Forestry and Treescapes Management BSc (Hons)

Course code D500

What is special about this course?

If you're looking for a rewarding career, where you can provide professional advice to the land-based forestry sector and help secure our forests for future generations to enjoy, then this course is for you. Being involved in the forestry sector is one of the best ways of helping the fight against climate change, while working in environments that provide recreational and well-being spaces for all. Our BSc (Hons) Forestry and Treescapes Management is a highly practical course that will give you all the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful forest manager, environmental manager or arboriculturist/urban forester. 

Study at the Scottish School of Forestry campus, Inverness, situated within 10 hectares of woodland and an additional 100 hectares of FLS woodland serving the surrounding communities, providing a beautiful setting to learn about forests, trees and the environment.

This innovative new work-based degree allows you to continue working full/part-time within the forestry/environmental sector while undertaking a full-time degree alongside your role, using work-based learning to fulfil the credit and learning requirements. If you’re not currently working within the sector, you will study scenarios provided by the course team to recreate situations that may be experienced in a work setting.

A significant proportion of your course will be fieldwork-based projects where you will become experienced in the practical aspects of forest management and arboriculture. When you graduate you will have a technical management qualification and be experienced in all aspects of sustainable and current management of forests, trees and wider environment.

Special features

  • Innovative worked-based and experiential learning degree routes to help with cost of living and work-life balance
  • Varied programme of guest lectures, site visits and study tours
  • Access to state-of-the- art technology and forest machinery
  • Modern campus situated within a 100 hectare forest 
  • Emphasis on the development of practical field-based skills
  • Opportunities to participate in international student exchange programmes
  • Accessible class sizes allowing for focussed and in-depth learning class
  • Friendly and supportive campus community
  • Study full-time, part-time or whilst in work, to suit your personal circumstances
  • Vocational course, perfect for those seeking a career in forest management, arboricultural/urban forestry and wider environmental roles
  • Excellent career prospects for graduates, with demonstrable success of gaining managerial posts in industry
  • Accredited by Institute of Chartered Foresters
  • Staff with rich industry experience and involved in leading forest/tree related research
  • A wide range of associate field sites situated in the Highlands and beyond

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
  • 1 Scottish Higher at grade B or above plus 4 National 5s at B or above OR
  • 2 A levels at grade D or above
  • Recommended but not mandatory:
    • One year's pre-course experience in woodland environment or a related area OR
    • Certificate in Forestry OR
    • Certificate in Conservation Skills
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply. Relevant life or work experience will be taken into consideration on an individual basis
  • A driving licence is highly recommended due to the nature of work and distances required to travel in the industry.

Advanced entry to year 2 of the BSc:

  • Direct entry to year 2 of the BSc may be possible with the HNC Forestry
  • If you have other relevant academic or professional qualifications or experience, your application will be considered on an individual basis. You may need to undertake a bridging unit and/or apply for recognition of prior learning

This course is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters and gives partial fulfilment of Professional Membership Entry 

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

  • Forest harvesting (20) (S1)
  • Forest mensuration (20) (S1)
  • Forest science (20) (S1)
  • Introduction to GIS/technology (20) (S2)
  • Woodland establishment (20) (S2)

You will also choose from 3 elective modules equating to 20 credits: 

  • Nursey production (10) (S2)
  • Soil science and management (10) (S2)
  • Urban forestry practice (20) (S2)

 

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

  • Forest health and protection (20) (S2)
  • Forest policy and law (20) (S1)
  • Silviculture systems (20) (S1)
  • Urban forest management (20) (S1)
  • Woodland ecology and conservation (20) (S2)

You will choose from the following elective modules equating to 20 credits:

  • Forest investment and appraisal (10) (S2)
  • Technology and innovation for treescapes (20) (S2)
  • Wood science and timber technologies (10) (S2)

 

Year 3 - BSc

You will study the following core modules:

  • Ecology and management of broadleaved woodlands (20) (S1)
  • Forest for people: policy and practice (20) (S2)
  • Forest resilience in changing environments (20) (S1)
  • Landscape design for land management (20) (S2)
  • Research skills (20) (S2)
  • Sustainable land management (20) (S1)

Year 4 - BSc (Hons)

You will study the following core modules:

  • Dissertation (40 credits) (SC)
  • International forestry and timber trade (20) (S1)
  • Managing biodiversity in upland woodlands (20) (S1)
  • Technology for planning and management in forestry and arboriculture (20) (S2)

You will also choose one of the following modules:  

  • Corporate responsibility in the global environment (20) (S2)
  • Innovation and enterprise (20) (S2)

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time
  • Part-time modular (standalone modules)
  • You will study through a combination of face-to-face and video conference lectures and tutorials, as well as individual online study via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), supported by your tutors and classmates
  • This will be supplemented with field exercises, practical sessions, study visits and tours, and industrial work experience. Key to the work-based and experiential degrees pathways will be the agreed practical and field learning that will be supplied by the employer or provided by the SSF that will offset the learning outcome credits

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
  • Part-time: 8 years @ 20 hours per week
  • Part-time modular: variable

Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures, experiential and work-based learning, and your own time spent on individual study and research.

 

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness - Scottish School of Forestry

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Study Mode 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time (120 credit modules) per year £1,820 £1,820
Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year £915 £915
Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) £305 £305

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland, studying full time, the following fees apply:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2024-25 Full-time
Year 1 CertHE £9,250 £9,250
Year 2 DipHE £9,250 £9,250
Year 3 Degree £9,250 £9,250
Year 4 Honours free free

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying (see the Funding section opposite).

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes.  Students will get an automatic scholarship of £4,000 per annum and the 4th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time With scholarship 2024-25 Full-time With scholarship
Year 1 CertHE £15,360 £11,360 £15,996 £11,996
Year 2 DipHE £15,360 £11,360 £15,996 £11,996
Year 3 Degree £15,360 £11,360 £15,996 £11,996
Year 4 Honours £15,360 Free £15,996 Free

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Study Mode 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year (120 credit modules) per year £15,360 £15,996
Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year £7,680 £7,998
Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) £2,560 £2,666

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

You will need to purchase your own high vis vest, hard hat and safety boots, at an approximate cost of £40 in total.

There are additional costs associated with the Scottish Borders and South of England field trips, however students normally fundraise and seek sponsorship to cover these costs via the Forestry and Arboriculture Society.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed your BSc (Hons) Forestry and Treescapes Management course, you might like to consider careers in:

  • State forestry sector
  • Other public bodies including local authorities
  • Forestry and Arboriculture companies
  • Private estates/landowners
  • Community forestry sector
  • Self-employment as an entrepreneur or consultant
  • Conservation organisations
  • Research scientist
  • Educator and interpreter
  • Environmental management
  • Consultancy

Can I progress into further study?

You can progress from the BSc (Hons) Forestry and Treescapes Management to:

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Forestry and Treescapes Management BSc (Hons)

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.