Overview

The Software Engineering MSc at Heriot-Watt University is aimed at graduates or those already in the industry who are interested in gaining deeper knowledge and skills in areas such as dependable systems, big data applications, interactive systems including games, and biologically inspired computing.

With this programme, Heriot-Watt prepares you for a wide range of careers in IT firms, R&D divisions, financial services, defence, and government agencies, supported by hands-on innovation opportunities through the National Robotarium, which provides exposure to robotics, AI, and automation technologies and fosters the ability to apply software engineering expertise to global challenges.

Key facts:

Heriot-Watt University has over 50 years of excellence in computer science research and teaching, supported by world-leading faculty. Students benefit from state-of-the-art labs at the Robotarium and GRID, gaining practical, real-world experience with authentic datasets and AI models.

Get more details

Visit programme website

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Rigorous Methods for Software Engineering

Industrial Programming

Biologically Inspired Computation

Computer Network Security

Computer Graphics

Systems Programming

Computer-aided Verification

Data Mining and Machine Learning

Advanced Software Engineering

Research Methods and Project Planning

Check out the full curriculum

Visit programme website

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-14 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-31 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-08-03 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-01-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-04 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-12-07 00:00:00 , International

More details

International students must apply at least 6 weeks before teaching is due to begin.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

79

OR

4

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

63

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

180 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Software Engineering View 124 other Masters in Software Engineering in United Kingdom

Explore more key information

Visit programme website

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

Lower Second Class

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

79

OR

4

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

63

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Admission requires a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or non-UK equivalent that includes substantial components of computer science and programming.

Make sure you meet all requirements

Visit programme website

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

26296 GBP / year

≈ 26296 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

12584 GBP / year

≈ 12584 GBP / year

Additional Details

For part-time

£6,292 for UK Nationals
£13,148 for International Applicants.

Living costs

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

725 - 1167 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries

We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Check for any work restrictions

Visit programme website

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Loading

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Software Engineering.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Key facts:

Get more details

Programme Structure

Check out the full curriculum

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

Explore more key information

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Make sure you meet all requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Edinburgh

Funding

Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries

Check for any work restrictions

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners