Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Masters in Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management
Umeå, Sweden
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jan 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
SEK 80,000 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees.
Key Summary
This interdisciplinary program combines forest management, ecosystem ecology, ecophysiology, soil science and hydrology to provide young professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of ecologically, economically and socially sustainable forest management, with a focus on the boreal region – the largest land biome in the world.
This is the ideal degree if you are aiming for a career in applied forest ecology, silviculture, forest management, or a research career within these topics.
In this program, you will learn directly from the researchers who develop forestry science and forest ecology at the cutting edge of their fields.
As a student in the program you have the opportunity to apply, in competition, to the exchange program TRANSFOR-M for your second year of program studies. Within TRANSFOR-M, you have the opportunity to study for a year at one of three partner universities; University of British Columbia, University of Alberta or Lakehead University. After completing your studies, you meet the requirements to apply for a double degree, one from SLU and one from the Canadian university.
Scholarships are available for fee-paying students admitted to Bachelor’s and Master's programmes. The scholarships are awarded by SLU and the Swedish Institute (SI).
A scholarship offered by SLU covers tuition fees only, no living or travel expenses are included. You need to pay the application fee even if you apply for a scholarship.
Scholarships awarded by the Swedish Institute are available for fee-paying students admitted to Master’s programmes and cover both tuition fees and living expenses. There are several different scholarships available depending on your background.
This Master’s program targets Swedish and international students who aim for a professional or academic career in applied forest ecology, silviculture, or forest resource management. It is tailored to deepen students’ knowledge of forest ecosystems and their responses to management activities and global change factors; and ultimately to develop strategies to attain sustainable forest management.
During the program, students will gain a comprehensive skill set of ecology and management and develop into broadly competent professionals and researchers who
- have a deep and comprehensive understanding of forest ecosystem properties and processes and how management activities affect the provision of forest products and ecosystem services and
- have a vast set of practical and professional skills needed to make evidence-based forest management decisions to achieve multiple forest-use objectives.
Students will practice specific skills and tools frequently used in forest-related research and industries, such as data analysis, modelling, problem identification and solving, decision making, communication, and writing. The programme also emphasizes interactions between students, academic researchers, and professionals within the Swedish forestry and land-management sectors and government.
The backbone of the program consists of four courses in forest history, forest ecosystem ecology, silviculture and sustainable management of boreal forests. These courses are recommended to complete the program and can also be taken independently by students not registered in the full Master’s program.
During the two year program, students are also able to select from a wide range of elective courses and interact with leading researchers at theForest Faculty, our sister universityUmeå University, and the prestigiousUmeå Plant Science Center(UPSC).
With the electives, students can broaden their knowledge of forest ecology and management into soil science, hydrology, experimental plant biology, conservation biology, and tropical forest management and/or deepen their skills in specific tools and applications like GIS, remote sensing, statistical modelling, field methods or mapping.
MSc in Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management.
Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management graduates are highly competitive in the job market and qualified to continue studying in a doctoral programme.
During the two years of the programme, students will learn advanced topics in forest ecology and sustainable management for multiple objectives, practical skills, and professional development. Students will interact with academics, private industries, and public agencies through lectures, field excursions, symposia, and workshops. As international programme, we will create an active social network across the world.