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Master of Science in Forestry is a two-year full-time postgraduate course divided into four semesters. In this unit, the candidates will get advanced insights in fields such as biology, including an introduction to soil, ecosystem, and tree identification; a review of forest tree species and their ecology; business economics, logistics, and introduction to plant ecology.
Albeit the eligibility criteria for pursuing an MSc in Forestry differ by university, students must have a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or an equivalent from a recognized university/institute.
For admission in MSc Forestry, the candidates will be selected on the basis of either their academic performance in the Bachelor’s degree exam or their performance in the entrance test conducted by the admission authorities.
Some of the top colleges for MSc Forestry are Amity University, Punjab Agricultural University, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, etc. with average annual fees around INR 15,000 to INR 1,50,000.
All About M.Sc Forestry
MSc Forestry has a wide range of applications in various educational and professional sectors. After earning your MSc Forestry degree, you can either enrol for a higher degree or can work in Forest Departments, Indian Forest Service, Agricultural Sector, Educational Institutions, Plantations, National Parks etc. and can get jobs as a Dendrologist, Zoo Curator, Ethologist, Entomologist, Forester Silvi-culturist, Field Inspector, Forest Range Officer, etc.
Depending on the employment titles and expertise of individuals, the average income after completing the MSc Forestry course varies from INR 2,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 per annum.
MSc Forestry: Course Details
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Course Type | Postgraduate |
| Course Duration | 2 years |
| Course Examination Type | Semester-wise |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or equivalent in relevant discipline from a recognized university/institute. |
| Admission Process | Entrance/ Merit-Based |
| Course Fee | INR 15,000 to 1,50,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,00,000 to 6,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Tata, Avanta, Fordaq etc. |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Forest Departments, Indian Forest Service, Agricultural Sector, Educational Institutions, Plantations, National Parks etc. |
| Top Job Profiles | Dendrologist, Zoo Curator, Ethologist, Entomologist, Forester Silvi-culturist, Field Inspector, Forest Range Officer etc. |
MSc Forestry: About the Course
- MSc Forestry offers a comprehensive and flexible approach to forests and their uses.
- MSc forestry is an environmental science degree designed to develop the skills required in a wide range of environmental and social science disciplines, in environmental management and forestry policy, and in working with local communities and government.
- The program is also designed to provide students with knowledge and skills for the management of silviculture, agroforestry and plantation forestry activities and for research and development activities in forestry.
- In addition, MSc Forestry also covers advanced topics like Biology, business Economics, Environmental Sciences, Logistics, Eco informatics, information technology, forest Ecology control and use of forest resources, forest bio-economic business and policy.
MSc Forestry: Admission Process
Admission in the MSc Forestry course is determined either by the marks secured in graduation (merit-based) or an entrance test is conducted for the same. On the other hand, some institutions admit students exclusively on the basis of graduation grades instead of relying on the entrance test.
Admission forms for various universities/institutes for MSc Forestry are expected to be released in the month of May/June.
MSc Forestry: Eligibility
The required eligibility criteria for MSc Forestry candidates which they have to qualify to secure admission is as follows:
- The student must have completed a B.Sc. (Forestry), B.Sc. (Ag), B.Sc. (Hort), B.Tech. (Hort), B.Tech.(Ag. Biotech.) or any of its variants from a recognized university/institute.
- The candidate must have secured at least 50-55% aggregate marks in their Bachelor’s degree.
- Candidates belonging to the reserved categories will receive a relaxation of 5% marks.
It is important to know that the eligibility criteria for each university/institute may vary. MSc Forestry has no age restrictions. This course is open to anyone provided that he/she satisfies the above-mentioned criteria.
MSc Forestry: Entrance Exams
| Exam Name | Tentative Registration Date | Tentative Examination Date |
| ICAR AIEEA PG | July/August | September |
| OUAT PG | July | September |
| MCAER PG CET | March | August |
| UPCATET | February | June/July |
| FRI | January/February | July |
| CUCET | March/April | May/June |
MSc Forestry: Distance Education
- MSc Forestry Distance Education/Non-Attending is a postgraduate course offered by many licensed institutions which can take more than 2 years (varies for each university/institution).
- The benefit of distance education is that you don’t have to attend classes and can study at your convenience.
- In this mode, the exam is conducted both in an online and offline manner.
- It has a broad professional scope in numerous sectors of Forestry.
