BSc Forestry Eligibility, Admission, Entrance Exams, Subjects, Colleges and Jobs 2021-22

Q: Which are the Best colleges and universities to Pursue B.Sc?

Listed below are few of the best colleges for BSc Forestry:Agricultural college and research institute, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)Birsa Agricultural Institute, Ranchi (Jharkhand)College Of Forestry, Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir)College Of Agriculture, Mysore (Karnataka)

Sounak Banerjee

Content Curator

BSc Forestry is a 4-year full-time UG course which is divided into 8 semesters, the students planning to get training in the forestry department to enroll for this course. The minimum requirement to pursue this course is 10+2 from a recognized educational board with the minimum marks required i.e. 50%.

Note: Students who wish to pursue their education in Management field or get a career boost, can check MBA course.

The admissions are granted based on the aspirants’ performance in the entrance exam, personal interview. The qualifying students also need to clear a counseling round which is conducted post clearing of their entrance examination. During the 4 years course, the students are trained to become forest professionals undertaking roles like conserving forest and forest resources, managing forest resources, developing new strategies to protect the forest and forest resources.

The main subjects that are taught in this program include oral value education, Forest mensuration, Professional communication, Environmental studies, Principles of forest soil sciences, among many others.

There are a number of colleges offering this course, but you cannot pursue this course from distance learning.

Key Highlights of BSc Forestry
Course Level	Undergraduate
Duration of the Course	4 years
Examination Type	Semester and Annual
Eligibility	10+2 from a recognized educational Board
Admission Process	Counseling post-qualifying entrance examination or on merit-based
Average Course Fee	INR 35,000 per annum
Average Salary	INR 4.5-6 Lakhs per annum
Top Job Areas	Zoological parks, wildlife ranges, wildlife research institutes, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), wildlife department, forest nurseries, etc.
Top Job Positions	Assistant Manager, Nursery Manager, Farming Manager or can also become a teacher

BSc Forestry Eligibility

The minimum eligibility required to pursue BSc Forestry is:

The students must have completed 10+2 from a recognized educational board with a minimum aggregate score of 50%.
The minimum marks of admission for this course vary from institute to institute so the students are advised to cross-check the minimum marks required at the time of applying.
The candidates appearing for 10+2 examinations are also eligible to apply, but they need to produce their exam scores at the time of counseling (with at least minimum marks required).
You might need to appear for college/national level entrance examinations.
There is no age limit specified to pursue this course.

BSc Forestry Admission Process

The admissions to this course are based on the merit and entrance exams. Few of the exams like ICAR AIIEEA, JCECE, and many other state and university level exams offer admission to these courses. Few colleges also accept the test score of HORTICET 2021 (Horticulture Common Entrance Test).

Direct Admission: In this mode, candidates need to fill the application forms available both online and offline. They need to fill the details with 100% accuracy and necessary documents required. Candidates will get shortlisted on the basis of 10+2 score.
Entrance Based Admission: Few of the colleges and universities offer this course on the basis of college and university level entrance exams followed by PI and GD rounds. Candidates are shortlisted on the basis of cutoff marks.

BSc Forestry Entrance Exams

The candidates can apply for the bachelor’s course in forestry post completing 10+2 examination with PCB/PCM/PCMB group. There are few of the common entrance exams offering admissions to this course. Few of them are discussed below:

Entrance Exam	Overview	Application Period	Exam Date
JCECE	Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (JCECE) is conducted by JCECE Board for offering admissions in courses like Forestry, Agriculture, BHMS, and alike. It is an offline test. The application forms for this exam can be downloaded in the month of April. The only examination center of this exam is in Ranchi.	July 08, 2020, to August 08, 2020	August 2020
ICAR Exam	The ICAR All India Entrance Examination (AIEE) is organized to select the aspirants for admission in various undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs in agriculture and allied sciences. The ICAR AIEEA exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Some of the universities/ colleges that accept ICAR AIEEA exam scores for UG course admissions include Agriculture University (AU), Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Central Agricultural University (CAU), and many other colleges and universities.	March 1- June 30, 2020	To be announced
OUAT 2020	It is a university level examination organized by Orissa university. It offers admission in various UG courses that are conducted in the month of June. It is an offline examination. OUAT 2020 exam offers admission in the courses related to agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and alike.	February 20- June 16, 2020	To be announced

One of the most important steps that all the candidates planning to do this course needs to understand is that they must study dedicatedly as per the latest exam pattern and syllabus. Mainly, there are five sections in almost all the entrance exams, which are:

Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Agriculture
Mathematics

The students must devote at least 2-3 hours each day to prepare for the exam in a dedicated way. ICAR Exam is conducted to grant UG and PG course admissions to the students. The ICAR exam comprises questions in both Hindi and English language and the questions in the test are asked from subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, and Mathematics.

