Forest Management BSc (Hons)

Course code D500

What is special about this course?

The BSc (Hons) Forest Management* is a highly practical course that will give you all the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful forest manager. If you are looking for a rewarding career, where you can provide professional advice to the land-based forestry sector and help secure our forests for future generations to enjoy, then this course is for you.

You will study at the Scottish School of Forestry campus of UHI Inverness. The degree builds on the industry-recognised HNC/HND in Forestry or Arboriculture and Urban Forestry in the first two years.

A significant proportion of your work will be fieldwork-based projects where you will become experienced in the practical aspects of forest management. When you graduate you will have a technical management qualification and be experienced in all aspects of sustainable management in relation to forestry.

*subject to revalidation

Special features

  • You will undertake a one-year industry placement during the HND part of the course. A driving licence is a prerequisite for this placement year. Previous placements have included: Forestry Commission Scotland; Scottish Woodlands; BSW; Christie Elite; and James Jones
  • You will also have the opportunity to take part in study trips in Scotland, the rest of the UK, or Europe
  • The course has demonstrable success in graduates gaining managerial posts in industry
  • You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

Entry to year one, HNC:

  • 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
  • 1 Scottish Higher at grade B or above plus 4 National 5s at B or above OR
  • 2 A levels at grade D or above
  • Minimum of one year's pre-course experience in woodland environment is required or attainment of the Certificate in Forestry or Conservation Skills. This requirement may be waived for applicants with three or more Highers, or equivalent at grade C or above
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply. Relevant life or work experience will be taken into consideration on an individual basis
  • A driving licence is a prerequisite for the placement year

Advanced entry to year two, HND:

  • Direct entry to year two may be possible with the HNC Forestry, or HNC Arboriculture and Urban Forestry
  • If you have other relevant academic or professional qualifications or experience, your application will be considered on an individual basis. You may need to undertake a bridging unit and/or apply for recognition of prior learning
  • A driving licence is a prerequisite for the placement year

Graduates with the ordinary BSc Forest Management degree can now return to study for one more year to achieve the honours degree.

 

This course is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters and gives partial fulfilment of Professional Membership Entry 

Year 1 - HNC

Year 1 of the course is either:

Year 2 - HND

Year 2 of the course is either:

Year 3 - BSc

Year 3 can only be studied part-time across 2 academic years (3a and 3b).

You will study the following core modules:

  • Climate change (20 credits) (3a, S1)
  • Research skills (20 credits) (3a, S2)
  • Forests for people: policy and practice (20 credits) (3a, S2)
  • Ecology and management of broadleaved woodlands (20 credits) (3b, S1)
  • Forest resilience in a changing environment (20 credits) (3b, S1)
  • Landscape design for land management (20 credits) (3b, S2)

Year 4 - BSc (Hons)

Core modules are:

  • Managing biodiversity in upland woodlands
  • International forestry and timber trade
  • Technology for planning in forestry and arboriculture

You will also choose one option module which may include:

  • Innovation and enterprise
  • Corporate responsibility in a global environment

You will also complete a dissertation.

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • Part-time (unstructured)
  • You will study through a combination of face-to-face and video conference lectures and tutorials, as well as individual online study via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), supported by your tutors and classmates
  • This will be supplemented with field exercises, practical sessions, study visits and tours, and industrial work experience
  • Our HND Forestry students must undertake a one-year work placement (except in cases where suitable alternative experience can be demonstrated): this means you would study your degree for a duration of five years. The opportunity is also open to HND Arboriculture and Urban Forestry students
  • A driving licence is a prerequisite for the placement year

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time*: 6 years @ 40 hours per week (HNC + work placement + HND + BSc (2 years)* + BSc (Hons))
  • Part-time (structured): 8-9 years @ 20 hours per week (depending on whether a placement is required)
  • Part-time (unstructured): variable

*the BSc can only be studied part-time over 2 academic years

Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness - Scottish School of Forestry

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £1,285 £86 (per HN credit) £1,285 £86 (per HN credit)
Year 2 HND £1,285 £86 (per HN credit) £1,285 £86 (per HN credit)
Year 3 Degree £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Degree £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £7,110 £474 (per HN credit) £7,110 £474 (per HN credit)
Year 2 HND £7,110 £474 (per HN credit) £7,110 £474 (per HN credit)
Year 3 Degree £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module) £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Degree free £1,542 (per 20 credit module) free £1,542 (per 20 credit module)

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes.  These students will get an automatic scholarship for the degree (3rd) year and the 4th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time With scholarship 2024-25 Full-time With scholarship
Year 1 HNC £7,980 £7,980 £8,775 £8,775
Year 2 HND £7,980 £7,980 £8,775 £8,775
Year 3 Degree £15,360 £11,360 £15,996 £11,996
Year 4 Honours £15,360 Free £15,996 Free

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union) and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £7,980 £532 (per HN credit) £8,775 £585 (per HN credit)
Year 2 HND £7,980 £532 (per 20 credit module) £8,775 £585 (per HN credit)
Year 3 Degree £15,360 £2,560 (per 20 credit module) £15,996 £2,666 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Degree £15,360 £2,560 (per 20 credit module) £15,996 £2,666 (per 20 credit module)

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU/EEA/Swiss and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award, including where students are following a recognised ‘top-up’ degree structure where the first and second years are made up of an HNC/D award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

You will be required to hold a valid driving licence prior to the commencement of the placement year.

You will need to purchase your own high vis vest, hard hat and safety boots, at an approximate cost of £40 in total.

There are additional costs associated with the Scottish Borders and South of England field trips, however students normally fundraise and seek sponsorship to cover these costs via the Forestry and Arboriculture Society.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed your BSc (Hons) Forest Management course, you might like to consider careers in:

  • State forestry sector
  • Other public bodies including local authorities
  • Forestry and Arboriculture companies
  • Private estates/landowners
  • Community forestry sector
  • Self-employment as an entrepreneur or consultant
  • Conservation organisations

Can I progress into further study?

You can progress from the BSc (Hons) Forest Management to:

Is there more information available online?

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If you want a mix of classroom-based, outdoor learning and have an interest in environmental management, then this degree is the one to choose. There are some really engaging lecturers who push to get the most out of their students. The year in industry allows you to put into practice what you learn and provides valuable work experience which benefits you when looking for future employment. I have won two awards during my time here. The first was the Tilhill Forestry Award for Best New Planting Application, and the second was presented to me by Savills, for the development of a land management plan for an estate.

Jonathan Hawick is studying in his third year of the BSc (Hons) in Forest Management at our UHI Inverness campus (School of Forestry).

I heard good things about this degree: in particular, its practical focus and high rate of employability.

I really enjoyed the School of Forestry's setting in Culloden woods; the experiences that students from different backgrounds bring to the classroom; and the family-like
environment.

The opportunity of studying to honours level opened the door to postgraduate study. My work placement allowed me to successfully apply for several jobs in the forestry sector that have enriched my academic and professional experience, and helped me progress in my career.

Carlota Martin Souto from Spain, graduated with a BSc (Hons) Forest Management from the Scottish School of Forestry at our UHI Inverness campus

Christie-Elite nurseries is one of the UK’s largest growers of forest trees. Annabel Martin, who is studying on the forest management degree at the university, undertook her placement with us and has helped us make progress with our stock-management systems. Producing 8 million plants a year requires skilled people and we recognise how important it is to engage with those studying at the Scottish School of Forestry. We hope Annabel will return to a full-time position with us when she completes her course.

Matt Hommel MSc MICFor, Managing Director of Christie Elite Nurseries Ltd in Forres, Moray.

Apply for Forest Management BSc (Hons)

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.