Bachelor of Forestry Science
BForSc
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Forestry
- Master of Forestry Science
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Forestry
- Master of Forestry Science
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Overview
The Bachelor of Forestry Science (BForSc) is a professional degree offered by the Te Kura Ngahere | School of Forestry. It is an interdisciplinary degree that prepares graduates for managing forest resources by combining core science courses with management, commerce, and technology.
Small classes and field trips make for an engaging and rewarding learning experience at UC. Forestry Science graduates are highly sought after by employers and follow exciting and rewarding career paths.
- Four-year professional degree that is unique in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- A balance of theoretical and hands-on practical work, including field trips to sites around Aotearoa.
- Exchange programmes with top Forestry schools in Canada and the United States.
- Small classes create a high-quality learning environment.
- The School has strong employer links and our graduates enjoy above-average employment rates.
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
Students with English as an additional language are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
For information on the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.
Recommended preparation
The BForSc is open to all students who gain entry to the University. It is recommended that you take NCEA Level 3 biology and maths (including statistics and probability) – or the IB/Cambridge equivalent.
If you have not studied Year 12 chemistry or Year 13 statistics, or if you feel you have a weak background in these subjects, you should consider enrolling in a Headstart preparatory course over summer.
Fast-track option
You may be able to fast-track your degree and gain direct entry to the second year if you have excellent Year 13 results or a New Zealand Certificate in Science with outstanding merit.
It is possible to gain exemption for parts of the Forestry Examinations with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a New Zealand Diploma in Forestry with outstanding merit.
Typical degree structure for Bachelor of Forestry Science
-
Compulsory courses
-
Elective Forestry Science courses
-
Dissertation for honours students only
-
Elective courses from Science or other degrees
Each small block represents a 15-point course. Each large block represents a 30-point course.
For full course requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Forestry Science.
The BForSc requires a total of 480 points:
- 390 points of compulsory Forestry Science courses
- 60 points of optional Forestry Science courses
- 30 points from Science courses or courses from other degrees.
The first year is made up of 90 points in compulsory courses providing a strong base in pure science, which is necessary for the professional study of Forestry Science.
The following years of the degree is made up of 300 points in compulsory courses. During the third and fourth year, students will also complete 45 points of 400-level elective forestry courses.
All students must also complete 90 days of practical work placement in forestry, conversation, or forest industry during the summer months of the degree.
The degree takes 4 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 10 years.
For study planning help, contact the UC Liaison Office | Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC (new students) or a College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha Student Advisor (advancing students).
Studying at other Aotearoa New Zealand universities
It is possible to study the first year of the Bachelor of Forestry Science at other Aotearoa New Zealand universities. If you are considering this option you should consult the Te Kura Ngahere | School of Forestry for your course selection, which would include FORE 102 Forests and Societies or FORE 105 Forests of the World (available by distance).
Bachelor of Forestry Science with Honours
If you have a good grade average across your 200 and 300-level courses, you may be invited to undertake honours as part of the fourth year of your degree. Honours involves the completion of the research course FORE 414 Dissertation.
Double degrees
It is possible to combine a Forestry degree with the study of another degree, such as a Bachelor of Science. It is also possible to complete a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a strong Forestry emphasis.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
There is also a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours specialising in Forest Engineering at UC.
The Bachelor of Forestry Science follows a closely prescribed structure, with introductory courses in biology and forestry sciences, and advanced courses in forestry and industry.
See ‘How do I plan my degree?’ above for an example degree structure diagram.
Compulsory courses
Throughout the four years of the degree, all students complete the following compulsory courses:
Year 1
- FORE 111 Trees, Forests and the Environment
- FORE 131 Trees in the Landscape
- FORE 141 Forest Growth and Measurements
- FORE 151 Commercial Aspects of Forestry
- BIOL 112 Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- STAT 101 Statistics 1
Year 2
- FORE 205 Introduction to Forest Engineering
- FORE 215 Introduction to Forest Economics
- FORE 218 Forestry Biology
- FORE 219 Introduction to Silviculture
- FORE 222 Biometry 1a
- FORE 224 Biometry 1b
- SOIL 203 Soil Fertility
Year 3
- FORE 307 Plantation Silviculture
- FORE 316 Forest Management
- FORE 327 Wood Science
- FORE 342 Geospatial Science in Forest Monitoring and Management
Year 4
Optional courses
Students will also need to complete four optional courses from below in their third and fourth years. It is recommended to complete one in your third year and the other three in your fourth year:
Bachelor of Forestry Science with Honours
Students with a good grade average across their studies will be invited to complete their degree with honours, which adds the course FORE 414 Dissertation to their final year.
The School of Forestry | Te Kura Ngahere offers a range of options for graduate and postgraduate study.
For those graduates wishing to update or retrain:
For those who wish to advance their Forestry Science studies and research:
UC students benefit from New Zealand Institute of Forestry meetings, lectures on campus, and summer work opportunities. Some of the biggest companies in Aotearoa New Zealand hire UC graduates and many obtain work overseas.
Possible careers include forest management (plantation and native forests), conservation, harvesting, wood processing, planning, policy, forest science, timber appraisal, biosecurity, forest economics, sustainability, and land management.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 480 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $7,645 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 480 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $7,798 per 120 points |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 480 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $36,600 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 480 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $36,200 (first 120 points) |
Contact us
For assistance with planning your programme of study contact the Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC | UC Liaison Office (new students), or a Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College of Engineering Student Advisor (advancing students).
For more general information email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone 0800 VARSITY (827 748).
For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Forestry Science. For more information on facilities, resources, and staff see the Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College of Engineering.