Top Colleges for MSc Forestry Distance Education
| College Name | Average Fees |
| Bangor University | 18 LPA |
MSc Forestry: Syllabus
| Semester I | Semester II |
| Advanced Silviculture | Wood Science and Technology |
| Forest Biometric | Medicinal and Aromatic Plants |
| Tree Breeding | Plantation Technology |
| Wood-based industries | Watershed Management |
| Wildlife Management | Eco-Tourism |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Forest products – chemistry and industries | Tree Improvement |
| Forest Ecology and biodiversity conservation | Forests and People |
| Forest resource management and economics | Computer Application and Information Technology |
| Forest protection | Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System |
| Forest policy and laws and international conventions | General Statistical Methods and Research Methodology |
MSc Forestry: Top Colleges in India
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
| Amity University, Noida | INR 94,000 |
| PAU, Ludhiana | INR 77,470 |
| UAS, Dharwad | INR 27,000 |
| CCSHAU, Hisar | INR 15,061 |
| AAU, Anand | INR 22,500 |
| MZU, Aizawl | INR 7,930 |
| Nagaland University, Zunhebotto | INR 10,340 |
| CAU, Imphal | INR 5,500 |
| NERIST, Itanagar | INR 23,660 |
| Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi | INR 15,500 |
| SHUATS, Uttar Pradesh | INR 77,000 |
| JNKVV, Jabalpur | INR 49,411 |
| IGKV, Raipur | INR 19,160 |
| DBSKKV, Ratnagiri | INR 19,100 |
| MU, Chittorgarh | INR 53,000 |
| UBKV, Cooch Behar | INR 6,000 |
| VNMKV, Parbhani | INR 13,466 |
| SKUAST, Srinigar | INR 30,600 |
| FRI, Dehradun | INR 65,100 |
| ASNRSD, Noida | INR 94,000 |
MSc Forestry: Jobs
| Job Profile | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
| Forester | INR 3,68,922 |
| Forest Range Officer | INR 4,69,200 |
| Forestry Technician | INR 2,21,410 |
| Forestry Consultant | INR 2,11,410 |
| Agri-Credit Manager | INR 7,93,604 |
| Entomologist | INR 5,00,000 |
| Silvi-culturist | INR 4,50,000 |
| Zoo Curator | INR 3,75,000 |
| Ethologist | INR 6,00,000 |
MSc Forestry: FAQs
Ques. What is the duration of the MSc Forestry course?
Ans. MSc Forestry is a postgraduate program having a duration of 2 years.
Ques. Am I eligible to apply for MSc Forestry?
Ans. Students securing an aggregate of 50-55% marks in his/her Bachelor’s degree (BSc Forestry or any of its equivalent) from a recognized university/institute are eligible to apply for MSc Forestry.
Ques. What is the Admission Process of MSc Forestry?
Ans. Students are admitted to the course of MSc Forestry either on the basis of marks secured in graduation or marks obtained in the entrance test. However, some colleges provide admission solely on the basis of marks secured in their Bachelor’s degree.
Ques. What are some entrance exams conducted for admission in MSc Forestry?
Ans. ICAR AIEEA PG, OUAT PG, MCAER PG CET, UPCATET, FRI, CUCET are some of the entrance exams conducted for admission in MSc Forestry.
Ques. Is there any age limit for admission to the MSc Forestry course?
Ans. No, as of now there is no specific age limit to be eligible for the MSc Forestry course. As long as the student qualifies the eligibility criteria he/she is eligible to apply for the MSc Forestry course.
Ques. What is the scope of MSc Forestry?
Ans. MSc Forestry has a wide scope in various sectors. Students after completing this course can work as Dendrologist, Zoo Curator, Ethologist, Entomologist, Forester Silvi-culturist, Field Inspector, Forest Range Officer, etc.
Ques. What is the average annual fee for studying MSc Forestry in Indian Colleges/Universities?
Ans. The average annual fee to pursue MSc Forestry in Indian Colleges/University is around INR 15,000 to INR 1,50,000.
Ques. How many subjects are there in MSc Forestry?
Ans. The syllabus of MSc Forestry is divided into four different semesters. The detailed syllabus for the MSc Forestry course is mentioned in the article.
Ques. Can I opt for an MSc Forestry course via distance education mode?
Ans. Yes, you can opt for an MSc Forestry course via distance mode of education. However, very few colleges are offering distance education in MSc Forestry.
Ques. What is the average annual income one can expect after completing MSc Forestry?
Ans. The average annual income one can expect after completing the MSc Forestry program ranges from INR 2LPA to 6LPA, depending on job titles and experience.
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