As a current MACS student, this website will provide you with useful information at each stage of your journey with us.
Student Service Centre
Student enquiries can be dealt with in person at the Student Service Centre in the Hugh Nisbet Building. You can also log enquiries on the Student Portal, “Ask HWU”.
Enrolment
Each academic year you will be required to enrol online. This can be done through Student Self Service. The enrolment page provides additional information about the enrolment process and key dates. New students will be provided with information on how to enrol for the first time.
Student Handbook
The student handbooks contain a lot of information about your studies, please familiarise yourself with its contents. Specific programme handbooks can be found on the programme information pages.
Personal Tutors/Student Advisors
Every student has a member of academic staff allocated to them as a Personal Tutor or a Student Advisor who will be a key source of advice, guidance and support during your time at Heriot-Watt. Your personal tutor or student advisor is your first point of contact if you need advice on any issue, and can refer you to other support where relevant for , both academic and non-academic matters. They are a clear point of contact for you throughout your degree.
You will be able to see who is your Personal Tutor through your Student Portal. If this information is not there, please log an enquiry in MyHWU.
Programmes and Courses
You can find further detail about your programme and courses on the Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes pages within each Department.
AMS Programmes and Courses | CS Programmes and Courses | Maths Programmes and Courses
Programme Specifications includes details of Programme Structure, Notes and Description which gives details on Progression & Award Criteria, Re-assessment Opportunities and Leaning Outcomes for current and earlier programmes.
Timetables
Timetable information can be found via the Teaching Timetables page. There you will find a link to your personal timetable as well as programme level timetables.
Course Materials
Canvas is Heriot-Watt University’s Virtual Learning Environment where you will be able to access your learning materials and coursework assignments. Log in using your University user name and password.
Academic Study Skills
Information on Academic Study Skills includes useful advice and resources to help you develop the skills you will need to be successful at University and beyond.
Coursework Submission
The University recognises that, on occasion, students may be unable to submit coursework and dissertations by the submission date. As such, the University has agreed a new policy from 2018/19 (revised in 2022/23) which states:
This policy applies to all forms of coursework, including projects and dissertations. The key policy aspects are:
- All coursework should be scheduled by Schools so as to minimise clashing deadlines or bunching of assessment in order to provide a more manageable workload for students;
- No individual extensions are permitted under any circumstances (see exceptions below)
- A standard 30% deduction from the mark awarded will be applied up to a maximum of five working days.
For example, if the awarded mark for coursework is 65, and is submitted late, then the following deduction will be applied:
65 x 0.7 = 45.5. Mark for that piece of coursework would be 45.5; - 0 F will be awarded for coursework submitted after five working days, unless there are approved mitigating circumstances, and no formative feedback will be provided;
- Coursework submitted late will be flagged to those involved in the marking and grading process.
This policy is intended to ensure equity and fairness for all students on taught programmes across all modes andlocations.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the University’s Feedback on Coursework Policy.
The full policy can be found here
Exceptions:
- Individual reasonable adjustments (coursework) must be considered in collaboration with Disability Services within Student Wellbeing Services. Extensions are not automatically applied for all students with reasonable adjustments. Following a discussion between a student and the Disability Advisor, an “extension to deadlines justification” will be added to their record, indicating that an extension might be required. The student will then request an extension with justification on a case-by-case basis with each lecturer. One week is the recommended extension timeframe. Course Teams should ensure that such extensions are not set during student vacation periods. Students are discouraged from continually requesting extensions; rather, the Disability Advisors will work with students on developing their organisational and time management skills.
- There is an exemption for Course Leaders who may opt to give an extension to an entire class in exceptional circumstances; this includes circumstances in which the University has invoked Regulation A10: Authorities in Exceptional Circumstances.
This policy is intended to ensure equity and fairness for all students.
Examinations
Students in Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia can check their examination timetables online. The Heriot-Watt website provides further information about examinations. When assessment results have been released you will receive an email notification and can access your results through Student Self Service. If you have any circumstances which may have affected your examination performance please view our Mitigating Circumstances Policy.
Communication
Important communication will be sent to your Heriot-Watt University Email Account and specific course communication may be issued through announcements on Canvas. It is important you check both regularly. Please ensure your contact details are kept up to date using Student Self Service. The contact details of key staff members can be found in the MACS Staff Directory.
Graduation
Your graduation ceremony is a special and significant day and an opportunity to celebrate all that you have achieved. There is more useful information on the Graduation Page.
Thinking of Leaving
If you are considering leaving the University, please consult our Thinking Of Leaving web pages for help and advice. You should also speak to your Personal Tutor.