Master of Science in Forestry Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary 2023

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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.

Table of Contents

MSc Forestry Course Highlights
MSc Forestry: What is it about?
Why Study?
Admission Process
4.1 Eligibility Criteria
4.2 Top Entrance Exams
4.3 How to Prepare for Entrance Exam
4.4 How to Get Admission in Top College
Syllabus
Top Colleges in India
6.1 College Comparison
Courses Comparison
Jobs and Career Options
Future Scope
FAQs

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.

Why Study MSc Forestry?

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?

Ans. The duration of this course is 2 years.

Ques. What are the best colleges that offer the course?

Ans. AKS University in Satna, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore, Birsa Agricultural University in Ranchi and Jawahar Lal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya in Jabalpur are some of the best colleges offering MSc in Forestry course in India.

Ques. What is the average annual fee to pursue this course in Indian Colleges/ Universities?

Ans. It depends on which university you are choosing, however, it ranges between INR 16,000 and 1,50,000. BFIT Group of Institutions in Dehradun charges INR 1,50,000 while Bastar University in Bastar charges INR 16,000 .

Ques. What is the motive of this program?

Ans. This course is based on a broad and versatile perspective on forests and their use. It further provides an advanced knowledge in Biology, Business Economics, Environmental Sciences, Logistics, Ecoinformatics, Information Technology etc.

Ques. What does this course teach?

Ans. It teaches the Basic Sciences. It includes Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics and how it is performed with the Applied Sciences of Ecology, Silviculture and Management.

Ques. Who can apply to this course?

Ans. A person who has an aggregate of 50% in his/her under-graduation under the following courses: Sc. (Forestry), Sc. (Agriculture), Sc. (Horticulture), Tech. (Horticulture), Tech. (Agricultural Biotechnology) are eligible to apply to this course in Indian Colleges/ Universities.

Ques. How to get admitted to a college for an MSc Forestry course?

Ans. Check the eligibility criteria of a particular college where you want to see yourself and prepare yourself for the entrance exam and personal interview. After you have been selected pay the fees to confirm your registration.

Ques. How much salary is expected for an MSc Forestry degree holder?

Ans. One can expect an average salary ranging between INR 4,50,000 and 6,00,000.

Ques. Where can one see themselves after two years in this course?

Ans. One can find themselves working in Zoological parks, Wildlife ranges, Wildlife research institutes, National parks & sanctuaries after completing this course.

Ques. Why should one opt this course?

Ans. As the name suggests this program is for someone who is interested in preserving forests or wants to study related to the subject of Forestry.