Master of Science in Forestry Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary

 

M.Sc. in Forestry is a 2-year full-time postgraduate course, the minimum eligibility for admission to which is the successful completion of graduation in any of:

• Sc. (Forestry)
• Sc. (Agriculture)
• Sc. (Horticulture)
• Tech. (Horticulture)
• Tech. (Agricultural Biotechnology).

The program is spread over 4 semesters, with the final year being based on the candidate’s chosen stream of study.

Admission to the course is based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance test.

Master of Science in Uttarakhand

Master of Science in Uttar Pradesh

Master of Science in Rajasthan

Master of Science in Chhattisgarh

Such postgraduates are hired in capacities such as:

• Dendrologist
• Zoo Curator
• Ethologist
• Entomologist
• Forester Silvi-culturist
• Field Inspector
• Forest Range Officer, and such.

The average tuition fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 16,000 and 1.5 Lacs for a span of 2 years.

The average annual salary offered to such professionals ranges between INR 4.5 and 6 Lacs, increasing with experience and expertise.

M.Sc. in Forestry: Course Highlights

Listed below are some of the major highlights of the course.

M.Sc. in Forestry: What is it About?

The course offers to eligible candidates:

• a broad and versatile perspective on forests and their use.

• advanced knowledge in:

biology

business economics

environmental sciences

logistics

ecoinformatics

information technology

forest ecology.

management and use of forest resources

forest bioeconomic business and policy.

• specialisation in forest ecology, focusing on various types of forest and peatland ecosystems and their exploitation.
• Knowledge of topical issues including:
• climate change
• prevention of damage to forests caused by insects and fungi
• control of game populations
• problems related to exploitation of tropical forests
• forest inventory models
• wood harvesting and logistics
• processing of wood into bioeconomic products
• application of new remote sensing methods in the planning of forest resource management
• combination of different values and targets in forestry and bioeconomic
• various models of silviculture
• increased efficiency in logging and transportation
• generating added value in all areas of biorefining.
• specialisation in the management and use of forest resources.
• skills in examining the planning of forest use and the relevant collection of information.

Top Institutes offering M.Sc. in Forestry

Listed below are some of the top institutes in India that offer the course.

Eligibility for M.Sc. in Forestry

Candidates aspiring for admission to the course are required to fulfill the following minimum eligibility criteria.

• Graduation or another such equivalent course in a relevant discipline, completed from a recognized university.
• Graduation needs to have been completed in any of:
• Sc. (Forestry)
• Sc. (Agriculture)
• Sc. (Horticulture)
• Tech. (Horticulture)
• Tech. (Agricultural Biotechnology).
• A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of graduation.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply for the course on provisional basis.

M.Sc. in Forestry: Admission Process

Most institutes offering the course admit students based on their performance in a relevant entrance test. Some institutes conduct their own entrance tests for offering admission. Admission process generally varies across colleges.

A few institutes also provide direct admission based on the candidate’s score at the graduation level.

Some such entrance tests held in the country for admission to the course are:

• Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu
• BFIT Group of Institutions
• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University.

M.Sc. in Forestry: Syllabus and Course Description

A semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated here.

M.Sc. in Forestry: Career Prospects

Such postgraduates can seek gainful career opportunities such as:

• Forester in Forest Department of Indian Government.
• Forest Department Officer in State Governments’ Forest Department.
• Plantation and Resort Manager
• Forest Product Marketing
• Forest Products Purchasing Manager
• Environmental Expert
• Quality Control Manager
• Research and Development Officer, etc.

Such foresters are recruited in areas such as:

• Laboratories
• Wood-based Industries
• Outdoors, depending on the field of specialization
• Wood Workshop and Saw Mills,
• Wood Seasoning and Preservation Treatment Plants
• Pulp and Paper Industries
• Katha Making Industry
• Rosin and Terpentine Industry
• Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Units
• Carpentry and bamboo crafts
• Wood Products Industries etc.

Popular organizations that hire such postgraduates include:

• Century Paper Mill
• Star Paper Mills
• ITC Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Limited
• K Corps Limited
• Ballarpur Industries Limited
• Orient Paper Mills
• WIMCO Match Industry
• Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills, etc.

Such professionals may also pursue teaching as:

• Assistant Professor
• Lecturer
• Junior Research Officer
• Research Officer.

Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful postgraduates of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Candidates should have passed Bachelor’s degree in the relevant stream from a recognized university.