BSc Forestry: Course, Admission, Fees, Colleges, Syllabus, Jobs, Scope

BSc in forestry is a three to four-year full-time bachelor’s degree programme which trains students in the forestry department. Some of the core concepts involved in this BSc degree programme are conservation, development, and management of forest resources and wildlife. BSc Forestry aims to make people aware of the newly developed technologies in forestry.

To apply for the BSc Forestry course, candidates must have earned at least 50 per cent marks in their class 12 exam from a recognised board. More than 20 colleges in India offer BSc Forestry, with an average fee ranging from Rs. 1.4 Lakhs to 4 lakhs.

Upon earning a Bachelor of Science in Forestry, one can pursue numerous employment options. Prominent companies employ students for positions as Forest Managers, Wildlife Enforcement Officers, Conservationists, and Ecologists. Graduates of the BSc Forestry programme are employed by organisations like Nature Conservancy, ZSL Living Conservation, British Ecological Society, and Wildlife Institute of India.

Highlights - BSc Forestry

BSc Forestry Eligibility Criteria

To get admission to the BSc forestry degree, candidates are required to fulfil certain eligibility requirements specified by the university in the form of a minimum score, age limit, and previous subjects of study. Some of the most important BSc forestry eligibility criteria are mentioned below:

• Prospective candidates must have completed their class 12 from a recognised board or university.
• Students must have physics, chemistry, and biology as compulsory subjects with a 50 per cent aggregate.
• Some colleges also demand English to be one of the compulsory subjects.
• Prospective students must be at least 17 years of age and not more than 21 years old.

BSc Forestry Admission Process

The BSc Forestry admission process is quite straightforward and involves some steps that are to be followed by the prospective candidates. The admission process for BSc forestry is generally merit-based and there are no national level entrance examinations conducted for the same. Some of the most important steps that must be followed by the applicants are mentioned below:

• Candidates are required to fill out the application form which is generally available both online and offline.
• They should ensure that they fill in all the academic and personal details correctly since exemption from this will result in disqualification.
• After the university receives all the applications, an assessment is carried out and a merit list is prepared based on the student's complete profile.
• If a student manages to secure a spot on the merit list, they move on to the final step→ the payment of fees.

Cutoff of Top Colleges

Since there are no major entrance exams for BSc forestry admission, its cutoff can be defined as the minimum score (class 12) that must be obtained by prospective students to get admission to their desired college and course.

Every institute offering BSc forestry has a different cutoff level since it depends on the number of seats available in the course and its popularity. Candidates interested in knowing the cutoff for any particular institution can directly contact the institution's admissions office.

Skills Required for BSc Forestry

A candidate studying BSc forestry is required to possess a certain spectrum of skills since the degree programme involves science, management, and physical training altogether. Some of the most crucial skills that a candidate pursuing a BSc forestry must possess are mentioned below:

• Physical strength
• Strategic mindset
• Decision-making skills
• Knowledge of core forestry concepts
• Communication skills
• Interest in wildlife
• Observation skills
• Leadership skills

BSc Forestry Syllabus

The BSc forestry syllabus is designed based on requirements possessed by the wildlife industry and academicians. The BSc forestry syllabus consists of different subjects from the fields of science, chemistry, management, and animal biology. The complete BSc forestry syllabus according to the semesters are mentioned in the table below:

BSc Forestry Fee Structure

The fee structure for BSc forestry is determined based on various factors. The factors include the type of college, teaching staff, and facilities provided by the university such as lodging and mess. The average fee for BSc forestry is around Rs. 1.4 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh for the entire course duration.

Scope of BSc Forestry

Forestry is a discipline which is much needed in the current scenario. Every government in the world is concerned about the environmental problems and ecosystem imbalance rising gradually. However, a team of educated individuals, who know everything about forest life can work together to overcome most of these problems and hence the demand for candidates pursuing forestry courses is high.

Students after completing their BSc in forestry can get job roles like Forest Manager, Wildlife Enforcement Officer, Conservationist, and Ecologist. Apart from this, candidates can also proceed to get a higher degree such as MSc, or MBA in forest management. After a master’s degree, candidates can pursue a PhD for a career in research and development.

Career Options After Completing BSc Forestry

Candidates who possess in-depth knowledge and skills in the field of environmental studies have various employment options. They can choose to work wherever they wish to under various job profiles. Candidates can find lucrative employment options in profiles listed below.

Forest Manager: A forest manager is a professional who is responsible for the management of complete environmental and mundane tasks taking place in a forest setting. Forest managers are responsible for ensuring that all the species in the forest remain healthy and are taken care of.

Wildlife Enforcement Officer: The wildlife enforcement officer is a professional who maintains law and order in all aspects of forest management, wildlife, and natural resources. A wildlife enforcement officer is responsible for dealing with poachers, hunters, hikers, trappers, and other communities or individuals performing illegal activities in the forest premises.

Conservationist: A conservationist is a professional who is responsible for protecting the natural habitats of the earth including wildlife. A conservationist is responsible for ensuring that a balanced ecosystem is maintained throughout and that earth resources are not completely depleted by human activities.

Ecologist: An ecologist is a professional who is responsible for understanding and studying the interrelationships and dependencies between different organisms and the environment. An ecologist is responsible for working in a field and researching the interactions of animals and plants with the environment.

Indian Forest Officer: The Indian Forest Service Officer is a professional who supervises the development of policies regarding the National forests. His main aim is to provide stability and environmental sustainability to the natural habitats and ecosystems.

Top Recruiters:

• WWF
• Fauna and Flora International
• The Nature Conservancy
• ZSL Living Conservation
• British Ecological Society
• Wildlife Institute of India
• Satpuda Foundation
• Wildlife Trust of India
• ATREE

Benefits of Studying BSc Forestry Course

There are various benefits of studying a BSc forestry course. One of the biggest advantages of pursuing a BSc in forestry is that there are several employment opportunities available in the government sector.

Candidates can also move abroad and work for different forest departments while leading a satisfactory lifestyle. The degree programme has various interdisciplinary core subjects which provide students with the flexibility to choose among the best career options.

BSc Forestry Salary Trends

The expected salary for BSc forestry graduates is subjective and variable depending on the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and job profile. However, an average salary range can be deduced for BSc forestry graduates seeing the past trends. For a BSc forestry graduate with less than a year of experience, the average salary is around Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum.

Source: AmbitionBox

Top BSc Forestry Colleges in India with Fees

Numerous Indian universities offer B.Sc Forestry programmes. Top universities and colleges in India that provide a BSC in Forestry include:

Top Private BSc Forestry Colleges in India with Fees

Many private Indian institutions offer BSc Forestry courses. The cost of private institutions is somewhat higher than that of government institutions. The best universities and colleges offering the BSc in Forestry are listed below, along with the associated costs:

Top Government BSc Forestry Colleges in India with Fees

Attending a government-run college is less expensive than going to a private one. The following table lists some of the best government institutions that provide BSc Forestry.

• College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat
• Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar