MSc Community Forestry

Two-year TU Institute of Forestry postgraduate program producing specialists in community-based forest management, governance, natural resource policy, and applied forestry research.
Program builds capacity for managing community forestry systems through interdisciplinary coverage of political ecology, governance, socio-forestry dynamics, forest management, resource economics, enterprise development, GIS/remote sensing, and research. Structure emphasizes field-based learning, stakeholder analysis, conflict management, and scientific investigation. Graduates emerge equipped to operate at technical, managerial, and policy levels within Nepal’s community forestry ecosystem and broader natural-resource sectors.

Curricular structure

Salient features

• Field-driven evaluation: practicals, excursions, field visits, case studies, term papers.
• Independent thesis with RAC evaluation.
• English medium instruction with coordinated course management.
• Continuous internal assessment + final examination.
• Multi-dimensional pedagogy: lectures, labs, group work, individual assignments, and presentations.

Eligibility

• 4-year B.Sc. Forestry from TU or a TU-recognized university with minimum 50% aggregate.

Admission process

• Submit academic transcript, migration/equivalence certificate (if non-TU), character certificate, citizenship, photos, and No-Objection Certificate where applicable.
• Foreign candidates provide financial support affidavit.
• Sit for entrance exam: 300 marks (general knowledge, forestry, subject-specific).
• Minimum pass: 40% (120 marks).
• Merit list: 80% entrance score + 20% B.Sc. marks.
• Foreign applicants selected based on bachelor-level grades.
• Unfilled staff/foreign seats roll into full-fee category.

Job prospects

• Community forestry officer
• Forest governance and policy analyst
• Conservation project manager
• Natural resource conflict-management specialist
• NGO/INGO program officer
• Rural development practitioner
• Community-based enterprise development advisor
• Researcher and academic roles
• Roles within government forestry departments, protected-area programs, donor projects, and environmental consultancies