Graduate programs in Forestry have the same base admissions requirements as the Virginia Tech Graduate School . In addition, Forestry requires:

• GRE scores (Graduate Record Exam)
• 2 letters of recommendation (sent directly to the Forestry Department)

Master's Degree Programs (M.S. and M.F.)

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college is a pre-requisite for applying to these graduate programs. Generally, students have bachelor's degrees in closely related fields, such as forestry, biology, natural resources, ecology, geography, horticulture and others. But our programs cover a wide range of natural resources topics and the background of each applicant is considered individually as it pertains to their field of interest. All Master's degrees are expected to take approximately two years of full-time study.

Ph.D. Programs

Applicants for the Ph.D. program typically will have completed an M.S. degree before enrolling in our Ph.D. program. However, for certain individuals with very strong academic backgrounds, a direct-to-Ph.D. option may be more appropriate. Ph.D. programs (for students who have already completed a Master's degree) typically require three years of full-time study.

Application Deadlines for the Department of Forestry

Applications are accepted throughout the year and study can begin in either the fall or spring semester (August or January). It is recommended, however, that applications for fall enrollment be submitted between November and March. Applications received later than March may not receive full consideration for stipends and fellowships . Fall is the most common time to begin a program of study and increases the likelihood that financial aid will be available. Applications are submitted online through the Graduate School.

• November-January : Recommended time to apply for fall admission
• January-March : Applications continue to be accepted for fall admission and consideration for financial assistance.
• April-July : Applications accepted for fall admission, but available funding may be already allocated to other students.
• June – Sept : Recommended time for applying for January admission.
• Sept. – Oct : Applications continue to be accepted for January admission and some early applicants for the following fall.