Looking after yourself at university

Oriam and the Sports Union

Our Edinburgh campus is home to Oriam, which provides students with access to indoor and outdoor sports facilities, as well as a strength and conditioning gym. The Oriam webpages provide further information about the facilities available and student membership options.

If you’re more of a team player, and are interested in joining a sports club, Heriot Watt offers over 30 different clubs that you can become a part of. Look out for taster sessions at the start of semester, to get a feel for what you might enjoy. The Sports Union webpages provide information on joining the Sports Union, as well as training times and taster sessions.

Love the idea of joining Oriam or a sports club but feeling a bit nervous? Check out our ‘Mates’ programme where you will be put in contact with other students to help answer your questions or go along to your first session with you.

Active wellbeing

Active wellbeing aims to remove barriers to getting active and provide an active and inclusive on-campus experience for students and staff. Active wellbeing aims to improve the wellbeing of students through activity, education, infrastructure, and policy. You can get involved in the various events run by the Active Wellbeing team, check out their Active Wellbeing Calander, or  become an Activator, helping to promote and run active wellbeing across the university.

Building relationships and connections with others can enhance your university experience and contribute to your overall wellbeing. Consider engaging in social activities with your peers, such as organising shared meals with your flatmates, joining clubs, or attending campus events.

Student Union Societies

A society is made up of students with similar interests and provides an opportunity to connect with others. Heriot-Watt currently has over 50 societies in the Student Union, so you’re sure to find something of interest. And if not, you can even start your own society!

Chaplaincy

Our Chaplaincy is a welcoming place for all students and offers a ‘home from home’ environment for those of all faiths and no religious faiths. As well as providing a quiet space to spend time, you can also get involved in some of their weekly events including the popular Soup Lunch or Coffee and Cake.

Living away from home for the first time is very exciting but can be daunting and overwhelming to begin with. Rest assured, support is always on hand, whether you need help to work the laundry room, or if something in your room needs to be fixed.

Support when in halls

The following teams will be on-hand to answer questions, talk to, or offer help if you need support when on campus. 

ResLife - Not pairing up with your flatmates well so far? or perhaps you just fancy a warm cup of hot chocolate over a chat. Walk into the Christina Miller Hub. It's open Monday to Sunday 9am to 10pm, or email the ResLife Team.  

Safeguarding/Safezone - We are committed to ensuring students enjoy their stay on campus. This is why we have a 24-hour emergency department on standby. Are you having an emergency, you’re ill but feel it is too late, or perhaps you got locked out of your room, don’t hesitate to pick up the red phone in your hall, email the Safeguarding team, or use the SafeZone app to reach out. They are always ready to help.

Get cooking

Deciding what to eat and making your own meals can be a fun part of university life. Our Student Recipe Guide offers budget friendly recipes as well as links to other recipe ideas. If you fancy a break from cooking one day, the Chaplaincy offers a soup lunch, and an evening meal weekly, for just £1 each!

Keeping your space clean

Keeping your room clean and tidy not only helps you to find something when you need it, but can also have a huge impact on how you’re feeling. A clutter free space will help you to feel calm, allow you to focus better, and may help to reduce feelings of stress and overwhelm. If it all feels too much, or you don’t know where to begin, head over to our articles, A Guide to Cleaning Your Halls and A Guide to Kitchen Cleaning.

Room Inspections

If you are living in halls of residence, occasional room inspections will be carried out by our cleaning supervisor. These inspections are nothing to worry about, and staff are only having a quick check for cleanliness, prohibited items or maintenance that needs to be carried out. If you are worried or need to discuss room inspections, you can email the ResLife Team.

Study spaces

Separating your relaxation/sleep space and your study space can be a useful strategy to enhance both your academic performance and overall wellbeing. By creating distinct environments for studying and sleeping, you help your brain associate each space with a specific activity. This can lead to improved focus and productivity during study time as your mind recognises the study area as a place of learning and concentrating. Conversely, reserving your bed for sleep can promote better sleep quality as your brain links this space with relaxation and rest. The university provides ample study space on-campus including individual and group study rooms which can be booked.

Student Wellbeing Service

Student Wellbeing Services aim to provide a range of support, guidance, activities, and advice to help students to be their best and get the most from their university experience. There is a wide range of support available, and you can always ask to meet with someone for a chat via an appointment, or one of our daily drop-in sessions.

Student Wellbeing Services includes Counselling, Disability Support, Student Success Advisors, Student Experience Team, Thinking of Leaving and Coaching.

Togetherall

Togetherall provides a safe space online to talk, to explore your feelings, and to learn how to improve and manage your mental health and wellbeing. It’s available 24/7, is totally anonymous and provides online peer support. Togetherall can be accessed using your Heriot Watt login details and provides connection with others as well as online courses and helpful resources including articles and self-assessment tools.