BSc (Hons) Brewing and Distilling 48 months Undergraduate Programme By Heriot-Watt University |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

48 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

25,808 GBPTuition Fee/year

Scholarship

4Scholarships

Starting Month

SepStarting Month

Programme overview

Main Subject

Food Science

Degree

BSc

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

BSc Brewing and Distilling provides you with the unique opportunity to gain a grounding in engineering and science and explore the mechanisms behind brewing and distilling at an undergraduate level. This is the only undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK, in which you can tailor and develop your STEM knowledge, skills, and background to the drinks and beverage industry.  

During your undergraduate studies, you’ll learn from a broad curriculum from a wide range of disciplines, including brewing and distilling, biology, process engineering, mathematics, beverage microbiology and biochemistry, food microbiology, bioprocessing, quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with optional modules in business, accounting and finance, operations management, enterprise, and sustainable development. To develop your brewing and distilling subject knowledge, you’ll explore fundamental topics including, but not limited to, cereal science and technology, yeast science, microbiology, biochemistry, process technology, business studies, management, food safety, quality control and quality assurance, flavour assessment and analytical chemistry.  

You will develop a sound basis in fundamental scientific and technological principles and learn to apply this in the context of malting, brewing, and distilling. You’ll explore the underlying principles, relevant defining concepts, theories and methods, the current state of knowledge and future development possibilities of the industries, whilst grasping the global, regional, and local contexts of malting, brewing and distilling. You’ll develop knowledge of policy, legislation, ethical, health and safety issues relating to the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of alcoholic drinks which will provide you with a plethora of knowledge and skills which you can directly apply to various roles in industry upon graduation.  

The drink and beverage industry is continuously growing, and is becoming an increasingly important part of GDP. In Scotland alone, more than 11,000 people are directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry, with a further 42,000 people indirectly employed by the industry. The growing demand for graduates with an understanding of brewing and distilling, will make you highly employable upon completion of the course.     

You’ll gain hands-on experience by utilising our on-site brewery, distillery, and rectification laboratory to support your in-depth scientific learning. This will ensure you build the skills and expertise to perform successfully in industry and make you highly employable in all sizes of brewing, distilling and allied industries.  



Programme overview

Main Subject

Food Science

Degree

BSc

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

BSc Brewing and Distilling provides you with the unique opportunity to gain a grounding in engineering and science and explore the mechanisms behind brewing and distilling at an undergraduate level. This is the only undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK, in which you can tailor and develop your STEM knowledge, skills, and background to the drinks and beverage industry.  

During your undergraduate studies, you’ll learn from a broad curriculum from a wide range of disciplines, including brewing and distilling, biology, process engineering, mathematics, beverage microbiology and biochemistry, food microbiology, bioprocessing, quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with optional modules in business, accounting and finance, operations management, enterprise, and sustainable development. To develop your brewing and distilling subject knowledge, you’ll explore fundamental topics including, but not limited to, cereal science and technology, yeast science, microbiology, biochemistry, process technology, business studies, management, food safety, quality control and quality assurance, flavour assessment and analytical chemistry.  

You will develop a sound basis in fundamental scientific and technological principles and learn to apply this in the context of malting, brewing, and distilling. You’ll explore the underlying principles, relevant defining concepts, theories and methods, the current state of knowledge and future development possibilities of the industries, whilst grasping the global, regional, and local contexts of malting, brewing and distilling. You’ll develop knowledge of policy, legislation, ethical, health and safety issues relating to the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of alcoholic drinks which will provide you with a plethora of knowledge and skills which you can directly apply to various roles in industry upon graduation.  

The drink and beverage industry is continuously growing, and is becoming an increasingly important part of GDP. In Scotland alone, more than 11,000 people are directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry, with a further 42,000 people indirectly employed by the industry. The growing demand for graduates with an understanding of brewing and distilling, will make you highly employable upon completion of the course.     

You’ll gain hands-on experience by utilising our on-site brewery, distillery, and rectification laboratory to support your in-depth scientific learning. This will ensure you build the skills and expertise to perform successfully in industry and make you highly employable in all sizes of brewing, distilling and allied industries.  



Admission Requirements

59+
79+
169+
6+
29+

    Standard entry requirements


    • Highers AABB (over two sittings). Must include Maths and one of Biology, Human Biology or Chemistry, with one required subject at A. OR-
    • Highers AABBC (over two sittings). Must include Maths at C, and one of Biology, Human Biology or Chemistry at A.
    • A-Levels BBC. Must include Maths and either Biology or Chemistry, with required subjects at BB.
    • International Baccalaureate 29 points. Must include Maths and either Biology or Chemistry, with both required subjects at Higher Level 5.
    • BTEC Extended Diploma DMM. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Maths, and Biology or Chemistry.
    • HNC A in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Maths, and Biology or Chemistry.
    • HND AB / BA in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Maths, and Biology or Chemistry.


      Minimum entry requirements 


      • Highers BBBC (over two sittings). Must include Maths at C and B in one of Biology, Human Biology or Chemistry.
      • A-Levels BCC. Must include Maths and either Biology or Chemistry, with one required subject at B.
      • International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Maths and either Biology or Chemistry, with both required subjects at Higher Level 5.
      • BTEC Extended Diploma MMM. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Maths, and Biology or Chemistry.
      • HNC B in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Maths, and Biology or Chemistry.
      • HND BB in graded units. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Maths, and Biology or Chemistry.


      4 Years
      Sep

      Tuition fees

      Domestic
      9,790 GBP
      International
      25,808 GBP

      Scholarships

      IMechE Scholarships (for Mechanical Engineers)

      IMechE Scholarships (for Mechanical Engineers)
      Master Bachelors Open

      Value

      $21800

      Deadline

      31 Aug 2026

      Application requirements

      QS Event Attendance is NOT required

      Entry requirements

      You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

      Heriot-Watt University Expenses Bursary

      Heriot-Watt University Expenses Bursary
      Bachelors Master Open

      Value

      $525

      Deadline

      31 Aug 2026

      Application requirements

      QS Event Attendance is NOT required

      Entry requirements

      You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

      Heriot-Watt Sports Scholarships

      Heriot-Watt Sports Scholarships
      Master Bachelors Open

      Value

      25% tuition fee waiver

      Deadline

      31 Jul 2026

      Application requirements

      QS Event Attendance is NOT required

      Entry requirements

      You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

      IMechE Scholarships (for Mechanical Engineers)

      IMechE Scholarships (for Mechanical Engineers)
      Bachelors Master Open

      Value

      $218000

      Deadline

      31 Aug 2026

      Application requirements

      QS Event Attendance is NOT required

      Entry requirements

      You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

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