Forestry Education: Courses and Pathways

.Many Australian and international universities and TAFEs offer forestry or forest-related undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Due to the range of specialisations within the field, there are many subject areas to consider. The following are examples of subject areas that can lead you to a career in the forestry sector:

  • forest science
  • environmental science and management
  • biodiversity conservation
  • forest silviculture
  • forests, carbon and climate change
  • biosecurity, pests and diseases
  • fire management and planning

Australian University and TAFE Courses

There are several universities and TAFEs in Australia that offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses that can lead you to a career in forestry.

The following is not a comprehensive list. There are other Australian universities and TAFEs that also offer courses in environmental studies and ecology.

Australian National University (Canberra, ACT)
The Fenner School of Environment and Society has a range of undergraduate courses and major and minor options.

ANU also offers a Master of Forests.

Southern Cross University (Lismore, NSW)
Southern Cross University offers undergraduate and higher degrees research in Environmental Science.

University of Melbourne (Victoria)
The School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate pathways in a range of specialisations including environmental and ecosystem management, bushfire planning and management, and ecosystem science.

University of SA (South Australia)
UniSA offers undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science as well as pathways.
The course provides students with knowledge and skills in natural resource management, forest ecology, fire management, climate change adaptation, ecology, restoration and conservation, and GIS.

Via the UniSA industry linked research degrees, there are opportunities for higher level students and researchers to work on areas contributing to the social, environmental and economic sustainability of forest industries.

University of Sunshine Coast (Queensland)
Courses are offered in agricultural and forest ecology, climate change adaptation, ecology, and restoration and conservation.

The Forest Industries Research Centre has opportunities for higher level students and researchers to work on areas contributing to the environmental and economic sustainability of forest industries.

University of Tasmania (Hobart, TAS)
The ARC Centre for Forest Value produces industry-ready graduates and postdoctoral fellows with broad perspectives of the forest industry.

TAFE
There are a number of forest training pathways you can pursue through Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and other providers. Courses include:

  • Certificate IV in Forest Operations
  • Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management
  • Certificate II in Forest Growing and Management
  • Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage
  • Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management

International study
The following international forestry schools offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees that have attracted Australian students studying forestry, forest science and environmental management: