Natural Resources Management: Master of Forest Management (course-based)
The Fall 2025 application cycle is now open. International applicants are encouraged to submit a complete application by early December.
The Course-based Master’s degree (Master’s in Forest Management) emphasizes professional development in forest management, policy, geomatics, and ecology. The degree entails 4 terms of coursework (16 months). Three terms are on campus and one term, comprised of an internship and field school, is off-campus. The curriculum of this 16-month programme is given below:
4.0 Full Course Equivalent (FCE) required courses (consult timetable for course offerings)
- NRMT 5550: Principles of Research Methods & Experimental Statistics
- NRMT 5135: Applied Geomatics
- NRMT 5130: Foundations of Operation Research
- NRMT 5137: Biodiversity Conservation
- NRMT 5570: Advanced Economics
- NRMT 5133: Indigenous Peoples & Natural Resources Management
- NRMT 5810: Natural Resources Policy
- NRMT 5111: Professional Communication
Elective courses (2.0 FCE)[†] (consult timetable for course offerings)
Choose four half-course electives from:
- NRMT 5239: Urban Forestry [‡]
- NRMT 4252: Conservation Ecology [‡]
- NRMT 5134: Complexity Science
- NRMT 5136: LiDAR in NRMT
- NRMT 5138: Restoration Ecology
- NRMT 5530: Research Methods II: Experimental Design in Forestry Research
- NRMT 5610: Genetics: Natural Variation & Selective Breeding
- NRMT 5770: Management and Marketing Strategies
- NRMT 5815: Environmental Assessment
- BIOL 4115: Plant Ecology of Disturbed Habitats [‡]
- BIOL 4117: Advances in Contemporary Ecology [‡]
- ENST 5030: Qualitative Research Methods
Third term (Spring-Summer 1.5 FCE)
- NRMT 5094: Field School
- NRMT 5100: Internship
[†] Substitutions are possible with other 4000- or 5000-level courses with approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
[‡] Any 4000-level course requires prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
Admission Requirements for Masters
Applicants for admission must be graduates of a recognized university, college, or institute as well as show evidence of scholarly achievement. Except where otherwise stated in the Admission Requirements of a particular program, degree students must have a four year bachelor's degree or its equivalent with at least second class standing (B) based on their last 20 half courses or equivalent.
For applicants from countries that follow a British-patterned grading system, please note:
- Overall standings are normally reported in lieu of an average. The CGPA can be determined on the basis of annual or overall standings as reported on the transcript or degree certificate.
- A minimum grade of B, or Second Class, Upper Division, is required.
- The National Diploma and Higher National Diploma are not recognized for admission to a graduate-level program.
- Be sure to include a copy of your institution grading scale when uploading your transcripts.
- An applicant holding a degree other than one in the discipline area to which admission is sought will be considered on the basis of courses taken and academic standing.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission. No candidate will be admitted unless the academic unit recommends admission. All applicants will be advised by the Office of Graduate Studies in writing of their admission status.
Program Specific Requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements for Master programs, the following requirements also apply:
- To ensure an adequate understanding of the core elements of forestry, applicants holding a four-year degree of adequate standing (i.e., B or better) in an allied discipline (e.g., Biology, Geography, Agriculture, Environmental Studies, Resource Management, Outdoor Recreation) may be required to take up to two full-course equivalents at the undergraduate level. This requirement is additional to the graduate courses of the chosen program. Upon admission, the student's supervisor prepares a proposal for fulfilling the allied-discipline requirement, based on the student's undergraduate courses already taken, and submits it to the Forestry Graduate Studies Committee for approval
- An applicant with inadequate academic background or standing may be invited to take four full-course equivalents (minimum) in forestry at the undergraduate level. If performance in these courses averages B or better, the applicant may then apply for admission to one of the graduate program
Academic Fees and Important Payment Information
Graduate Funding
At Lakehead University, we realize the importance of financial support for graduate students.
Therefore, financial assistance opportunities are available in several forms and are generally awarded to students by individual programs on the basis of academic promise and financial need.
The different funding options available include:
For your convenience, a searchable database of graduate scholarships, bursaries, and awards is provided below. Award eligibility, criteria, and application procedures for graduate funding is indicated for each award. Please use the general search tool to find available funding by program. Alternatively, you may also click the advanced search link to specify available funding by program level, award category and/or award amount.
Although financial support cannot be guaranteed to all graduate students in all programs, we encourage you to inquire about financial assistance with your Graduate Coordinator in your program of study. You may also contact the Graduate Funding Officer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies to learn more about your graduate funding options.
Conditions of Graduate Awards
Graduate scholarships are based on academic merit. Graduate bursaries are based on financial need, although there may be a merit component to the bursary. Where the award designates that an application is required, only those students who have submitted the specified application by the deadline will be considered for those awards. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. Only successful applicants will be notified.
Recipients of scholarships, awards and bursaries must be registered in order to receive funding. Graduate awards are applied to any outstanding balance on the student's account. Students are entitled to their awards only after their fees are paid in full. Only students with credit account balances will be refunded the balance of the overpayment. Overpayment refunds of these awards will be issued at the end of September, January and May each year.
The University reserves the right to make changes without prior notice to the terms, conditions and award values listed in this section and in the University Calendar.
The most up-to-date internal awards and applications are on our new award system MyAwards
Graduate Studies Funding Database
Select any filter and click on Apply to see results
Required Application Documents
Except where otherwise stated in the admission requirements of a particular program, domestic degree students must have a four year bachelor's degree or its equivalent with at least (B) based on their last 20 half courses or equivalent. We recommend that International applicants have an overall standing of Second Class - Upper Division or higher.
Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee admission. The Faculty of Graduate Studies will advise all applicants in writing of admission decisions once they are received from the program. Applicants are encouraged to regularly monitor their Lakehead University email and application portal for the most current information.
The first step in the application process is to complete the online graduate studies application form.
After you have submitted the online form along with the required $125 CAD application fee, you will be provided with an online account where you can complete the remaining steps of the application process which include uploading the required supporting documents and monitoring the status of your application.
Click here to Apply to Graduate Studies
After you have applied
After you have submitted the online application form, you can access your account here. Any change in your application status will be reflected in this portal.
Graduate Studies Reference Form
- An electronic reference form will be automatically sent by email to the references you identify on the graduate studies application form
- This form is requested in support of the applicant's ability to undertake advanced study and research
Official Transcript
Proof of Degree
Program Specific Supporting Documents (If required)
- For a list of program specific documents, please see this program's Additional Application Information section (if required, see above)
Official English Test Results (If required)
- For information about English test results, please see our Academic Calendar