SCOTLAND - Heriot-Watt University

Pure dead brilliant (that's Scottish slang for "really good")

Spend a semester at Heriot-Watt University in the town of Galashiels, a gateway to the exciting world of the Scottish textiles industry. Take courses in areas including fashion communication, visual merchandising, marketing, and fashion merchandising, with a particular focus on luxury, textiles, and heritage brands.

  • Requirements

    • Students must be in at least their third year of college-level study at time of the program.
    • Suggested minimum GPA is 3.0.
    • Students must be in good academic and financial standing at LIM College to participate.
    • Students must also have full-time standing at the time of their application and through the end of the exchange program in order to participate.
    • Students must apply by the deadlines listed below under "Important Dates."
  • Important Dates

    • Fall 2026 Deadline - February 20, 2026

    APPLICATION FORM

  • When & Where

    Galashiels, Scotland (about 50 minutes south of Edinburgh by train)

    Partner school website: https://www.hw.ac.uk/

    Exchange-specific information here: https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/international/uk/visiting-students.htm

    Semester dates:

    • Fall: early September – mid-December
    • Spring: early January – mid-May

    Accepted students will participate in a mandatory orientation at their host school prior to the start of the semester. The dates and times of the orientation will be provided to accepted students.

  • Application

    Students must submit their completed application by the deadlines listed above under "Important Dates" to be considered for this program.

    LIM College’s study abroad programs are competitive, as more applications are typically received than there are spots available. The following factors are considered when LIM selects candidates to participate in study abroad programs:

    • Personal statement/essay: Original, succinct essays with well-thought out content will be rated highly.
    • Interview with Study Abroad Coordinator: Students should be prepared to speak about why they are a good candidate for the program to which they are applying.
    • GPA: The student’s LIM College GPA is taken into consideration.
    • Demonstrated interest: Applicants can increase their chance of being selected by attending information sessions and/or setting up a time to meet one-on-one with the Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss the program they are interested in applying for.

    Students who are accepted into the program will be required to submit their personal and academic information to their host school along with a copy of the photo page of their passport. Further information on this process will be given to accepted students.

  • Orientation

    All students are required to attend the LIM College Pre-Departure Orientation. Date, time and location are made available after acceptance into the program. Students must also attend the Heriot-Watt Orientation and are required to arrange travel so they can do so.

  • Courses

    Students will be required to submit an LIM College Course Proposal Form to have their course choices evaluated prior to attending Heriot-Watt. Students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours (or the equivalent) per term, including both courses abroad and online courses taken at LIM.

    Students will submit a list of 7-8 preferred courses to Heriot-Watt once they have had them approved by the LIM Study Abroad Coordinator. Students will then receive a draft course timetable based on those preferences about two weeks prior to the start of the semester. The final course timetable will be issued to students during orientation.

    Students must meet with their Academic Advisor to ensure their courses will fit into their graduation plan.

  • Accommodations & Travel

    Exchange students may apply for housing on campus although availability is not guaranteed. Heriot-Watt has a variety of resources to find reliable off-campus housing that the Accommodation Team will provide to LIM College students upon acceptance into the program. More information can be found here: https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/borders/accommodation.htm.

    All housing costs are paid directly to the housing provider, which may be the host university, a student apartment company, a landlord, etc. depending on where the student chooses to live.

    Students are responsible for booking and purchasing their own airfare.

  • Health Insurance

    Students registered for courses in the UK for a course of study of six months or more are entitled to primary medical care provided by the National Health Service (NHS). If you are on a course of less than six months’ duration, you are not entitled to primary medical care. However, any overseas visitor is entitled to emergency or immediately required treatment. The NHS charges for medicines, eyeglasses and eye care, and dental treatment. In addition, the NHS does not cover repatriation to your home country.

    Students are encouraged to purchase private health insurance that provides coverage for the duration of the program. International insurance should cover (at minimum) comprehensive hospitalization, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains.

  • Program Cost

    Students pay LIM College tuition to LIM College for the semester abroad. This does not cover airfare, housing, books, meals, or personal expenses, such as shopping. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Scotland and the United States. Additional costs to consider (all amounts are approximations and in pounds unless otherwise noted):

    • Round-trip transportation to and from Galashiels: $1000
    • Student Visa: £310
    • Housing: £325-£480 per month
    • Food: £160 per month
    • Public Transportation: none – campus is within walking distance of accommodation
    • International Health Insurance: $250
    • Books & Supplies: £250
    • Entertainment & Shopping: varies

    Students who receive financial aid can typically apply this aid to a semester abroad. All students who receive aid will be required to meet with a Student Financial Services Counselor prior to departure to discuss the status of their aid and complete any additional requirements.

  • Student Visa

    US citizens should obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization prior to arrival in the UK to study for up to six months.

    International students will be required to obtain a visitor visa to study for the semester. All students must have a valid passport that expires no sooner than 6 months past the end of the exchange experience. Students applying for a visa should be prepared to show that they have access to sufficient funds to cover their costs for the semester as part of the visa application process. For further visa information, please see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta