- Program Length2 Years
- CredentialDiploma
The Forestry Resources Technology Diploma Program
This program provides the technical training required for starting a career in most fields of forest technology. The program emphasizes the recognition and appreciation of all the major values of the forest including timber, recreation, wildlife, range, fish, water, and visual landscapes. The program is accredited by the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board. Graduates of this program meet the required standard for membership in the Association of B.C. Forest Professionals (ABCFP) as Registered Forest Technologists (RFT).
Twelve courses in the program are currently recognized by the ABCFP and may be credited toward gaining the status of Registered Professional Forester (RPF) in accordance with the Foresters Act of BC. Credit may be granted towards VIU’s Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection, Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology, and Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Aquaculture programs, as well as forestry degree programs at UBC, UNBC, and University of Alberta.
In the summer, between the first and second year of the program, all students are expected to obtain a forestry-related job to broaden their knowledge of practical forestry. VIU assists students in obtaining forestry employment, both during the summer months and following graduation.
Students may transfer into the second year of VIU’s Forestry program either from community colleges in BC, or from a recognized forest technology school in Canada or the United States. The qualifications of each student requesting such transfer are adjudicated individually. VIU Students also have the opportunity of transferring to other institutions.
Second year students may participate in international field schools and receive VIU credit while studying at designated forestry schools abroad.
Students are required to complete two one-day First Aid courses (O.F.A. Level 1 & Transportation Endorsement) by the end of September of the first year.
Students wishing to obtain an undergraduate degree in Forest Resource Management or Forest Operations from the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Forestry may, after completing the VIU program (“bridging” year), transfer directly into third year at UBC.
More than $20,000 of scholarships, awards and bursaries are specifically dedicated to students of the forestry program each year. These monies are in addition to the general financial aid available to forestry students. For more information on scholarships, bursaries and awards, please check with the Financial Aid office or visit the Financial Aid and Awards page.
|
Year 1 |
Credits |
|---|---|
|
FRST 111 - (Forest Surveying) |
3 |
|
FRST 112 - (Forest Inventory) |
3 |
|
FRST 114 - (Forest Biometrics) |
2 |
|
FRST 121 - (Spatial Data) |
3 |
|
FRST 131 - (Forest Botany) |
3 |
|
FRST 132 - (Forest Ecology I: Ecosystems & Silvics) |
2 |
|
FRST 143 - (Forest Hydrology and Riparian Management) |
3 |
|
FRST 144 - (Forest Resources Administration) |
2 |
|
FRST 151 - (Forest Soils I) |
2 |
|
FRST 152 - (Forest Soils II) |
2 |
|
FRST 162 - (Fire Management) |
2 |
|
FRST 181 - (Computer Applications for Forest Technologists) |
1 |
|
ENGL 115 - (University Writing and Research) |
3 |
|
ENGL 204 - (Business and Technical Writing) (effective September 2012) |
3 |
|
MATH 181 - (Introduction to Statistics) |
3 |
|
Total Credits |
37 |
|
Year 2 |
Credits |
|---|---|
|
FRST 201 - (Research and Communications) |
3 |
|
FRST 212 - (Silviculture Assessment) |
1 |
|
FRST 231 - (Silviculture I) |
2 |
|
FRST 233 - (Silviculture II) |
3 |
|
FRST 235 - (Forest Ecology II: Ecosystems & Management) |
3 |
|
FRST 242 - (Integrated Resource Management) |
3 |
|
FRST 261 - (Forest Harvesting Systems) |
2 |
|
FRST 262 - (Forest Harvest Planning) |
2 |
|
FRST 271 - (Forest Road Design) |
2 |
|
FRST 272 - (Forest Road Planning and Design) |
2 |
|
FRST 282 - (Information Technology) |
2 |
|
FRST 291 - (Interior Field Trip) |
1 |
|
FRST 328 - (GIS for Natural Sciences) |
3 |
|
FRST 351 - (Forest Pathology) |
3 |
|
FRST 352 - (Forest Entomology) |
3 |
|
Total Credits |
35 |
Note: Some courses may transfer to VIU’s Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology degree program, or the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Aquaculture degree program. Please check with the departmental Chair.
Completion Requirements
Grades for individual courses are awarded as described in the Grading Scale section of this Calendar. The program has minimum standards as follows.
- Students receiving a “D” or an “F” grade for any required program course will not be allowed to register in a sequential course or to graduate until the course has been upgraded to a “C-minus“ or better.
- Students receiving more than 3 “C-minus“ grades in required program courses will not be allowed to graduate until relevant course(s) have been upgraded to a “C” grade or better.
- Students who need to upgrade a course may be allowed in the course the next time it is offered, providing there is space (i.e., first time students are given preference over repeating students).
- Students have 3 years in which to complete the program. Special permission may be granted by the program Chair to extend this requirement on a case-specific basis.
