Forest and Nature Management

Forest and nature areas have many important functions. They protect biological diversity, provide pure drinking water, produce wood and provide the setting for outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and recreation. Forests are important for the well-being of the entire earth - animals, plants, humans, the climate and the environment all depend on them.

The programme is offered in English.

As a graduate from the MSc programme in Forest and Nature Management, you will be involved in finding a sustainable balance between ecology, economy and society.

You will have completed a modern and international management programme which enables you to develop the world’s forests and natural areas in a sustainable manner.

Excursions and field trips are important elements in the programme and give you the chance to learn about real problems and their solutions.

Profile and Career

Graduates from the MSc programme in Forest and Nature Management are sought-after, and the programme offers plenty of opportunities for making a career in Denmark or internationally.
If you choose this programme, you acquire competences which:

• Enable you to manage forest and natural areas in a way which does not impact the environment and the climate
• Prepare you for advising and managing companies engaging in production based on natural resources in a way which offers a financial profit as well as takes the environment into account
• Enable you to contribute, by means of legislation, to finding a sustainable balance between ecology, economy and the global community’s need and requirement for forest and natural areas

Competence Description

The programme also provides you with knowledge and tools within areas and issues such as for example:

• Forest biology, soil and ecological cycles
• Economy, management and the rules and legislation which govern our use of forests and nature
• Strategic and holistic management, planning and administration
• Taking responsibility and turning ideas and visions into action
• Collaboration and conflict resolution.

The programme provides good opportunities for study stays abroad

Career Opportunities.

Graduates from the MSc programme in Forest and Nature Management find employment in both the public and private sectors and can work with forestry, nature and the environment worldwide, for instance:

• As a head of section or head of division in a ministry, e.g. the Danish Ministry of the Environment
• As a nature and environmental manager in the municipalities
• As a manager of nature restoration projects
• With sustainable management and project management in private companies, e.g. within corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• As a project manager in consultancy firms
• As a forest supervisor or master of forestry in a private forest or state forest district
• As a forestry consultant on private forest properties in Denmark and abroad
• Within research and education at universities and other institutions of higher education

The programme consists of compulsory courses, thematic courses, elective courses and a thesis. You will also have the opportunity to do internships or go on study trips during your studies.

There is a well-established collaboration with the business community that ensures excellent prospects for internships or project collaborations, providing you with a unique experience and a good network.

Instruction is in the form of lectures, seminars, practical and theoretical exercises, and there will be a good deal of project work. You will be working both independently and in project groups. Excursions and field work constitute major elements of the programme. This allows you to learn to solve problems in, for example, private companies or organisations. You can also choose volunteer work, or you can take part of your programme abroad.

Courses

In your first year, you follow a thematic course which focuses on forest and nature ecology. You learn about the functions of forests and nature, and you use your knowledge to solve real-life cases.

Six months have been reserved for elective courses which give you the chance to target your programme within the subject areas that you find interesting. You can, for example, develop your competences within economics, tropical forestry, management and communication.

At the end of the programme, you will follow the thematic course ‘Forest and Nature Management Planning’. The course reviews all the knowledge you have acquired and which you need to combine in order to prepare a long-term general plan for the management of a given area.

Thesis

The thesis concludes the programme. You have six months to complete a project which, for example, deals with a specific area, a company, a theory or a current issue. You can write your thesis either on your own or in a group.

BSc graduates in Natural Resources with a subject-specific module in Nature and Society or a subject-specific module in Environmental Science as well as Forest and Landscape Engineers are admitted directly to the programme.Graduates holding the following BSc degrees from the Faculty of Science are admitted if they meet additional requirements, e.g.:BSc graduates in Natural Resources with the core module course in Plant Science: An additional requirement for 7.5 credits within Social Science (e.g. Natur- og landskabspolitik, Miljø- og planlovgivning (natur og by el. natur og vand) or Tema: Natur, miljø og samfund). (The courses are only offered in Danish)BSc graduates in Natural Resources with the core module course in Animal Science: An additional requirement for 7.5 credits within Social Science (e.g. Natur- og landskabspolitik, Miljø- og planlovgivning (natur og by el. natur og vand) or Tema: Natur, miljø og samfund). (The courses are only offered in Danish)BSc graduates in Landscape Architecture (both core module courses): An additional requirement for 7.5 credits within ‘Economics’ (e.g. Indledende økonomi, Skov- og naturforvaltningsøkonomi, Mikroøkonomi or Investering og finansiering). (The courses are only offered in Danish)BSc graduates in Farming Economy: An additional requirement for 7.5 credits within ‘Ecology’ (e.g. Naturressourcer og økologi or Dyrs og planters diversitet). (The courses are only offered in Danish)BSc graduates in Biology – Biotechnology: An additional requirement for 7.5 credits within ‘Economics’ (e.g. Indledende økonomi, Skov- og naturforvaltningsøkonomi, Mikroøkonomi or Investering og finansiering) and 7.5 credits within ‘Society’ (e.g. Natur- og landskabspolitik, Miljø- og planlovgivning (natur og by el. natur og vand) or Tema: Natur, miljø og samfund). (The courses are only offered in Danish)In order to be eligible for admission, other BSc graduates must have completed a BSc programme containing elements from all three dimensions: Economics, Ecology and Society, enabling the applicant to understand and handle the whole and the consequent considerations.In practice, a minimum number of credits is required within each of the three subject areas:Economics – at least 7.5 ECTS creditsEcology – at least 7.5 ECTS creditsSocial subjects – at least 7.5 ECTS creditsThe more precise subjects and disciplines studied by the student within each subject area are less important. An individual assessment of whether the graduate meets the admission requirement as to the subjects studied will be carried out in each case. Below is an indication of which subjects and disciplines might be relevant within each of the three subject areas.Ecology: The applicant must possess qualifications in natural science and knowledge of the structure and functions of forests and other ecosystems. Relevant disciplines include botany, zoology, soil science, system ecology, plant physiology, cytology and bio-geo-chemistry.Economics: Economics has been separated out from the other social science subjects here because economic calculations, optimisation and planning are very central to this MSc programme. The applicant must have experience and knowledge of the economic way of thinking and of economic theory – at micro and/or macro level (business economics or economics).Social subjects: The applicant must possess qualifications in social sciences and/or the arts and knowledge of society and people, within such fields as e.g. sociology, political science, law, cultural geography, anthropology, organisation, management or psychology.Language RequirementsTo gain admission to an MSc in the English language, non-Danish applicants must document qualifications on par with the Danish secondary school ‘English level B'. The Faculty of Science accepts the following 3 ways of documenting this:English is your native language. The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen, accepts The University of Purdue view that citizens of the following countries are exempted from taking an English Language Proficiency exam: Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Irish Republic, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales and United States of AmericaIf you are citizen of one of the above countries, you are not required to submit any proof of English proficiency. Your copy of your passport will suffice as sufficient proof.Prior studies completed in the English language/in an English speaking country. For example, if you have studied your Bachelor degree in England you are not required to complete an English language proficiency exam. We ask such students to provide a signed statement from the Educational institution (with the institution's stamp on it) stating that English is the main language of instruction. Furthermore, applicants from Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland) do not need to provide proof of English language proficiency.Applicants with English as their second language (except Scandinavians) must pass an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge Advanced English test before being admitted. The Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, accepts the following tests and scores:IELTS-test (British Council) with a minimum score of 6.5Computer-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 213 pointsPaper-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 560 pointsInternet-based TOEFL-test with a min score of 83 pointsLanguage tests older than 2 years are not accepted (from the application deadline). English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 560 TOEFL iBT® test: 83

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The Faculty of Science will not be awarding any scholarships for the academic year 2014/2015.

Please note that many scholarships are offered by companies or organisations, it can be worthwhile to research your particular options from your home country.