Advanced Certificate in Forestry (Forest Mechanisation)

Following completion of our Certificate in Forestry, or appropriate experience of working in the field, this course is designed to build on existing knowledge and develop specialist skills. 

Forestry involves managing trees and woodlands, usually in rural areas, for commercial, social, environmental or other benefits. 

Arboriculture is a more specialised field, usually associated with the management of single or small groups of trees in more urban areas.

Forest Mechanisation, as the name suggests, is about the operation and utilisation of forestry machinery to carry out tasks like surveying, inspecting, harvesting and planting trees and woodland areas. 

Students will be able to choose their specialisation from general forestry, forest machinery or arboriculture.

Virtual Experience

Take a look around the SRUC Virtual Experience for lots of great student videos and examples of what it’s like to study our courses, along with campus and facility tours.

Topics in this course cover every aspect of silviculture, from planting and caring for trees to forest ecology. You'll study forest and tree measurement, practical tree climbing and tree survey and inspection.

You'll also learn how to work with, service and repair forest machinery and how to use geographical information systems and other IT. 

By the time you've completed the course, you'll have gained experience in working on real, practical jobs, operating machinery, and carrying out tree surgery contracts on campus and on private forest estates.