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Forestry

BAgrSc (NFQ Level 8)
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Sustainable Development Goals

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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If you are concerned about the natural environment and issues of sustainability then Forestry could be the course for you. Forestry students learn how to create habitats, provide spaces for recreation, and produce timber - a resource that can simultaneously store carbon and substitute for concrete and steel.

About This Course

If you are concerned about the natural environment and issues of sustainability then Forestry could be the course for you. Forestry students learn how to create habitats, provide spaces for recreation, and produce timber - a resource that can simultaneously store carbon and substitute for concrete and steel.

The Forestry sector has expanded considerably in Ireland in recent decades and there is an ongoing demand for qualified forestry professionals. With the skills you gain in this degree, you will be able to create meaningful change for the Irish environment and contribute positively to solving some of the biggest challenges facing the world.

UCD Forestry students gain skills in forest planning, remote sensing, the use of geographical information systems and forest modelling while developing the capacity for life-long learning that enables them to stay abreast of developments in policy, technology and the sciences that underpin forestry practice. They learn how to manage forest systems to:

  • Produce timber and renewable energy
  • Sequester carbon
  • Improve biodiversity and wildlife habitats
  • Develop resilience for climate change
  • Protect soil and water resources

The combination of science and business modules, complemented by a work experience placement, ensures that UCD Forestry graduates are in high demand across the sector.

First Year

The first year of the programme equips students with the basics in science and business knowledge; this provides the necessary grounding from which to progress to more specialised and technical aspects of forestry practice.

Second Year

This year focuses on developing land management, business and communication and principles of forestry knowledge.

Third Year

Third year comprises modules on forestryspecific topics like forest management, forest protection, silviculture, forest harvesting and forest inventory as well as key skills such as using remote sensing data and GIS. Students undertake a period of 16 weeks of work placement enabling them to return for the final year of study energised and informed about their chosen career.

Fourth Year

Fourth year is largely project-based and allows students to combine all of their skills and knowledge, while further developing their ability to communicate effectively.

Opportunities to travel abroad present in third year - forestry students have studied for a trimester in universities across the United States including:

  • Michigan State University, USA
  • Purdue University, USA
  • University of Vermont, USA

During Work Experience, students have travelled to Iceland, Germany, and the United States.

Forestry graduates find employment in all areas of the sector, including:

  • State and semi-state agencies
  • Forest management and consultancy
  • Wood processing and renewable energy
  • Environmental agencies
  • Education and research
  • Forestry contractors

Many graduates set up their own forestry businesses. Other opportunities include information technology, land-use planning and financial services.

Research to Master’s and PhD levels is available.

Marie Doyle
e: mdoyle@ucd.ie

UCD Agriculture & Food Science School Office
Agriculture & Food Science Centre
Belfield, Dublin 4

