No. The DFWS offers ONE degree (abbreviated BScFor), but it is split into TWO specialisations of which the formal names are (a) Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences, and (b) Wood and Wood Product Sciences. In the questions that follow, we will call them Forestry and Wood Science for short.

They are very good. Over the last decade, more than 85% of BScFor students were rapidly absorbed by the sector (i.e. they found employment immediately, or in the worst case within one year following graduation). Employment options are quite diverse: Students in the Forestry specialisation find employment with either multinational or South African forestry/timber companies, timber co-operatives, research institutions, science councils, forest conservation bodies/national parks, as private entrepreneurs or contactors, through placement in the government sector (e.g. DEFF), or as independent scientists/consultants. Students specialising in Wood Science often work for (or start-up) small-scale wood processing businesses, or find employment with sawmills, pulp mills, furniture manufacturers, window and door manufacturers, particle/plywood/composites or laminated products manufacturers, research institutions, science councils, or as private consultants. Please look at the Forest and Wood Science brochures, the programme presentation, as well as the Alumni Profile pages for some examples.

Yes, but you must apply widely. More than 80% of our undergraduate students currently have bursary support. The forestry and wood products sector are currently investing heavily in student bursaries. 

Yes, you need both Mathematics and Physical Science.

No, unfortunately, you need pure Mathematics.

The admission requirements differ as follows:  

(a) For the Forestry specialisation, you need 60% average for the NSC, 50% for English or Afrikaans, 60% for Mathematics and 50% for Physical Sciences. 
(b) For the Wood Science specialisation, you need 60% average for the NSC, 50% for English or Afrikaans, 70% for Mathematics and 60% for Physical Sciences.

Please note that only a limited number of students can be accommodated and meeting the requirements, unfortunately, does not guarantee a place in the programme.

Four years for both specialisations.

The BScFor degree is one of the few with which you can be promoted to middle management in medium or large companies within two years of graduating.  Many of our dedicated forestry graduates are often given large responsibilities in the forest industry soon after initial employment. If you wish to follow a career in Forestry research, a four-year BScFor is the ideal launching pad, but then you should consider doing an MScFor and a PhDFor as well. 

Quite so. The 4-year BScFor degree from Stellenbosch is extremely well known and recognised due to our active collaboration with forestry faculties at universities of many countries on all continents, and moreover due to the prominent research outputs emanating from our department. 

Yes, you can. Note that there is a minimum requirement: a mark of 65% in the field of specialisation. 

Yes, from the 2^nd year on you will spend substantial time in the field. Field excursions will mainly take place during the 3-hour practical sessions plus a few short training courses/study trips during vacation periods. In the 4^th year, you will be expected to conduct a mini-research project that usually includes a fieldwork component (depending on the type of project you select). 

A programme change is possible if there is space in the new programme. Moreover, it is best done early (within the first two weeks) or alternatively, after completing the 1^st year, as many of the programmes in question then only differ by two or three modules. 

A programme change can be made if you have good marks and if there is space in the new programme. Moreover, it is best done after completing the 1^st year, as the 1^st year Wood Product Science programme is closely aligned to most Engineering 1^st year programmes. 

Switching between these two programmes at the end of the first year is difficult, as these two specialisations have only one first-year module in common. A conversion of this nature (if there is space in the destination programme) will therefore mean an extra year to your studies.