About the Undergraduate Certificate

The Undergraduate Certificate offers a direct path to second year undergraduate study for international students who have completed high school. Combining academic modules, study skills and English language training, the programme qualifies students to meet the challenges of degree-level study at the University.

Study structure

You can choose one of three subject routes:

• Business and Management
• Engineering and Computing
• Life Sciences

All subject routes are modular in structure. There are five core modules common to each route: English Skills 1, English Skills 2, Study Skills, Project Study and Maths. You will also study five specific subject modules, each carefully designed to focus on the academic areas most useful to your chosen degree.

Direct progression to the second year of your degree

Joining the Undergraduate Certificate guarantees that you will receive a conditional offer of a degree place at the University.

Soon after you join, you will be helped to nominate the degree programme onto which you want to progress. Once you have successfully completed the course and have met the required entry standards, you will proceed directly to the second year of your preferred degree programme.

University-Style teaching

The Undergraduate certificate at Heriot-Watt University introduces you to the style of teaching that you will experience when you progress onto your degree. You will be taught in tutorials, seminar style classes and larger group lectures.

Assessment

You will be assessed regularly to ensure that you are on track to achieve the standard required for progression to your chosen degree. Your development is monitored through continuous coursework and specific assessments at the end of each term or module. As part of your overall assessment, you will complete a series of presentations and extended essays.

English Language Preparation

If your English Language level is under IELTS 5.0, you can first join our intensive English Language Preparation course before starting the Undergraduate Certificate.

Flexible entry

You can begin the Undergraduate Certificate in either September or January. You will then enter the second year of your degree the following September. You can start English Language Preparation at three points in the year, depending on how much preparation you need.