BSc Forestry Subjects

The year-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus stating all the subjects is mentioned below. The first-year deals with core aspects like the Principle of civil culture, Forest ecology, Cytology, General biochemistry while the second year includes subjects like Dendrology, Principles of forest soil sciences, Surveying, etc.

The subjects might differ from college to college, but the majority of the course concepts remain the same in almost all the colleges.

Year 1
Moral values of education	Forest mensuration
Professional communication	Environmental studies I
Human development	Introduction to forest soil science
Principle of civil culture	Dendrology
Forest ecology	Principles of forest soil sciences
Cytology	Surveying
Elementary Mathematics	Fundamentals of Extension Education
General Biochemistry	Tree Seed Technology
Introduction to Tree Science	Agro Meteorology
Computer Applications	General forest microbiology
Physical Education	-

Year 2
Agroforestry	Environmental Studies II
Forest Management	Silvicultural Systems
Forest Entomology	Wood Science
Silviculture of Indian Trees	Livestock Management
The fertility of Forest Soils	Fundamentals of Wildlife
General Forest Microbiology	Forest Soil Survey
Nursery Management	Statistical Methods
Wood Anatomy	Statistical Methods
NCC and NSS	-

Year 3
Forest utilization I	Fruit production
Forest utilization II	Rangeland Management
Tree physiology	Logging
Forest pathology	Forest biotechnology
Forest soils	Tree improvement
Commercial forestry	Wildlife management
Forest production economics	Forest policy legislation
Plantation forestry	Wood seasoning
Year 4
Study tour	Soil water management
Bioenergy	Forest project
Ecotourism	Forestry work experience
Environmental Impact Assessment	Climate change

There are a number of academic books that one can refer, to understand the concepts of the subject. Few of them are listed below:

Name of the book	Author
Introduction to Forestry Science	De Vere Burton
Forestry: A Subjective Guide for IFS Aspirants	K.T. Parthiban, S. Umesh Kanna, S.Vennila, I.Sekar
Indian Forestry	K. Manikandan, S. Prabhu
Continuous Cover Forestry	Timo Pukkala, Klaus Von Gadow
Forest Resources & Sustainable Development	Kailash Chandra Bebarta

BSc Forestry Colleges

There are numerous that offer BSc Forestry courses to the qualifying students. Below tables lists some of the top colleges for BSc Forestry:

College Name	Location	Entrance Exam	Average Total Fees
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology	Orissa	OUAT 2020	INR 83,424
Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya	Madhya Pradesh	ICAR Entrance Exam	INR 58,395
Mewar University	Rajasthan	Merit-based	INR 2.12 Lakhs
Institute of Media Management, Technology, and Agrosciences	Dehradun	Merit-based	INR 1.61 Lakhs
Vasantrao Nair Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth	Maharashtra	MHT-CET/NEET/AIEEA-UG	INR 40,850
North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology	Arunachal Pradesh	Own entrance test	INR 50,730
Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences	Dehradun	Merit-based	INR 3 Lakhs
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya	Chattisgarh	Merit-based	INR 27, 200
Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology	Uttar Pradesh	Entrance Exam Based	INR 1.7 Lakhs
Himalayan Institute of Technology	Dehradun	Merit-based	INR 2.36 Lakhs

Quick Look: Top BSc Forestry Colleges

BSc Forestry Jobs & Career Options

BSc Forestry graduates can easily get employed within the organization’s post completing their studies, some of the popular working areas for the graduates in the leading organization include:

Zoological parks	Wildlife ranges
Wildlife research institutes	Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and its affiliated institutes
Corporates having their own plantations for timbering	National parks & sanctuaries
Forest nurseries	Wildlife department
Forest departments	-

Besides the above-mentioned sectors, there are many other sectors that hunt for qualified graduates who have completed BSc Forestry. BSc Forestry course is best for those who want to enhance their awareness regarding the latest technology used in the field of Forestry. After completing the course, the graduates can work as an Assistant Manager, Nursery Manager, Farming Manager, or can also become a teacher by joining a public or private institute as well.

