Master of Science in Forestry (M.Sc)  Course Details

M. Sc. Forestry is a two-year post-graduate course that focuses on the science and art of forestry resources, including both cultivated and indigenous stands. It is a distinct scientific discipline that deals with the theoretical and practical features of forestry and how to manage it properly.

Students will get an advanced understanding of fields such as biology, business economics, logistics, and forest ecology during this course. Students must have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant niche from a recognized university to be considered qualified to apply for this program.

Admissions in M.Sc Forestry are done on the basis of the performance of students in the Bachelor’s degree test or on the basis of their performance in entrance exams. There are many public and government-related jobs for Forestry graduates. They will have to clear the IFS (Indian Forest test) in order to apply for state and central government jobs.

M.Sc Forestry Course Highlights

Course Name	Masters of Science in Forestry
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	2 Years
Eligibility Criteria	Graduation in a relevant discipline from any recognized university
Admission Process	Merit-Based/Entrance Based
Average Fees	INR 16,000 to INR 1.5 Lakhs
Average Starting Salary	INR 2 LPA to INR 6 LPA
Job Opportunities	Indian Forest Service, Forest Department, National Parks, Colleges and Institutes, etc.
Top Recruiters	TATA, Fordaq, Avanta, etc.
Job Profiles	Ethologist, Zoo Curator, Range Officer, Field Inspector, Dendrologist, etc.

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M.Sc Forestry Eligibility Criteria

MSc Forestry applicants must meet the following qualifying criteria. Although eligibility criteria could differ from college to college.

• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in forestry or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
• An aggregate of at least 50% or more is required.
• Candidates from the reserved categories will get a 5% mark reduction.

M.Sc Forestry Admission Process

The candidate's performance in the entrance exam mostly determines the admission in M.Sc Forestry. Some colleges also provide merit-based admission. The admissions process is broken down into several steps, which are shown below.

Merit-Based Admission

• Send your application to the schools or institutions where you want to study.
• Maintain a high grade in your Bachelor’s degree examinations.
• Colleges will release their cutoff lists in due time. Check to see if you are eligible for the course you want to take.
• Visit the college and submit all needed documentation if you are eligible.

Entrance Based Admission

• The first step requires candidates to enroll in the entrance examinations.
• Fill in all the required information in the application form carefully.
• All relevant documents, such as mark sheets, should be scanned and uploaded. Documents must be uploaded in a certain format that the institute’s application page specifies.
• There is a small application charge that must be paid online when submitting the application form. Multiple online payment methods are available, including card payment and UPI.
• Admit cards are issued once all candidates have been assessed for eligibility. Take the printout of the admit card for the examination day.
• Exam preparation should be based on the curriculum and prior papers. Attend the examination on the scheduled day.
• The results will be announced based on the candidates’ performance in the admission test.
• Candidates who make it through the entrance exam will have to go through a group discussion and a personal interview and then only they will be granted admission.

Why study M.Sc Forestry?

There are countless reasons as to why you should pursue an M.Sc in Forestry and a career in forestry in general. There is a variety of range of benefits of this course and some of them are given below:

• Students pursuing an MSc in Forestry are encouraged to learn more about maintaining a healthy, natural lifestyle that incorporates fresh products from forests.
• Horticulture courses assist students in gaining a speciality in forest ecology, with an emphasis on different types of forest and peatland ecosystems and their utilization.
• Students will learn about forest inventory models and other topics as part of this course.
• An MSc Forestry postgraduate’s annual income ranges from INR 2 LPA to 6 LPA.

M.Sc Forestry Exams: How to prepare?

Most top colleges grant admission on the basis of performance in the entrance exams. That’s why preparation ahead and in the right way can put you in the right college and thus towards a bright career ultimately. Down below are some of the preparation tips that would help you the preparation for entrance exams.

• Candidates must be aware of the exam pattern. Get an idea of how many parts there are and how many questions there are in total.
• It is also important to have a thorough understanding of the syllabus. The syllabus can be downloaded at the university’s official website.
• Most of the time, multiple-choice questions would be asked. Whether that’s the case, look to see if there’s any negative marking.
• Attending regular mock exams is another excellent method to improve your performance. This will acquaint you with the types of questions and exam formats. Students take mock examinations on a regular basis at various educational institutions.
• Your good grades will depend upon your practice and revision. You must thoroughly review all of the chapters and crucial topics.

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M.Sc Forestry Syllabus

Semester 1	Semester 2
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 3	Semester 4
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 policy and laws and international conventions	General Statistical Methods and Research Methodology
Forest protection	Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System

M.Sc Forestry Job Prospects

There is no dearth of jobs for M.Sc Forestry graduates. There are a variety of dynamic job profiles in the field of forestry. Job opportunities are available in both the private and public sectors.

Work in zoological parks, wildlife ranges, wildlife research institutes, timber plantation, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and its affiliated institutes, wildlife department, forest department, national parks, and sanctuaries, are all examples of jobs in the public sector.

Those with a bachelor’s degree in forestry can apply to the Central government through the Union Public Service Commission’s Indian Forest Service (IFS) test.

Down below are some of the most popular job positions for Forestry graduates along with their average annual salary.

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Salary
Entomologist	Researchers in the field of entomology look into pests that affect humans, wildlife, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. As an entomologist, you can start your own business, work for a small firm, or work for a major commercial enterprise.	INR 5 LPA
Zoo Curator	The most integral job of zoo curators is to manage animals within the proximity of zoos. Their job directly coincides with animal husbandry, veterinary care, transportation, quarantine process, etc.	INR 4 LPA
Ethologist	Ethologists, often known as Animal Behaviour Specialists, specializing in the study of animal behavior. They can explain how and why species interact, flourish, or fall extinct by observing survival tactics and nurturing behaviors.	INR 6 LPA

M.Sc Forestry Average Salary

M.Sc Forestry graduates are paid very handsomely. Although, the payscale mostly depends upon the firm or agency you are working for. The salary is governed by the government. Abroad, the basic salary of a forester is around 50,000 dollars annually. Although, in India you can earn up to INR 5 to 7 lakhs, depending upon your experience and qualifications.