About This Course
The programme, which is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters, is designed to provide students with detailed knowledge of direct relevance to the modern forest manager.
The Tropical Forestry MSc represents a natural addition to our highly successful and well-respected MSc Forestry, MSc Environmental Forestry and MSc Agroforestry degree courses.
The programme provides part-time students from across the world with training in the management of forest resources, understanding of the scientific, academic and practical principles which underpin forest management, forest measurement and forest ecosystem function and the interrelationships between government, industry and communities’ forests and associated land-use.
The Tropical Forestry MSc is part-time and the full MSc is completed in three years. It builds on the existing links and strengths of the highly successful forestry masters programmes in the School of Natural Sciences: MSc Sustainable Forest Management (SUFONAMA), MSc Sustainable Tropical Forestry (SUTROFOR) and Forest and Nature for Society (FONASO). These programmes were developed by European Masters consortiums and funded by the EU Erasmus Mundus programme.
Our distance-learning programme is designed to provide students with training in the subject of tropical forestry, understanding of the scientific, academic and practical principles which underpin forest conservation, protection and management and forest ecosystem function and the interrelationships between government, industry and communities’ forests and associated land-use. Suitable applicants include individuals working in forestry/forest-related industries/natural resource management, particularly in the fields of planning, regulation, policy, monitoring and environmental protection. The course is also suited to individuals working in forestry education who wish to further their knowledge and expertise in order to improve their teaching.
- MSc Tropical Forestry (distance learning) Course Leaflet
- MSc Forestry & MSc Tropical Forestry – detailed information
More information about the Scholarships can be found here.
Video - Distance Learning Forestry degrees
Video - Tropical Forestry Study Tour in Ghana
Programme Length
Minimum duration: MSc: 3 years; Diploma: 2 years; Certificate: 1 year; Module: 15 weeks
Qualification
MSc/Pg Diploma/Pg Certificate (by Distance Learning)
Research Opportunities
The course is closely linked with all aspects of the forest industry, both in the UK and beyond. Students are encouraged to seek opportunities and make their own links that relate to their own area of interest and expertise and are supported in this process. Students on the course receive regular updates regarding the latest news, jobs, placements and other opportunities in the forestry sector.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
The course is made up of 120 credit modules, each designed to run over a period of three months. Each module is delivered via comprehensive in-house course material, accompanying course guides and web-based support, based on the Blackboard™ virtual learning environment (VLE). A number of optional assignments may be submitted by students as the module progresses, to give realistic feedback on progress with the material.
There are a number of validated exit points on our distance learning courses:
- students who successfully complete 60 credits can opt to leave the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate
- students who continue to successfully complete 120 credits can be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma; or
- students who successfully complete 120 credits and a research dissertation can be awarded the MSc
(The research dissertation is a substantial piece of work which may take a year to complete.)
It is possible to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma within two years of starting the course, or the MSc within three years.
The modules which make up our distance learning courses are also all designed as stand-alone courses in their own right. If you feel you’d rather not take a full MSc, you will be able to “mix & match” our learning material to suit your own needs. Indeed, your employer may even consider sponsoring you for the purposes of your continuing professional development (CPD).
Key course modules cover the increasing importance of social issues in forest management, the complex challenges and multiple benefits of well-managed agroforestry systems and the sustainable use of non-timber forest products. Modules in inventory, assessment and monitoring look at other significant issues surrounding the sustainable management of global forest resources. The course also includes a compulsory 14-day study tour to a country with notable tropical forest resources in July/August 2021.
Dissertation (If studying towards the MSc)
Execution and written presentation of a suitable scientific project which is devised by the student and an individual academic supervisor and validated by the Programme Director. A suitable project entails a worthwhile scientific question, of direct relevance to the degree, established within the context of current knowledge and concepts that allows the formulation and testing of one or more hypotheses. This typically involves up to 12 months part-time work, typically including: 2–3 months to prepare a research proposal, 2–3 months for data collection in the field, laboratory or computer; 2–3 months for data analysis; and 2–3 months for writing-up.
Professional Accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Tropical Forestry Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Entry Requirements
A 2(i) undergraduate Honours degree in a relevant science or technology subject is required, such as forestry, biology, ecology, law, economics, environmental science, development studies. Applications from mature students without higher education qualifications but who have relevant work experience and who have worked for a minimum of 2 years in a position of responsibility and relevance to the degree will be considered.
IELTS: 6.5 (with no element below 6.0) is required.
Careers
The part-time nature of this course enables students to build their career alongside other work or personal commitments. There are excellent employment opportunities in the broad area of tropical forestry including national government, international organisations and consultancies. Many recent graduates on related courses have gone on to do PhD research. The part-time nature of the course opens up numerous opportunities for study, travel, scholarship and research and students are encouraged to take advantage of these.
