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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%.
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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 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.