Arboriculture and Urban Forestry HNC

Course code 115D

What is special about this course?

The HNC Arboriculture and Urban Forestry will give you the skills, knowledge and experience to manage trees and woodlands in an urban setting, such as towns and parks.

You will study at the Scottish School of Forestry, part of UHI Inverness, and will be taught by staff and professionals who are experts in all aspects of forestry.

Special features

  • You will study at the Scottish School of Forestry, part of UHI Inverness, under the guidance of expert staff
  • You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal and professional circumstances
  • You will learn the skills necessary to become a supervisor or self-employed contractor in arboriculture and urban forestry

Accommodation

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

Entry requirements

  • 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
  • 1 Scottish Higher at grade B, plus 4 National 5s at grade B or above OR
  • 2 A level at grade D or above OR
  • Alternatively, a Certificate in Forestry or NPA Woodland Operations
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

  • Arboricultural: amenity tree management
  • Arboriculture and urban forestry: graded unit 1
  • Arboriculture practice
  • Employment and health and safety legislation for the land based industries
  • Forestry: forest science
  • Selection and management of machinery for land based industries
  • Work supervision practice

Option units may include:

  • Communication: practical skills
  • Forestry: woody plant biology
  • Job costing and business calculations
  • Leadership of countryside activities 
  • Soil management
  • Woodland nursery production

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • You will study by way of traditional classroom-based lectures and tutorials, and practical workshops at the Scottish School of Forestry, part of UHI Inverness

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 1 year
  • Part-time: up to 3 years

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.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

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) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £474

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

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

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

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

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775
Part-time (per HN credit) £532 £585

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

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 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 via the Forestry and Arboriculture Society normally fundraise and seek sponsorship to cover these costs.

 In addition to the above, you should obtain the following climbing kit: throwline, throwbag, climbing hard hat and hand saw, at an approximate cost of £100.

The following items are supplied by the College for students’ use during classes, but you may wish to purchase your own kit to enable you to practice your climbing outwith classes:

  • tree climbing harness (£260)
  • 2* friction cord/ loop (£26)
  • 35m rope (12-13mm dia) (£98)
  • 3 way locking karabiner (£40)
  • 5m lanyard and snap (Stein) (£56)

The total cost of these items is approximately £480.

What can I do on completion of my course?

On completion of your course you might want to consider a career within the arboriculture and urban forestry industry such as:

  • Tree surgeon
  • Tree officer
  • Gardener
  • Contractor
  • Work with a community woodland

Can I progress into further study?

You can progress to the HND Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, then the BSc (Hons) Forest Management.

Is there more information available online?

QR Code - scan to visit course page

You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.

Apply for Arboriculture and Urban Forestry HNC

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.