Key Information

Programme Duration & Mode of Study

The mode of delivery of programmes on offer in the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment is varied and most programmes are offered via full time (one year) or part time (two years) study. All of our programmes are also offered via distance learning.

Part time students attend classes on a day-release basis. Many of our part time and distance learning students are in highly demanding employment and these students can opt to reduce the level of study per year and increase the study period up to a maximum of six years. This allows them to gain a respected postgraduate qualification whilst contributing to the CPD requirements of the relevant professional bodies.

Full and part time students start in September. For distance learning study the main start date is in September but there in an additional start date in January. 

Students typically complete a coursework assignment for each course studied; sit course examinations in December and April of the year of study; and work on their dissertation or project report from May to September. Arrangements can be made for distance learning students to sit exams at a number of centres throughout the world.

Distance learning students receive comprehensive course study packs by post. A PC with e-mail and Internet access is necessary for those students to gain the fullest learning experience from the course through the University’s supported on-line virtual learning system: VISION.

For the MSc, students undertake eight courses plus the research dissertation. For a Postgraduate Diploma, students must complete eight courses. Students can opt to complete a total of four  courses and graduate with the Heriot-Watt University Postgraduate Certificate. Each taught course requires around 150 hours and the dissertation requires 600 hours of effort.

Transfer between Diploma and MSc is possible. The minimum pass mark for the MSc is 50%. The minimum pass mark for the Diploma/Certificate is 40%. Diploma students who achieve 50% or more in the taught courses are eligible to transfer to the MSc. MSc students who achieve between 40 and 49% in their overall module marks are required to transfer to the Diploma stream.

Entry Requirements

Each applicant is considered individually by the admissions tutor on the basis of their previous educational qualifications and work experience. A brief summary of typical routes to entry for on campus students is given below.  However a flexible approach to admissions has been adopted by the course team to ensure that applicants from non standard backgrounds are not prevented from entering the course if they can demonstrate that they have the experience or knowledge required to study engineering at postgraduate level.   

Applicants for the Safety and Risk Management programmes may be accepted with less numerate qualifications.

* Postgraduate diploma students can choose to transfer to the MSc if they average 50% or more in their taught modules.   

Applicants who wish to study the course via independent distance learning come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are accepted onto the course with any of the qualifications listed above.  However distance learning applications from candidates with extensive professional experience in the civil engineering or related industries, but who may lack formal degree level education, are also encouraged.   Applicants in this situation may be asked to undertake two distance learning courses from the programme structure at the discretion of the programme leader and be accepted onto the postgraduate diploma if they pass both courses.  

If you have any enquiries about the requirements for entry please contact the Post Graduate Admissions Tutor for further advice on applying.

Fees & Funding

For more information about fees, registration and payments please visit http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/admissions/fees-and-registration.htm

For on-campus students the cost of studying any of the programmes varies according to the chosen mode of study and the nationality of the student. For applicants who are resident in Scotland on the relevant dates, there may be support for tuition fees and maintenance for certain programmes supported by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Please note that the costs for distance learning are listed on the above link for each course. You will normally do 8 taught courses for each programme so the total cost will be eight times the fee listed in the link above. 

Grants & Scholarships

There are a range of scholarship schemes available for potential postgraduate students. For more information about other scholarship opportunities offered by the university please visit http://www.scholarships.hw.ac.uk/

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for any of these programmes please download an application form from http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/admissions/

This webpage also has information and guidance about completing your application, the required supporting information and the application procedures and process. Once you have completed your application form you will need to send it to the Postgraduate Recruitment Office who will register the application and issue you with a reference number. The application will then be forwarded on to the School for a decision