It has been a most remarkable week – and Celebration Week has only just started!

I hope, like me, the news of our improved positions in the recent Complete University Guide and QS World University Rankings lifted your spirits. We have reached new highs in both, a testament to the hard work across our community over what has been such a challenging year. Continuing our focus on our world-class education, our global and pioneering research which will change lives, and our links to business and enterprise to ensure our students are ready for their future careers, have all led us to this point. And our Strategy 2025 roadmap has been vital in helping us achieve this.

In the Complete University Guide, Heriot-Watt is ranked in the top 10 in nine of our 20 subject areas in the UK, compared to three subject areas last year, and we have seen improvements in several measures, most notably:

  • ranked 17 in the UK and 1st in Scotland for the new Graduate Prospects On Track measure, whilst our Graduate Prospects Outcomes is up 20 places to 31 from 51 last year
  • ranked 13 for Entry Standards up 2 places from 15 last year

​​​​​​​​​​​​And we have continued our strong position for Facilities Spend being ranked 2nd in the UK and top in Scotland.
In the QS World University Rankings, Heriot-Watt is now ranked 270 in the world, up from 301 last year (and from 314 the year before). This is our best ever performance in this world ranking, such an influential benchmark for our international recruitment markets.
We ranked 33 out of the 49 UK universities within the top 500, up 2 places, and 5th out of the 7 Scottish universities, an improvement of one place.

These ranking have very different criteria, spanning very different aspects of our University – across our teaching and research, our staff, our students and our reputation, both in the UK and internationally. It is, therefore, even more pleasing that we have improved in both. And in doing so, have moved significantly towards our S2025 goal of being in the top 250 in the world.

So, as we enter Celebration Week, how fantastic to start it, albeit a little early, with such great news. I would urge you to get involved in the events over the coming week and let’s continue to celebrate our collective achievements together.

Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor