Master of Science in Forestry is a 2-year duration full-time postgraduate course which involves the study of forest and its uses. In this course, students get advanced knowledge in the field of Biology, Business Economics, Logistics, Forest Ecology etc.
To be considered eligible to apply to this program, students are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university.
MSc Forestry Admissions will be done either on the basis of the candidate's performance in the Bachelor’s degree exam or on the basis of their performance in the entrance exams conducted by admission authorities.
The average fee charged by colleges offering this MSc Forestry ranges from INR 16,000 to INR 1,50,000 per annum. It can vary depending upon the college the student has chosen.
On completion of this course, the MSc Forestry degree holders can work in Forest Departments, Indian Forest Service, Agricultural Sector, Educational Institutions, Plantations, National Parks etc. and they can get jobs as a Dendrologist, Zoo Curator, Ethologist, Entomologist, Forester Silvi-culturist, Field Inspector, Forest Range Officer etc.
The average salary that one can expect after completing MSc Forestry course ranges from INR 2,00,000 to 6,00,000 per annum, depending on the job roles and experience of candidates.
After completion of MSc Forestry course, one can opt to enroll in PhD Forestry, DSc etc.
MSc Forestry Course Highlights
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination Type | Semester-type |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
| Admission Process | Entrance/ Merit-Based |
| Course Fee | INR 16,000 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: What is it about?
Information and details about the MSc Forestry course are as follows.
- This course is based on a broad and versatile perspective on forests and their use.
- It further provides advanced knowledge in Biology, Business Economics, Environmental Sciences, Logistics, Ecoinformatics, Information Technology, Forest Ecology Management and use of forest resources, forest bio-economic business and policy.
- This program basically specialises in forest ecology, focusing on various types of forest and peatland ecosystems and their exploitation.
- Students can also opt this particular course if they have an interest in topical issues including climate change, prevention of damage to forests caused by insects and fungi, problems related to exploitation of tropical forests, wood harvesting and logistics etc.
There are so many reasons why an individual should pursue an MSc Forestry course. Students can pursue this course because of the following benefits of the course:
- MSc in Forestry encourages students to learn more about the sustainable,organic lifestyle which includes fresh forest produce.
- Horticulture courses help the students in providing them a specialisation in forest ecology, focusing on various types of forest and peatland ecosystems and their exploitation.
- With this course students will be able to learn about the forest inventory models and various things.
- The annual salary of a MSc Forestry postgraduate can be around INR 2,00,000 to 6,00,000.
What is the MSc Forestry Admission Process?
Admission to this course is usually based on the score obtained by a candidate in an entrance exam. Some colleges also offer admission on merit basis. The various steps involved in the admission process are given below.
Merit-based selection
The guide for merit based Msc Forestry is mentioned below:
- Submit the application to the colleges or universities you are interested in.
- Maintain a good score throughout your Bachelor’s degree exams.
- In due course of time, colleges release their cutoff lists. Check if you are eligible for admission into the desired course.
- If eligible, visit the college and submit all the required documents.
Entrance based selection
The guide to apply for entrance exam based admission is as follows.
- Registration: Candidates have to register themselves for the entrance exams.
- Application form: Fill up the application form with all necessary details carefully.
- Submit documents: Scan and upload all required documents like mark sheets. Documents need to be uploaded in a specific format only, as specified by the institute’s application portal.
- Application fee: A minimal application fee is to be paid online during the submission of the application form. Payment can be done by all online payment modes.
- Download admit card: Admit cards are released once all applicants are judged for eligibility. The admit card must be downloaded and printed out to be used on the day of the examination.
- Examination: Prepare for the exam as per the syllabus and past papers. Appear for the examination on the date announced.
- Results: Based on candidates performance in the entrance exam, results will be announced.
What is the MSc Forestry Eligibility Criteria?
The eligibility criteria for MSc Forestry aspirants is not complicated and is as follows. It must be noted that the eligibility criteria will differ from institute to institute.
- Any candidate with a bachelor’s degree in Forestry or equivalent from a recognized institute is eligible to apply.
- The candidate must possess at least 50% marks in their graduation degree.
- 5% relaxation in marks will be provided to the reserved category candidates.
Which are the popular MSc Forestry Entrance Exams?
In most of the colleges, the MSc Forestry admissions are done on the basis of the results in the entrance tests.
| Entrance Exams | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| CUET PG | Check Here |
| BITSAT | Check Here |
| NEST | Check Here |
| IIT JAM | Check Here |
| DUET | Check Here |
| TISS NET | Check Here |
How to Prepare for MSc Forestry entrance exams?
If your college includes an entrance test in the admission procedure, then you must be well prepared for it. So, here we are with some interesting preparation tips for you:
- You must be completely familiar with the exam pattern. Get to know the number of sections and the total number of questions that you have to answer.
- Knowing the syllabus properly is also of primary importance. You need to download the syllabus from the official website of the university.
- In most cases, you will be dealing with multiple-choice questions. If that is the case, then check whether there is negative marking or not.
- Another very good way to perform well is to appear for regular mock tests. This will make you accustomed to the type of questions and the examination patterns. Various educational institutes hold regular mock tests for the students.
- Revision is also an integral part of preparation. You need to revise all the chapters and the important topics properly. Otherwise, even after preparing all the chapters, you might not get a really good rank.
How to get admission in a good MSc Forestry college?
To secure admission into a top-ranked MSc Forestry college, a number of factors come into play. Some of the following tips will be helpful in that regard.
- Search and make a list of colleges offering MSc Forestry course, that you want to apply for.
- Before applying for the college one should check the eligibility criteria and if he/she fits in it that category.
- Look for the application form and fill it with every details asked for.
- Submit the important documents asked for.
- Prepare for the entrance exam
- Keep a track of the important dates related to your admission.
- Prepare for the counselling sessions as your admission depends on your overall performance.
- Once you are able to crack the entrance and personal interview you are most likely to get your admission trough. Then you need to pay your fees in time in order to confirm your admission.
What is the Syllabus of MSc Forestry?
The MSc Forestry course includes various important subjects and topics. Here, we have given the semester-wise breakup of the syllabus for the MSc Forestry course:
| 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 |
| Forest Protection | Forest Genetic Resources |
| 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 |
Which are the Top MSc Forestry Colleges?
MSc Forestry is taught in some of the best educational institutes in India. Here, we have mentioned a few popular MSc Forestry Colleges of India:
| College Name | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Amity University, Noida | Merit-Based | INR 94,000 |
| PAU, Ludhiana | Entrance-Based | INR 77,470 |
| UAS, Dharwad | Merit-Based | INR 27,000 |
| CCSHAU, Hisar | Entrance-Based | INR 15,061 |
| AAU, Anand | Entrance-Based | INR 22,500 |
| MZU, Aizawl | Merit-Based | INR 7,930 |
| Nagaland University, Zunhebotto | Merit-Based | INR 10,340 |
| CAU, Imphal | Entrance-Based | INR 5,500 |
| NERIST, Itanagar | Entrance-Based | INR 23,660 |
MSc Forestry College Comparison
The tabulation below depicts the comparison made among the three top MSc Forestry colleges in India.
| Parameters | Amity University, Noida | PAU, Ludhiana | UAS, Dharwad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Amity University, Noida offers education through regular and distance learning modes in diverse streams ranging from courses in Engineering, Law, Medical to Forensic Sciences, Animation, and Anthropology. | PAU Ludhiana is the oldest university in the field of Agricultural Education. It was established in 1962. It offers UG, PG and Ph.D. courses in different specializations. | This is a deemed university which aims to offer a large number of courses at the UG, PG and the research level. |
| NIRF Ranking 2020 | 63 | 75 | 83 |
| Average Fees | INR 94,000 | INR 77,470 | INR 27,000 |
| Eligibility Criteria | Hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. | Hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. | Hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
| Admission Criteria | Merit-Based | Entrance-Based | Merit-Based |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 6,89,000 | INR 4,88,000 | INR 6,00,000 |
MSc Horticulture vs MSc Forestry
MSc Horticulture and MSc Forestry are somewhat related to each other, however, there is a minute difference between them. Also check top MSc Horticulture Colleges in India.
Here, we have compared the two courses:
| Parameters | MSc in Horticulture | MSc in Forestry |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the Course | Master of Science in Horticulture | Master of Science in Forestry |
| Overview | MSc in Horticulture is a 2 year programme designed to know about the science and art of development and use of high value and intensively cultivated organic foods. | MSc in Forestry is a 2 year course focusing mainly on Forest and forest produce. |
| Admission procedure | Entrance/ Merit-Based | Entrance/ Merit-Based |
| Average Fees | INR 5,000 – 80,000 | INR 16,000 - 1,50,000 |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
| Job Profile | Horticulturist, Floriculturist, Pomologist, Fruit Juice Companies, Garden/Orchard owner, Food Processing Plants, Scientist in research studies and such. | Dendrologist, Zoo Curator, Ethologist, Entomologist, Forester Silvi-culturist, Field Inspector, Forest Range Officer etc, |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 5,00,000 - 7,00,000 | INR 2,00,000 - 6,00,000 |
What are Job Prospects and Career Options after MSc Forestry?
This course is so versatile and dynamic candidates can expect job offers for a variety of roles related to Forestry.
- Students who are completing Masters in Forestry can join Forest Departments, Indian Forest Service, Agricultural Sector, Educational Institutions, Plantations, National Parks etc.
- Skilled Silviculturists are valued and even the pay package is really well.
- Even the Government Organization like the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and are a secured place to start the career after graduating.
- Dendrologist, Zoo Curator, Ethologist, Entomologist, Forester Silvi-culturist, Field Inspector are the offset jobs that are also offered to fresh MSc graduates .
We have Listed some of the popular job positions offered to successful graduates of the discipline along with the corresponding job descriptions and average annual salaries offered to the graduates of MSc Forestry:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entomologist | Entomologists study about urban, forest, agricultural medical and veterinary pests and their control. Entomologists can set up their own company or work for a small business, or work for a large commercial company. | INR 5,00,000 |
| Ethologist | Ethologists focus on the study of animal behaviour and are also known as Animal Behaviour Specialists. They observe survival techniques and nurturing mannerisms and can explain how and why species interact, grow, or become extinct. | INR 6,00,000 |
| Silviculturist | Silviculturists encourage natural growth of sprouts or seedlings of desired varieties. They grow and look after forest stands. Their work is to conduct research regarding problems of forest propagation and culture as tree growth rate, effects of thinning on forest yield, duration of seed viability. | INR 4,50,000 |
| Zoo Curator | Zoo Curators are responsible for animal management. Their work is related to animal husbandry, diets, veterinary care, quarantine procedures, enrichment activities, animal transportation, and research projects. | INR 3,75,000 |
What are the Future Scope of MSc Forestry?
Being a very popular discipline, MSc in Forestry course has excellent future scope. The students are exposed to numerous ways in which they can build their career:
- PhD: If one wishes to continue in the same field of education, the first program of choice is a PhD Forestry. It is a three to five year duration course and the eligibility criteria include having a MSc degree in Forestry or other related disciplines.
- MPhil - Students can also opt for a MPhil degree in a relevant field on completion of this course.
- Competitive Exams:Students, after completing their post-graduation in Forestry, can appear in different competitive examinations for government jobs, including UPSC CSE, IFS, and PSC of different states.
MSc Forestry FAQs
Some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the MSc Forestry program are as follows:
Ques. What is the duration of this course?
Ques. What are the best colleges that offer the course?
Ques. What is the average annual fee to pursue this course in Indian Colleges/ Universities?
Ques. What is the motive of this program?
Ques. What does this course teach?
Ques. Who can apply to this course?
Ques. How to get admitted to a college for an MSc Forestry course?
Ques. How much salary is expected for an MSc Forestry degree holder?
Ques. Where can one see themselves after two years in this course?
Ques. Why should one opt this course?
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