The table below describes some of the few job positions that can be considered by the BSc Forestry graduates along with the Average Salary Scale:

Job Position	Job Description	Average Annual Salary
Assistant Manager	The main duty of a manager is to organize and monitor inventory levels to maximize efficiency. They need to showcase amazing skills like contract negotiation and organizational planning.	INR 5.81 Lakhs
Nursery Manager	Nursery Managers look for ways to optimize growing conditions for each plant. They decide which plants are needed to grow and the number of plants that are important for business operations.	INR 4 Lakhs
Agri-Credit Manager	Agricultural Managers look at the development of crops, protect animals, and other items that can be sold to businesses or private consumers.	INR 5.35 Lakhs
Farming Manager	Farm Managers take the responsibilities related to supervising a farm. They can perform any necessary manual labor as well.	INR 7 Lakhs
Teacher	Those who are interested in Social Studies but don’t want to teach can find a career as an Instructional Coordinator a good fit. They can be made responsible to develop subject-specific curricula in the schools and colleges.	INR 3 Lakhs

Source: Payscale

The demand for BSc Forestry is increasing day by day and getting gainful employment across different fields is not difficult for the graduates. The wildlife department, forest departments, and national parks & sanctuaries look for the graduates in this field who can help in making crucial decisions regarding preserving the environment and are interested in the environment, wildlife, conservation, etc.

Pursuing a course in BSc Forestry will help the graduates to get lucrative job opportunities that pay them a decent salary as well. Moreover, they can also go for a master’s degree like MSc in Forestry.

MSc Forestry: MSc Forestry is a 2-year post-graduation degree that enables you to broaden your knowledge in the area of forestry and its use. Colleges offering this course offer admissions in this course on the basis of entrance exams. An average fee charged to pursue this course ranges from INR 16,000- INR1.5 lakhs. After pursuing your masters, you can earn an average package of INR 6 Lakhs per annum. Top profiles for MSc Forestry graduates are Field Inspector, Forest Range Officer, Entomologists, and many more prospects.

BSc Forestry Vs BSc Agriculture

BSc Forestry Course Comparison

BSc Forestry Vs BSc Agriculture

Beneath we are discussing few differences between BSc Forestry and BSc in Agriculture. The following table shows the key difference between BSc Forestry and BSc Agriculture in terms of Impact, course material, and orientation:

Parameters	BSc Forestry	BSc Agriculture
Overview	Forestry is the sub-branch of agriculture and if you are into an adventure you must opt for this course. Also in case you are genuinely interested in the forest then go for it.	Agriculture is the main branch so after completing graduation, the students can explore wider options.
Course duration	4 years UG course	4 years UG course
Career Opportunities	One can take the job of a forester or forest department officer in the State Governments’ Forest Department.	You can be a scientist, professor, agricultural field officer, or move to the management side too.
Average Fee	INR 35,000 per annum	INR 10,000- INR 50,000
Job Profiles	Assistant Manager, Nursery Manager, Farming Manager, Research Analyst, Biologist, Associate Research Scientist, Microbiologist	Field Officer, Agriculture Officer, Farm Manager, Plantation Manager, Research Officer, Officer in Quality Assurance in Related Fields, and Agriculture Loan Officer in Banks
Average Annual Salary Offered	INR 4.5 Lakhs to 6 Lakhs	INR 3 to 6 lakh per annum (including incentive).

Source: College and Universities Official Website

BSc Forestry: FAQs

Ques. What is the ICAR AIEEA exam?

Ans. ICAR AIEEA is a national level exam conducted to select aspirants for admission in UG, PG, and doctoral level courses offered in agriculture and allied sciences.

Ques. What is the scope of doing this program in India?

Ans. There are tons of job opportunities that can be considered post completing this course from a recognized college or university.

Ques. What careers can be explored post completing the B.Sc Forestry course?

Ans. The B.Sc Forestry graduates are prepared to take up the challenging role within an organization. They can work at zoological parks, wildlife ranges, with corporates that have their own plantations for timbering among many other options.

Ques. Which are the Best colleges and universities to Pursue B.Sc?

Ans. Listed below are few of the best colleges for BSc Forestry:

Agricultural college and research institute, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
Birsa Agricultural Institute, Ranchi (Jharkhand)
College Of Forestry, Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir)
College Of Agriculture, Mysore (Karnataka)

Ques. What are the minimum requirements of a B.Sc in Forestry?

Ans. The candidates must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board.

Ques. What is the entire duration of the program?

Ans. The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Forestry program is a four years UG course.

Ques. From where can I download a mock test for ICAR AIEEA 2020 exam preparation?

Ans. The candidates can download the mock tests by visiting the official website.

Ques: How can I Fill JCECE Application Form?

Ans. JCECE application form can be obtained online only by visiting the official website i.e. jceceb.nic.in.

Ques. Is the ICAR AIEEA exam date shifted due to COVID’19?

Ans. Yes, the ICAR AIEEA examination has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Ques. Can an aspirant pursue a BSc Forestry course from distance education?

Ans. No, you cannot pursue BSc Forestry from distance learning.

Ques. What is a BSc Forestry course duration?

Ans. This program is a full-time course of 4 years duration.

BSc (Bachelor of Science) Forestry Course, Eligibility, Admission Process, Entrance Exams, Subjects, Colleges, Jobs, and Salary 2021-22