Clearing information for Scottish Widening Access students

Important information for Scottish students

We are unable to consider applications from Scottish students for Clearing 2025, except for those eligible through our widening access programme.

However, if you are still interested in joining Heriot-Watt in future years, you can either:

• Apply through UCAS for September 2026 entry. Applications can be submitted from 2 September 2025 onwards.
• Consider one of our college pathway routes, which upon successful completion could allow you to enter directly into year two or year three of your chosen degree.

Our phone helpline is open on 0131 322 3222 to support widening access students and anyone seeking advice on their next steps.

For more information, please head to our FAQs page or get in touch with us directly.

Key dates for 2025

• 15 May – Clearing Priority Pass goes live
• 5 July – Applications open
• 5 August – SQA results day and our Clearing phone line opens
• 29 August – deadline for UK applicants to apply via Clearing

Find out more about how to apply through clearing at Heriot-Watt.

Could Heriot-Watt be the place for you?

Book a guided tour of our Edinburgh campus or arrange a visit of our Scottish Borders campus by emailing studentrecruitment@hw.ac.uk. It’s a great opportunity to explore the campus, the area and chat to academics about subjects you are interested in. You can also take a virtual tour of our campuses.

At Heriot-Watt University, we’re committed to making university more accessible for students from a wide range of backgrounds. We look at more than just grades to understand your full potential.

As part of our Widening Access work, we’ve been given extra places by the Scottish Government for students who live in priority postcode areas (also known as SIMD20 areas). We are also offering Clearing places for applicants who are Care-experienced.

Are you eligible?

To check if you are eligible for a widening access clearing place, please use the government information map, to see if you live in a priority postcode area,

• Type your postcode in the ‘area finder' box on the left of the map
• Click ‘Go' and then hover over the yellow marker for your house
• Look at the box on the right – just underneath the big box with population information in it there's some text. If you see the words ‘quintile 1' then you live in a priority postcode area (MD20).

To check if you are care-experienced or estranged, please check our care-experienced student’s page.

If you belong to other widening access categories as listed on our widening access page, please contact us too for help and advice.

If you are a Widening Access student from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, please find more information here.

Find out why it’s important to declare yourself Widening Access