List of Forestry Colleges in Nepal

In Nepal, forestry education primarily aims to prepare students to manage and conserve forest resources, promote sustainable land management, and tackle environmental challenges. Forestry education is necessary for Nepal's sustainable development and conservation efforts because of the country's complicated nature, which includes its dense forest cover. Forestry can be studied in Nepal at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s level. It can also be pursued as a diploma program. The courses available in forestry education at different levels has been briefly elaborated below.
BSc Forestry course runs under the faculty of science. This course provides four years B.Sc. in forestry program to produce competent, efficient, and practically oriented forest and natural resource professionals.

Diploma in Forestry in Nepal: -

Diploma in Forestry, also known as ISc Forestry is a three-year diploma program offered by the colleges affiliated with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). This program is designed in order to impart necessary skills to become a qualified forestry technicians and also for the overall development of the forest’s infrastructure and its resources.

There are very less amount of colleges that offer the Diploma in Forestry program. Some of them are:

  • Kathmandu Forestry College
  • Karnali Technical School
  • Tikapur Polytechnic Institute

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants who wish to pursue Diploma in Forestry need to fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for admission.

  • Candidates must have completed SEE or equivalent with minimum ‘C’ grade in Science, Mathematics, and English and ‘D+’ grade in the remaining subjects
  • Candidates must also clear the entrance examination conducted by the respective colleges under affiliation with CTEVT

Bachelor of Science (BSc) Forestry: -

BSc Forestry in Nepal is a four-year undergraduate program offered by colleges affiliated to the Tribhuvan University (TU) | Institute of Forestry (IOF). This program is specifically crafted to impart the essential knowledge and skills necessary for the effective management of forest ecosystems and the preservation of forest resources, all aimed at sustaining a healthy natural environment.

Some renowned educational institutions that offer the BSc Forestry program in Nepal. They are:

  • Kathmandu Forestry College

Kathmandu Forestry College offers four years B.Sc. Course in forestry Science in affiliation to T.U. It was established in 2005. This College has been undertaking research and outreach projects related to biodiversity, forestry, and natural resource management. The Bachelor's course in forestry produces competent Human Resource in forestry through high-quality education and research. It also offers training and consultancy on sustainable forest management, GIS GPS and remote sensing applications to Forestry, natural resource management and other fields, livelihood enhancement through agroforestry promotion.

  • Institute of Forestry Hetauda Campus

It is a public Campus of Tribhuvan University in Hetauda. It offers a technical certificate in Forestry, a Bachelor of Science in Forestry, and a Master in Forestry. There are 80 seats allocated for studying Bachelor of Science in Forestry at the Institute of Forestry Hetauda Campus. The entrance exam will be two hours. It is the first institute to commit itself to education and training in Forestry and Natural Resource Management.

  • Institute of Forestry Pokhara Campus

It is one of the five technical institutes under Tribhuvan University. It was shifted to Hetauda in 1965 after its initial establishment in 1947 at Sing durbar. This institute help to meet the needs of the growing demand for skilled and competent natural Resource Management in the Country. 

 

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants who wish to pursue Bachelor of Science (BSc) Forestry need to fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for admission.

  • Candidates must have completed +2 in Science stream or must have a Diploma in Forestry degree with a minimum of ‘C’ grade or ‘2’ GPA in the board examination.
  • Candidates must also clear the entrance examination conducted by the Tribhuvan University | Institute of Forestry.

Entrance Examination:

The entrance examination conducted by the Institute of Forestry (IOF) | TU for the BSc Forestry program encompasses the following:

  • The examination is of 100 marks in total
  • The questions asked are multiple choice objective questions of one marks each
  • In order to clear the entrance examination, applicants must secure a minimum of 40 marks
  • The merit list is only published after adding 80% marks from the entrance and 20% from the marks secured in +2/ diploma level.

Fee Structure:

The overall fees to be paid by the Students in order to complete the BSc Forestry program ranges from NPR 700000 to NPR 1000000.

Master of Science (MSc) Forestry: -

The MSc Forestry in Nepal is a two-year post-graduate program offered by the constituent colleges of the Tribhuvan University | Institute of Forestry (IOF). The program is designed with the objective of producing highly qualified and properly trained personnel that work for the conservation and management of forests and its resources. There are limited number of colleges that offer the MSc Forestry program under TU | Institute of Forestry (IOF). Some of them are:

  • Pokhara Campus IOF
  • Hetauda Campus IOF

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants who wish to pursue Master of Science (MSc) Forestry need to fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for admission.

  • Candidates must complete the BSc Forestry degree securing at least 50% marks in aggregate
  • Candidates must also clear the entrance examination conducted by the Tribhuvan University (TU) | Institute of Forestry (IOF)

Entrance Examination:

The entrance examination conducted by the Institute of Forestry (IOF) | TU for the MSc Forestry program encompasses the following:

  • The examination is of 300 marks in total
  • The applicant must secure a minimum of 40% i.e. 120 marks in order to pass the entrance examination
  • The merit list is only published after adding 80% marks from the entrance and 20% from the marks secured in BSc Forestry

Career Scope and Job Opportunities:

Graduates who have successfully obtained a degree in Forestry at various levels open themselves up to a diverse array of career prospects within the realm of forest conservation, management, research, and related sectors. In Nepal, opting for a Forestry degree can unlock a range of employment possibilities in relevant fields. Here are some potential career paths and job opportunities for individuals holding a Forestry degree:

  • Forest Officer
  • Wildlife Conservationist
  • Forest Researcher
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Specialist in Agroforestry
  • Forest Products Industry Professional
  • Roles within Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)