The MSc in Natural Resource Management and Rural Development at Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL), Chandragiri Municipality-8, Matatirtha, Kathmandu, is affiliated with Tribhuvan University (TU) through the Institute of Forestry (IOF).
The two-year program runs across four semesters and combines natural resource policy, society–nature relations, biodiversity, geoinformatics, research methods, statistics, economics, rural development, enterprise study, field-based work, and independent research.
The 2024 curriculum gives the first three semesters distinct academic roles before placing the fourth semester around proposal development, pre-defense, dissertation research, and preparation of a research manuscript.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course: | MSc in Natural Resource Management and Rural Development |
| College: | Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL) |
| Location: | Chandragiri Municipality-8, Matatirtha, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Affiliation: | Tribhuvan University |
| Academic Institute: | Institute of Forestry |
| Level: | Master’s Degree |
| Duration: | 2 Academic Years |
| Structure: | 4 Semesters |
| Available Seats: | 20 |
| Curriculum: | 2024 |
Natural resource management involves ecological systems as well as economics, public policy, communities, institutions, livelihoods, and development choices. The MSc program brings these areas into one academic structure rather than treating resource management as a purely technical subject.
The revised curriculum addresses climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resource pressure, policy, sustainable development, and the relationship between natural resources and rural communities. Its stated objectives include building understanding of links between economic growth and environmental sustainability, developing social entrepreneurship skills, and strengthening critical analysis and problem-solving in natural resource management.
The academic progression is clearly divided across the four semesters. The first semester concentrates on theoretical dimensions of forest and natural resource management. The second focuses on tools and techniques for data collection and analysis. The third moves toward green economy, enterprise development, conservation, and rural development. The fourth is devoted to research and communication of research findings.
Applicants must have at least a four-year B.Sc. degree in Forestry, Engineering, Agriculture, or Science from Tribhuvan University or from a university recognized by Tribhuvan University.
Applicants must appear in the entrance examination administered by the Examination Section of the Institute of Forestry.
Selection is merit-based, with academic achievement and performance in the entrance examination forming part of the admission process.
The first semester builds a foundation in natural resource policy, social-ecological relationships, resource systems, biodiversity, and changing environmental conditions.
Students study:
SFM 501 Forest and Environment Policy
SFM 502 Nature and Society
WME 503 Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus
PWM 504 Landscape Management and Biodiversity Conservation
SFM 505 Natural Resource Management in Changing Environment
Each course carries three credits.
The semester connects policy and governance with wider questions about society, ecosystems, biodiversity, resource use, and environmental change.
The second semester moves toward research, analytical methods, geospatial study, economics, and rural resource systems.
Courses are:
WME 551 Geoinformatics for NRM
BSH 552 Research Design and Scientific Writing
BSH 553 Advanced Statistics
SFM 554 Natural Resource Economics
SFB 551 Trees Outside Forest in Rural Economy
Each course carries three credits.
This semester gives students academic tools for designing research, analysing quantitative information, working with geospatial methods, examining natural resource economics, and studying the role of trees outside forests in rural economies.
The third semester shifts toward green economy, rural development, enterprise, competition, governance, and professional ethics.
Core courses include:
SFM 619 Green Economy
SFM 620 Conservation and Rural Development
FPE 621 Enterprise Development and Risk Management
FPE 622 Enterprise Competitive Analysis
Optional courses listed in the curriculum are:
FPE 623 Natural Resource Enterprise Governance
SFM 606 Natural Resource Professional Ethics
Each of these courses carries three credits.
The Conservation and Rural Development course includes study of rural communities, social exclusion, institutions, livelihood strategies, governance, community forestry, agriculture, ecotourism, conservation-development relationships, rural economics, and rural–urban linkages.
Its practical work includes field exercises involving rural development, community forestry, and conservation projects, together with case-study analysis and student presentations.
The fourth semester is structured around postgraduate research.
Students complete:
FPE 651 Proposal — 2 credits
FPE 652 Pre-defense — 2 credits
FPE 699 Dissertation — 9 credits
FPE 653 Manuscript of Research Work — 2 credits
The dissertation carries the largest credit allocation in the final semester, placing independent research at the center of the concluding stage of the degree.
Across the four semesters, students work with subject areas that include:
Forest and environmental policy
Society–nature relationships
Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus
Landscape management
Biodiversity conservation
Natural resource management under environmental change
Geoinformatics
Research design
Scientific writing
Advanced statistics
Natural resource economics
Trees outside forests and rural economy
Green economy
Conservation and rural development
Enterprise development
Risk management
Competitive analysis
Natural resource enterprise governance
Professional ethics
Dissertation research
The curriculum links ecological and technical study with economics, social science, governance, development, research, and enterprise.
