Increased interest in forestry education

Last autumn, no admission was made to the 5-year long forestry program (Jägmästarprogrammet), but instead the students are now offered three new bachelor's programs. The change means that more students from more high school programs can apply for the programs and also study in more places than before.

- We are pleased to see that the number of new students has increased at the bachelor's level since last year, says Ola Lindroos, vice dean with responsibility for undergraduate education at the Faculty of Forest Sciences.

One of the new programs is Forest and Landscape, SLU’s only bachelor's program that is given completely in English and which also has an international intake. It has attracted many foreign students, and about 40% of the program students come from countries outside the Nordic region.

- However, we have not managed to fill all the places in all the new programs, but considering that they are completely new, it is still a good start. We also see a dip in both the Skogsmästar- and Master's programs, which we believe is Corona related. We are of course working to make more students finding all our educations, and see them as an obvious choice for those interested in forests and a sustainable future. 

New way to become Jägmästare

Although Jägmästarprogrammet will not be given in the future, the degree Jägmästare will survive. Since the turn of the year, those who meet the requirements can take out the degree in a new way, in addition to their bachelor's and master's degrees. The new requirements are based on a certain number of courses in forestry science, biology and economy, regardless of which program the student has attended. For students who have been admitted to Jägmästarprogrammet, it is possible to choose to take a degree according to the old or the new requirements.

New program students starting in the autumn 2021.

Programs with Swedish names are given mainly in Swedish. 

Skogsmästarprogrammet  (Forest Management BSc) (60 places) 48 (2021: 60)

New bachelor’s program

Forest and Landscape (30 places) 34 -

Skogsekonomi (Forest Business Management BSc) (30 places) 26 -

Skogsvetarprogrammet (Forest Science BSc) (50 places) 33 -

Total for the new bachelor’s programs 93

Jägmästarprogrammet (5-year-long Forest Science MSc) (80 places) - (2021: 63)

Total bachelor level 141 (2021: 123)

Master's program

Euroforester * 7 (2021: 19)

Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management * 9 (2021: 4)

Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife * 4 (2021: 12)

Skogsbruk med många mål (Multi-purpose forest management) 7 (2021: 17)

Total master's program 27 (2021: 52)

Total 168 (2021: 175)

* Most of the students in these master's programs are registered on the Jägmästar program, and are therefore not visible in the numbers. With the transition to bachelor's programs, this will change. So at latest in the autumn 2024 all students will be visible in the programs on the master's level.