malaysia (opened in 2012)

Currently, Heriot-Watt serves over 30,000 students from more than 150 countries worldwide.

Providing financial support to students from other parts of the UK is not only an act of generosity but also a strategic decision — aiming to maintain the flow of talented applicants and highlight Scotland’s welcoming academic environment.