Forestry HNC

What is special about this course?

The HNC Forestry will give you the skills, knowledge and experience required to succeed as a supervisor or self-employed contractor in the forestry industry.

Subjects include: forest science; establishment of woodlands; forest harvesting; forest mensuration and thinning control; timber sales and transportation; and woodland nursery production.

Special features

• You will study at the Scottish School of Forestry, part of UHI Inverness
• You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal and professional circumstances
• You will learn the technical, supervisory and managerial skills necessary for employment in forestry and woodland

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

• 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
• 1 Scottish Higher at grade B, plus 4 National 5s at grade B or above OR
• 2 A level at grade D or above
• Minimum of 1 year's pre-course experience in woodland environment is required or attainment of the Certificate in Forestry or equivalent. This requirement may be waived for applicants with 3 or more Highers, or equivalent, at grade B or above
• Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply. Relevant life or work experience will be taken into consideration on an individual basis

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

• Forestry: forest science
• Forestry: timber sales and transportation
• Forestry: graded unit 1
• Employment and health and safety legislation for the land-based industries
• Establishment of woodland
• Forest harvesting
• Forest mensuration and thinning control

Option units may include:

• Forestry: land measurement
• Woodland nursery production
• Forestry: woody plant biology
• Forestry: silvicultural systems
• Communication: practical skills
• Forestry operations: work programming
• Leadership of countryside activities 

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

You will need to purchase your own high vis vest, hard hat and safety boots, at an approximate cost of £40 in total.

There are additional costs associated with the Scottish Borders and South of England field trips, however students via the Forestry and Arboriculture Society normally fundraise and seek sponsorship to cover these costs.