- General admission requirements apply.
- English 12 with minimum “C” grade, or equivalent.
- A minimum “C” grade in either Principles of Mathematics 11 or Pre-calculus 11; or a minimum “C+” grade in Applications of Mathematics 11 or Foundations of Mathematics 11, or equivalent.
- One science 11 with minimum “C+” grade. (Forestry 11 satisfies this requirement.)
Recommendations for Admission
- Forestry 11 and 12, and Biology 11.
- Physically fit for work in the woods.
- Previous forestry-related employment to assess personal suitability for this career field is an asset.
Notes on Admission
- Indigenous students can apply for reserve seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous Students form
- Applicants lacking the admission requirements are encouraged to meet with an advisor about upgrading options. With written permission, some students may be allowed to register in some first year Forestry courses while upgrading. Please check with an Advisor for details.
- Applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.
- Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Seats in the program are offered as follows: first qualified applications are given first offers, until all seats are filled
A broad choice of field positions in forestry, environmental management, and natural resource management are available, and graduates have gained employment through private companies, Ministry of Forests, independent consultants or private contractors as timber cruisers, engineers, silviculture contract administrators and planners, as well as other technical jobs such as G.I.S., aerial photography, and computer applications.
Domestic Fees | International Fees
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
Fees for Year 1 |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (35 credits x $166.40 per credit) |
5,824.00 |
|
Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) |
232.96 |
|
Student Services fee (35 credits x $7.35 per credit) |
257.25 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) |
220.80 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) |
265.00 |
|
Year 1: iPad, case and accessories (approximate costs) |
900.00 |
|
Year 1: Field clothing, equipment and supplies (approximate costs) |
600.00 |
|
Year 1: Books (English) (approximate costs) |
150.00 |
|
Year 1: Occupational Level 1 First Aid and Transportation Endorsement (approximate costs) |
200.00 |
|
Year 1&2: Equipment deposit (refunded after Year 2) (approximate costs) |
300.00 |
|
Total |
8,950.01 |
Fees for Year 2 |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (36 credits x $166.40 per credit) |
5,990.40 |
|
Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) |
239.62 |
|
Student Services fee (36 credits x $7.35 per credit) |
264.60 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) |
220.80 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) |
265.00 |
|
Year 1&2: Equipment deposit (refunded after Year 2) (approximate costs) |
300.00 |
|
Total |
7,280.42 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
Science and Technology courses with a compulsory lab have a lab fee of $23.43 per course.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
Fees for Year 1 |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester) |
23,993.10 |
|
Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester) |
926.80 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) |
220.80 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) |
265.00 |
|
Year 1: iPad, case and accessories (approximate costs) |
900.00 |
|
Year 1: Field clothing, equipment and supplies (approximate costs) |
600.00 |
|
Year 1: Books (English) (approximate costs) |
150.00 |
|
Year 1: Occupational Level 1 First Aid and Transportation Endorsement (approximate costs) |
200.00 |
|
Year 1&2: Equipment deposit (refunded after Year 2) (approximate costs) |
300.00 |
|
Total |
27,555.70 |
Fees for Year 2 |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester) |
23,993.10 |
|
Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester) |
926.80 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) |
220.80 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) |
265.00 |
|
Year 1&2: Equipment deposit (refunded after Year 2) (approximate costs) |
300.00 |
|
Total |
25,705.70 |
Tuition in the above table is based on $776.48 per credit, up to a maximum of $10,870.72 per semester for 15 credits; $776.48 per credit beyond 15 credits. Ancillary Fees in the above table are based on $33.10 per credit, up to a maximum of $463.40 per semester for 15 credits; $33.10 per credit beyond 15 credits.
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
Science and Technology courses with a compulsory lab have a lab fee of $23.43 per course.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
UpdatedDomestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2025 |
Oct 1, 2024 to Jul 31, 2025
|
||
|
Next Intake(s)
Application Fee
$45.16
Accepting Late Applications
No
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant
Name: Donna Kist Chair Contact
Name: Andres Enrich Documentation Deadline
Please note, this program fills up very quickly. Once you apply, you should request your high school transcripts and your post-secondary transcripts right away.
Comments
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Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.
Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.
Jiahang Li
“I came from China. I wanted to know how BC sustainably manages their forest estate and learn about the differences between the industries from the two countries. VIU's Forestry program has a long history and good reputation for coastal forestry. They're well known for small-sized classes and interactive class environments. I benefited so much from this setting because my instructors and I got to know each other very well. All the individual help I received from them definitely made a huge difference. VIU cares about their students. This is really nice, especially when studying abroad is sometimes a little challenging for most international students.”
Forest Resources Technology Diploma
All students are required to use an IPad for this program. Details regarding IPad specifications will be provided to all successful applicants during the program orientation.