HNC Forestry at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

The HNC Forestry gives the skills, knowledge and experience for work as a supervisor or self-employed contractor in the forestry industry. It is taught at the Scottish School of Forestry, UHI Inverness. The course is undergoing periodic review and reapproval, so some aspects may change before enrolment.

Duration: Full time: 1 year; part time: 2-3 years | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Mandatory units are forest science, timber sales and transportation, graded unit 1, employment and health and safety legislation for the land-based industries, establishment of woodland, forest harvesting and forest mensuration and thinning control. Options include land measurement, woodland nursery production, woody plant biology, silvicultural systems and forestry operations work programming.

Career pathways

Forest supervisor or foreman, or contractor. Graduates can progress to year 2 of the BSc (Hons) Forest Management.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Two Scottish Highers at grade C or above or two A levels at grade D or above, ideally including one science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Mathematics or Environmental Science). Experience of woodland work or a course such as Forestry and Urban Woodland Operations (Advanced) is recommended. Applicants without standard entry requirements are encouraged to apply and life or work experience is considered. International applicants: IELTS Academic overall 5.5 with no component below 5.0 for online study; for on-campus study on a Student Route Visa, IELTS for UKVI (Academic) overall 5.5 with no component below 5.0, or LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 overall 60 with no component below 55.

Domestic applicants: GBP 1,285 a year (2026/27). Students normally domiciled in Scotland, full-time. Source

International applicants: GBP 9,460 a year (2026/27). International students, full-time, term-time address in Scotland. Source

Intake: September

Duration: Full time: 1 year; part time: 2-3 years

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