A specimen heating apparatus includes a heater unit configured to heat a test specimen held in a material testing machine, a heater holding unit configured to hold the heater unit in a set position relative to the test specimen for heating, a specimen temperature measurement unit attached to the heater unit and configured to measure temperature of the test specimen when the heater unit is in the set position, a temperature controller configured to control heating of the heater unit in response to a temperature measured by the specimen temperature measurement unit, and a thermal insulation unit configured to cover the heater unit, wherein the heater holding unit holds the heater unit in such a way that the heater unit is allowed to be brought to and removed from the set position while the test specimen is being held in the material testing machine.