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Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
CHEM00020 Introductory Chemistry Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
FOR10020 Trees and Forests in Ireland Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MATH10230 Mathematics for Agriculture I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PHYC10180 Physics for Ag. Science Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
RDEV10020 Information Skills Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
RDEV10030 Introduction to Agricultural Economics and Business Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BIOL10010 Animal Biology and Evolution Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
BIOL10030 Cell and Plant Biology Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
CHEM10010 Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose ONE of the following Spring options modules. Students may choose further option modules in place of elective modules.
BSEN10010 Biosystems Engineering Design Challenge Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose ONE of the following Spring options modules. Students may choose further option modules in place of elective modules.
CPSC10010 Introduction to Crop Science Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose ONE of the following Spring options modules. Students may choose further option modules in place of elective modules.
FDSC10030 Our Food, Our Planet: Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose ONE of the following Spring options modules. Students may choose further option modules in place of elective modules.
HORT10020 Plants and People Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose ONE of the following Spring options modules. Students may choose further option modules in place of elective modules.
RDEV10040 Introduction to Food and Agribusiness Management Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
AERD20030 Business Management Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
AESC20060 Soil Science Basics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
FOR20040 Tree Structure and Function Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
FOR20100 Applied Biostatistics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
HORT20070 Agricultural Botany Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
MICR20010 Agricultural Microbiology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
BSEN20010 Engineering and Surveying Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
CPSC20040 Physiological Plant Ecology Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
FOR20050 Principles of Forestry Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
FOR30340 Professional Forestry Practice Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
RDEV20140 Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one of these option modules or instead any other elective credits adding up to 5 credits. It is recommended that students aim for a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.
FOR20120 Apiculture - bees, pollination and people Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one of these option modules or instead any other elective credits adding up to 5 credits. It is recommended that students aim for a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.
GEOL20110 Global Environmental Change Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
AESC30150 Forest Protection Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30400 Silviculture Autumn  10
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30420 Forest Management and Economics Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30430 Geographic Information Systems Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30070 Forest Harvesting Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30180 Professional Work Experience Spring  10
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30320 Wood Science Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
FOR30410 Forest Inventory and Sampling Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one or both of these of these option modules or any other elective credits adding up to 10 credits.
FOR30050 Elective Forestry Project II Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one or both of these of these option modules or any other elective credits adding up to 10 credits.
GEOL20110 Global Environmental Change Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one or both of these of these option modules or any other elective credits adding up to 10 credits.
FOR30350 Forest Certification and Sustainable Forest Management Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
FOR40160 Forest Inventory & Mgmt. Plan 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  20
Stage 4 Core Modules
FOR40180 Research Project (FOR) 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  20
Stage 4 Core Modules
AESC30150 Forest Protection Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
FOR40170 Forest Planning & Optimisation Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one or two of these option modules or any other elective credits adding up to 10 credits.
FOR20110 Forests, Climate and Carbon Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students can take one or two of these option modules or any other elective credits adding up to 10 credits.
FOR30350 Forest Certification and Sustainable Forest Management Spring  5

SDG1 SDG2 SDG3 SDG6 SDG7 SDG8 SDG9 SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13 SDG 15

 

Forests and trees, and their management, can contribute directly to the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Forestry degree delivered by UCD offers students opportunities for employment across the land-management sector where their knowledge will be key to furthering the impact of the SDGs to benefit society and the wider environment. Forestry students study a range of topic areas that contribute directly and indirectly to the achievement of the SDGs, as listed below.

While it is widely accepted that forests are the lungs of the earth, providing us with sustainable and renewable timber and support biodiversity…

  • time spent in a forest has been shown to have measurable impacts on blood pressure and stress levels thus contributing to better health & well-being; 
  • trees in urban settings reduce particulate pollution, shelter buildings and pedestrians and combat the ‘urban heat island’ effect which is exacerbated by climate change and increasing urbanisation; 
  • trees grown in agroforestry settings confer greater environmental and ecological sustainability to crop and livestock production systems; 
  • forestry plays a significant role in supporting biodiversity and management routinely aims for production of multiple ecosystem services; 
  • forests help to mitigate the impacts of storm events by regulating water flow and protecting soil surfaces from erosion. Trees and forests play an integral role in the global water cycle, distributing water resources and protecting water quality; 
  • well-managed forests support rural employment in management, harvesting, logistics and timber processing; 
  • trees directly sequester carbon, harvested wood products store carbon, and timber can be used as a substitute for high energy building materials, like steel and concrete. In addition, wood biomass is becoming more important as a renewable and sustainable energy source; 
  • the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognises that sustainable timber production is an essential climate mitigation tool; 
  • forest research continues to develop greater understanding of tree and forest systems, of how they interact with climate, of how we can optimise our management of them, and how our society can better benefit from them as well as conserve them; 

The SDGs that are directly, or indirectly, positively impacted by forests are: 

  • Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  • Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  • Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

I’m from Dublin and I don’t actually have any farming background but spent most weekends up the mountains but in TY I was introduced to Forestry and wanted to go for it. I worked all over Ireland during my working placement and got to see different harvesting sites, a saw mill did some chainsaw work which was really interesting. We also had foresters come in and talk to us which was brilliant to hear from experts working in the industry. It’s such a diverse course with lots of opportunities in many areas so if you have any interest in the outdoors definitely put it down!

Liam Irwin, Student

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Forestry:

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceInt
UAS1
Agricultural Science
Bachelor of Agricultural Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
showAudience-audienceEU
DN250
Agricultural Science
Bachelor of Agricultural Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Forestry:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceInt
UAS1
Agricultural Science
Bachelor of Agricultural Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.