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Overview
Highly-qualified urban forestry professionals are becoming increasingly necessary in cities around the world due to the rapid pace and scale of urbanization, the need to adapt to multiple impacts of climate change in cities, and increasing demand from the public for the recreational, psychological, and health benefits that trees and greenspaces provide. This 30-credit program is based on a comprehensive, interdisciplinary perspective of urban forestry with strong emphasis on governance and strategic management of urban forests. Students will learn how trees and vegetation grow and are managed in urban settings, but the emphasis of the program will be on skills and knowledge related to leadership and governance; project management and business skills; the public policy and planning context of urban forestry; green infrastructure planning; communication and marketing; public involvement; and urban forest resource and benefit assessment. The program is built around 3 critical management skills that are woven throughout the program: creativity, decision-making, and leadership. It is targeted for professionals with urban forestry-related work experience in the public, private or not-for-profit sector, or professionals looking to move into the field of urban forestry.
What makes the program unique?
Demand for urban forestry practitioners who can provide solutions to complex problems will continue to grow with urbanization, climate change, and community needs. This professional degree program produces creative leaders who understand the vital role of urban forests in the future of cities, and can oversee strategic, sustainable forestry project. Students will learn to balance the various demands placed on urban forests and utilize advanced technologies for planning, measurement, and assessment. They will also develop the skills necessary to lead interdisciplinary teams and coordinate complex urban forestry initiatives.
The program is available in two formats: full-time in-person or part-time online.
For those who can attend in person, we offer a 13-month full-time program at UBC’s Point Grey campus. Alternatively, for students who wish to study from home while maintaining employment, we provide a 25-month part-time online program accessible from anywhere in the world.
Quick Facts
Program Enquiries
Meet a Representative
Professional Master’s Panel Discussion
OnlineDate: Thursday, 16 January 2025
Time: 11:00 to 12:00
UBC Forestry’s accelerated Professional Master’s degrees offer the opportunity to deepen your technical skills, hone your leadership abilities and expand your professional networks. Led by world-renowned faculty members and experienced industry professionals, our programs are developed to give students the core foundation in rapidly developing fields – such as climate adaptation, forest carbon management and geomatics – to advance in their careers. Join us on January 16, and learn directly from program directors, coordinators and advising staff in our exclusive panel discussion, and find out which program is right for you.
Admission Information & Requirements
Program Instructions
See how to apply page for details.
1) Check Eligibility
Minimum Academic Requirements
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
English Language Test
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based
Overall score requirement: 100
Reading
23
Writing
24
Speaking
22
Listening
23
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Overall score requirement: 7.0
Reading
6.5
Writing
6.5
Speaking
6.5
Listening
6.5
Other Test Scores
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
Prior degree, course and other requirements
Prior Degree Requirements
Applicants must have an academic background in a relevant field such as urban forestry, forestry, landscape architecture, ecology, conservation, planning, geography, public health, or engineering.
2) Meet Deadlines
July 2025 Intake
Application Open Date
01 October 2024Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
3) Prepare Application
Transcripts
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
Letters of Reference
A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
Statement of Interest
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
Supervision
Course-based programs do not have a thesis component. While they may assign academic advisors to students, they do not require applicants to reach out to individual professors / faculty members to seek commitment as their thesis supervisor. Please do not contact faculty members for the purposes of thesis supervision if you are applying to this program.
Citizenship Verification
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
4) Apply Online
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
Research Information
Research Highlights
This is a course-based program.
Program Components
For more information, please visit our Course requirements page.
Tuition & Financial Support
Tuition
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $116.25 | $168.25 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $5,520.40 | $10,745.07 |
| Program Fee | $22,081.60 | $42,980.28 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) | Not applicable | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Student Fees | Vary | |
| Deposit to accept offer (if admitted) | ||
| Deposit requirement | $1000.00 | $1000.00 |
All fees for the year are subject to adjustment and UBC reserves the right to change any fees without notice at any time, including tuition and student fees. Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students. New students may see higher increases in tuition. Admitted students who defer their admission are subject to the potentially higher tuition fees for incoming students effective at the later program start date. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
Financial Support
Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options.
Employer support
Organizations may provide their employees with tuition benefits as part of an employment package to support lifelong learning of their workforce.
Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)
Professional / course-based programs usually do not provide merit-based funding. Some programs may offer bursaries.
Financial aid (need-based funding)
Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.
All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.
Foreign government scholarships
Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.
Working while studying
The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.
International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.
A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.
Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals
Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.
Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.
Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.
Cost Estimator
Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.
Career Options
Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats
These statistics show data for the Master of Urban Forestry Leadership (MUFL). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
ENROLMENT DATA
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 18 | 11 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Offers | 16 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| New Registrations | 10 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Enrolment | 10 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Completion Rates & Times
Disclaimer
Further Information
Specialization
Forestry offers advanced study in natural and social science, management, and economic aspects of forestry and wood science, in an interdisciplinary setting.
Program Website
Faculty Overview
Program Identifier
July 2025 Intake
Program Enquiries
Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form.
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