Practical work is integrated into several courses rather than being limited to the dissertation semester.
Examples include:
Policy review and policy analysis
Group reports and presentations
Social-ecological system field study
Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus assessment
Field interaction with stakeholders
Biodiversity measurement and conservation study
Rural development and community forestry field exercises
Case-study preparation
Statistical and research analysis
Research writing and presentation
The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus course, for example, includes group assignments, use of nexus assessment tools, and field study of practical cases involving relationships among water, energy, food, and ecosystems.
Research preparation begins before the final semester through Research Design and Scientific Writing and Advanced Statistics.
Semester IV then concentrates on:
Research proposal preparation
Pre-defense
Dissertation
Manuscript of Research Work
The thesis is evaluated through a Research Assessment Committee involving the main supervisor, an internal expert, and an external expert.
This research sequence requires students to move from research planning to independent study, formal defense preparation, dissertation completion, and written presentation of research work.
Students are evaluated through both internal and external assessment.
| Assessment Area | Weight | Passing Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Internal assessment | 40% | Minimum 50% |
| External/final examination | 60% | Minimum 50% |
Students must pass the internal assessment before appearing in the final examination. Those who do not pass a regular semester examination may appear in a make-up examination after completing the required examination process.
Internal assessment may include:
Attendance
Fieldwork
Laboratory exercises
Term papers
Class presentations
Report writing
Project work
Home assignments
Students are normally required to attend at least 80% of classes in each subject.
Attendance accounts for 20% of the internal assessment. In specified circumstances such as serious illness or situations outside the student's control, students with 70% attendance may be permitted to sit for the final examination when the required supporting certification is submitted.
| Grade | GPA | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 90–100 |
| A- | 3.7 | 80–less than 90 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 70–less than 80 |
| B | 3.0 | 60–less than 70 |
| B- | 2.7 | 50–less than 60 |
| F | 0.0 | Less than 50 |
A student must obtain at least a B- grade or 2.7 GPA in each course to pass. Semester Grade Point Average and Cumulative Grade Point Average are calculated through the TU grading system used for the program.
The course structure supports development of skills related to:
Natural resource policy analysis
Social-ecological analysis
Biodiversity and landscape assessment
Geoinformatics for natural resource management
Research design
Scientific writing
Statistical analysis
Natural resource economics
Rural development analysis
Enterprise and risk assessment
Field-based investigation
Case-study preparation
Research presentation
Dissertation writing
These abilities develop through coursework, field assignments, assessment, independent study, and dissertation research.
Graduates may explore work connected with natural resources, forestry, rural development, conservation, research, policy, enterprise, and environmental programs.
Possible work settings include:
Government agencies working with natural resources or rural development
NGOs and development organizations
Conservation and community-based programs
Research institutions
Academic institutions
Natural resource and environmental projects
Consulting and project-based organizations
Natural resource enterprises
The curriculum also addresses government service, academic study, entrepreneurship, and green-sector employment as possible professional directions. Career outcomes depend on the requirements of individual organizations, experience, skills, and available positions.
The MSc may be relevant to graduates from the eligible Forestry, Engineering, Agriculture, and Science backgrounds who want advanced study combining natural resource management with rural development.
It may particularly suit students interested in:
Natural resource policy and governance
Forestry and conservation
Rural communities and livelihoods
Biodiversity
Climate and environmental issues
Geospatial analysis
Natural resource economics
Research
Resource-based enterprise
Sustainable management of land, water, and forests
Students should also be prepared for statistical study, research writing, field assignments, presentations, and independent dissertation work.
For the current fee structure and payment details, applicants can contact the administration office of Kathmandu Forestry College.
The program runs for two academic years and consists of four semesters.
The MSc in Natural Resource Management and Rural Development at KAFCOL is affiliated with Tribhuvan University through the Institute of Forestry.
Applicants need at least a four-year B.Sc. degree in Forestry, Engineering, Agriculture, or Science from Tribhuvan University or a university recognized by Tribhuvan University.
Yes. Applicants must appear in the entrance examination administered by the Examination Section of the Institute of Forestry.
Admission is based on merit, taking academic achievement and entrance examination performance into account.
Yes. Geoinformatics for NRM is a three-credit course in Semester II.
Yes. Several courses contain practical and field-based assignments, including policy analysis, field studies, biodiversity work, rural development exercises, and case-study preparation.
Yes. Semester IV includes a nine-credit dissertation along with proposal, pre-defense, and manuscript components.
Students must obtain at least a B- grade or 2.7 GPA in each course.
Students are required to maintain at least 80% attendance in each subject.
