Course description
Since 2000 the School of the Environment and Natural Resources has been developing an integrated suite of postgraduate distance-learning courses to allow students in full-time employment or with other commitments, and for whom a full-time University course is not a realistic possibility, to study for a high-quality, internationally recognised postgraduate qualification in a forestry-related subject area. We are unique in the UK in offering forestry-related distance-learning courses at this level. All the modules comprising our postgraduate distance-learning programmes are designed to be stand-alone and students can therefore join their chosen course at the start of the next available opportunity (1st September, 1st January or 1st May annually). It is possible to study any number of individual modules, dependent on your requirements, although we would encourage you to work towards a Postgraduate Certificate (3 taught modules), a Postgraduate Diploma (6 taught modules), or a full MSc (6 taught modules plus a research dissertation).
Description
The Forestry and Forest Products programme is designed to provide students with detailed knowledge of the interactions between the sustainable growing and end-uses of forest resources. We anticipate that graduates of this programme will be able to confidently apply for employment in either the forestry profession or the forest products industry. This is borne out by the fact that the course is fully accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
Key course modules relevant to end-use cover the anatomy and ultrastructure of wood and production of 'traditional' wood-based forest products. Modules in forest ecology and the sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) cover the essentials of sustainable forest management (SFM) whilst modules in the commercial aspects of the forest products market and in inventory, assessment and monitoring cover the more quantitative aspects of SFM. This course also includes a practical element which the majority of students will undertake during a one-week Summer School held annually in Bangor.
In common with our other forestry-related distance-learning programmes the Forestry and Forest Products course is specifically designed to allow qualifying individuals to undertake a programme of postgraduate study – ranging from a single module to a full Master of Science qualification – without needing to leave home to attend University or to give up full-time employment.
Please note that, in addition to the limited information available on this page, further details are available for download for the Forestry and Forest Products programme and for the full suite of forestry-related distance-learning opportunities. More information is also accessible on-line at our distance-learning mini-site.
Course structure - MSc Forestry and Forest Products by distance-learning
All our distance-learning MSc
programmes are studied in two parts.
Part 1 consists of six taught modules,
run over a two-year period, which
must be completed successfully before
proceeding to Part 2. The modules,
detailed below, run in strict rotation
with starting points on 1st January,
1st May and 1st September each year
and have been specifically designed
so that it is possible to start your
studies with the next available
module. Each module, supported by
bespoke course notes, one or more
published textbooks and modulespecific
on-line resources, is intended
to take approximately 200 hours of
student effort, or roughly 12 to 15
hours of study each week. At the end
of each module, you will submit a
piece of continual assessment (60% of
possible module marks) and will sit a
3-hour examination (40% of possible
module marks).
Part 2 of the MSc degree runs for one
full year and students use this period
for the production of a dissertation.
Once again, the intended workload is
in the region of 12 hours per week.
The topic selected for the dissertation
will be agreed with your nominated
project supervisor and could relate to
virtually any aspect of forestry or
wood science that particularly
interests you.
Part One Modules
Forest Products and their
Utilisation details the processes used
to convert round timber into various
products. Areas covered include
sawmilling and drying, paper-making,
the production of wood-based
composites, and the production of
chemicals.
Wood Anatomy and Ultrastructure
deals with the structure of wood,
from a molecular to macroscopic
level, and covers the essential
biological and chemical principles
needed to understand cell structure
and formation in wood. The various
cell types and how they are linked
together is covered in detail, along
with the effect that ultrastructure has
upon physical properties such as flow
penetration, strength etc. The module
also considers the various
instrumental techniques that can be
brought to bear in order to study
wood structure.
Commercial Aspects of the
Timber Trade covers all aspects of
the global forest resource, what
timbers come from where, how much
resource is left, future trends in
timber stocks, and what new timbers
are likely to come onto the market.
Particular reference is made to
economic aspects. The module also
covers the wood properties
considered desirable from a
commercial aspect, and the markets
currently available for various
timbers, including an analysis of
future trends.
Forest Ecology presents the
occurrence and ecology of different
forest types. Emphasis is placed on
forest biota and soils, and nutrient
cycling and hydrology.
Inventory, Assessment and
Monitoring considers ways in which
forest resources can be assessed and
recorded, enabling growth and
development to be scientifically
monitored. Students will be provided
with the opportunity to acquire
knowledge and understanding of the
specialist areas of mensuration, forest
inventory and forest resource
assessment and monitoring, the latter
to include aspects of GIS.
Sustainable Use of Non-Timber
Forest Products (NTFP’s) covers the
ways in which forests may be
managed to recognise the value and
enterprise development potential of
non-timber forest products (NTFP’s).
Due consideration is given to
production systems for 'wild' products
which arise without human
intervention and products derived
from cultivation of products in forests
and from trees outside forests.
Summer School
Practical classes are difficult to arrange
on a distance-learning programme. For
this reason we run a five-day summer
school in the first full week of August
each year where you will participate
in practical exercises in addition to
interacting with fellow students and
staff during a full and varied
programme of direct relevance to your
studies. Attendance at the summer
school is compulsory for UK-based
students and is strongly recommended
for students based in Europe. For other
students, attendance at the summer
school is not required, although you are
more than welcome to attend should
you wish to do so. We are not able to
reimburse travel or subsistence costs
associated with the Forestry and Forest
Products summer school.
