The Duffin Family Future Shapers Scholarship

The Future Shapers scholarship at Heriot-Watt offers a range of high value scholarships to our most talented postgraduate candidates. The scholarship is designed for students who want to use research to create solutions to solve major global challenges. This has been established for 2026 by one of the University's generous donors and is a testament to the talent and world-shaping potential of Heriot-Watt's students and researchers. For each of Heriot-Watt's four global research institutes, a total of 12 scholarships are available (3 per research area) worth 50%, 75%, and 100% of tuition fees respectively. The four research focus areas include Climate Change and Net Zero, Robotics and Automated Future, Quality of Life (health and care technologies), and The Planet (earth and marine sciences). These scholarships are aimed at candidates who have achieved or are aiming to achieve an upper second class or first class grade in their undergraduate degree for entry in September 2026 only. Applications will be judged mainly on two criteria: previous academic performance and how closely the applicant's research interests and ambitions align with projects within the Global Research Institutes. The University is looking for candidates who want to become leaders in their chosen field and show excellence through their application. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview with a small panel of academics.