Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive program in Tree Biology and Arboriculture, designed for future tree managers in forests, plantations, parks, and urban forests. This program aims to provide a biological understanding of trees as living systems and how management affects them.

Program Details

• Program Name: NIGK14007U Tree Biology and Arboriculture
• Volume: 2025/2026
• Education: MSc Programme in Agriculture, MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management, MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture
• Content: The program introduces students to the fascinating world of tree biology, enabling them to make informed decisions as tree managers. It covers tree structure and function, plant production and establishment, annual variation in trees, and environmental impacts on trees.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the program, students should be able to:

1. Knowledge: Describe central features of trees' biology, including basic anatomy and architecture, carbohydrate, water and nutrient cycling, annual variation in life functions, and life stages of the tree.
2. Skills: Apply techniques and theory from the program to efficiently manage trees with respect to establishment, shape, stability, and safety in urban and rural environments.
3. Competencies: Collect and summarize relevant knowledge to solve stated problems related to management of trees, predict how trees will perform in different environments, and make informed decisions and propose actions in relation to tree management.

Literature and Recommendations

• Literature: Available on Absalon.
• Recommended Academic Qualifications: No prerequisites, but related courses in silviculture, tree pathology, wood technology, and agroforestry are recommended. Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended.

Teaching and Learning Methods

• Project Work: Students work on case studies based on aspects of the curriculum.
• Lectures: Interactive lectures using dialogue-based and problem-oriented teaching.
• Laboratory Exercises: Practical tools to analyze tree structure, quality, and growth.
• Field Exercises and Excursions: Visits to forests, parks, urban street trees, nurseries, etc.
• Peer Assessment: Students comment on case study presentations of other groups.

Workload

• Category: Hours
  • Lectures: 30
  • Preparation: 136
  • Excursions: 20
  • Laboratory: 12
  • Seminar: 8
  • Total: 206

Exam and Assessment

• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Type of Assessment: Oral examination, 30 minutes
• Type of Assessment Details: Oral examination with a case study and a question from a list of exam questions.
• Aid: Only certain aids allowed; students may bring their own notes and reports to the exam.
• Marking Scale: 7-point grading scale
• Censorship Form: No external censorship; several internal examiners
• Re-exam: Identical to ordinary exam

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course Code: NIGK14007U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 1
• Schedule: C
• Course Capacity: 30
• Study Board: Study Board of Geosciences and Management
• Contracting Department: Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
• Contracting Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Course Coordinators: Anders Ræbild, Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen

Additional Information

• The program is also available as continuing and professional education.
• The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period or as a credit or single subject student.