I love that it’s a place full of creatives and open minded individuals who encourage you to grow and develop as a designer. Sometimes I feel that students need more support from well-being services and from the lecturers, but the student union and student community are doing a good job.

With blended learning, lecturers are really trying their best, but teaching on campus is always everyone’s favorite! Teaching on campus is just more engaging and the facilities are amazing. I wish there were additional, more creative courses available in the program.

Galashiels is great because it’s in the Scottish Borders and has so many hiking trails and gives you a chance to get away from the busy city and enjoy nature. The town is quite small and the locals are familiar with students so it’s a very safe place to be able to walk by yourself and enjoy the freedom. There are quite a few cafés and stores for part time job opportunities and the borders are known for the textile industry so there are some subject related job offers too. However public transport isn’t the best as there is just one train that goes to Edinburgh and a few local buses.

Halls is very expensive but they are a great place to stay in first year as it is 2 minutes away from campus and is a very safe place to be. The accommodation team is good at allocating flatmates but you don’t always get the room you want, and there are a few maintenance issues. The WiFi is good other than when it goes out, which is at least twice a semester. They’re quick about fixing it though!

I have enjoyed my time at Heriot-Watt university. The lecturing staff are incredibly supportive and, in turn, create a supportive learning environment between peers through project and group work. The facilities are incredible, and I find myself inspired by the equipment and expertise available, which has helped my design and working practice development. Galashiels, for me, has been a great place to study as it is quiet and has beautiful surroundings, which bring focus to my studies. In the run-up to the end of the semester, the student well-being team have been very present, ensuring students know that they are approachable and available if needed, even providing thoughtful breaks for cake and hot chocolate. It has been an incredibly supportive learning atmosphere, especially after a prolonged period of isolation. The lecturing staff, technicians, student well-being team, and student union events have made the transition into in-person studies much more accessible.

My course has been incredibly engaging, I have been able to develop my design process, construction, presentation and team working skills. The lecturers and technicians have been very supportive. The feedback sessions have been beneficial. I feel like we could always use a bit more time for feedback sessions but also feel like this has been a great way to prepare for industry.

Galashiels is a beautiful place to study and has a very friendly community of people. It is inspiring to learn where Bernat Klien worked and designed and to be in the heart of textiles.

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