Environmental Science

Bachelor of Forestry

The Bachelor of Forestry is a four-year programme that prepares students for forest management, conservation and forest resource utilisation. Students study silviculture, forest management, forest ecology, wood science and forest policy. The programme is offered by University of Eldoret, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and Kenyatta University.

Students develop competencies in forest management, silviculture, forest inventory, forest conservation, wood science and forest policy. They learn to manage forests, conduct forest inventories, plan conservation and utilise forest resources sustainably. The programme covers forest ecology, silviculture, forest management, wood science and environmental conservation.

In Kenya, forestry is critical for water conservation, biodiversity, climate change mitigation and timber production. Kenya's target of 10 percent tree cover creates demand. The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) regulates the sector. Kenya's forest restoration including the Green Globe Initiative and agroforestry expansion create opportunities. Graduates find roles in KFS, county governments, conservation NGOs, timber companies and research institutions.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, fieldwork, laboratory sessions, forest practicals, industrial attachment and research projects. Students conduct forest inventories, manage nurseries, practice silviculture and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as foresters, forest managers, conservation officers, wood scientists and forest consultants. Some work for KFS or county governments. Others join conservation NGOs, timber companies or research institutions.

This programme is ideal for individuals with environmental passion, biological science aptitude and interest in forest management.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Silviculture and Tree Nursery Management
Forest Management and Planning
Forest Ecology and Biodiversity
Forest Inventory and Measurement
Wood Science and Technology
Forest Policy and Law
Agroforestry and Farm Forestry
Forest Protection and Health
Watershed Management
Research Methods and Statistics

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Forestry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of forestry, forest types and forest resources. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Forest Ecology and Biodiversity
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Forest ecosystems, biodiversity and ecological interactions. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Dendrology and Tree Identification
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Dendrology and Tree Identification: Tree taxonomy, identification and distribution of tree species Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Silviculture and Tree Nursery Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Silviculture and Tree Nursery Management: Tree establishment, growth, nursery operations and silvicultural systems Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Forest Inventory and Measurement
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Forest Inventory and Measurement: Forest measurement, inventory techniques and resource assessment Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Wood Science and Technology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Wood properties, processing, utilisation and wood products. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Forest Management and Planning
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Forest Management and Planning: Forest management planning, yield regulation and sustainable management Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Forest Protection and Health
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Forest Protection and Health: Forest pests, diseases, fire management and forest protection Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based practice.
Agroforestry and Farm Forestry
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Agroforestry and Farm Forestry: Agroforestry systems, tree-crop integration and farm forestry Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Forest Policy and Law
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Forest legislation, policy frameworks and forest governance. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Watershed Management
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Watershed Management: Watershed management, soil conservation and water resource protection Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research on forestry. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of...

Specialisations

Silviculture
Specialization in Silviculture, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Forest Management
Specialization in Forest Management, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Wood Science
Specialization in Wood Science, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Agroforestry
Specialization in Agroforestry, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Forest Conservation
Specialization in Forest Conservation, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Watershed Management
Specialization in Watershed Management, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on silviculture or forest ecology with afternoon fieldwork, laboratory sessions or forest practicals. Students may conduct forest inventories, manage tree nurseries, practice silvicultural techniques or work on forest management plans.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's 10 percent tree cover target
Diverse career paths in government, NGOs and industry
Opportunity to contribute to climate change mitigation
Growing demand for forest restoration and agroforestry

Against it

Fieldwork can be physically demanding
Some positions are in remote forest areas
Funding for forest programmes can fluctuate
Limited number of universities offering this programme

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public307k to 324k

307k at Egerton University324k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Egerton 307.3K (educationnewshub KUCCPS), UoN 324K (uonbi.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some conservation organisations and timber companies offer internship stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Biology
C+
Chemistry or Physics
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Fieldwork and Laboratory Practicals
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages forest conservation programmes and protected areas
Forest Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides consulting on forest management and conservation
Forester
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages forest resources and implements silvicultural practices
Forest Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages forest operations and planning
Wood Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Works on wood properties, processing and product development

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as foresters, forest managers, conservation officers, wood scientists and forest consultants in KFS, county governments, conservation NGOs, timber companies and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
Analytics
Python
Code
Google Earth Engine
Cloud
AutoCAD
Design
ArcGIS
Gis

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Forestry is just about planting trees
Forestry covers management, conservation, wood science, policy and watershed management.
There are no jobs in forestry
KFS, county governments, NGOs and timber companies create demand.
Forestry is only for rural areas
Forestry includes urban forestry, agroforestry, policy and research.
Forestry is not relevant to climate change
Forestry is critical for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.