Study Guide 2026–2027

01. Programme identity and learning profile

The MSc “Inventory and Monitoring of Forests, Forest Lands and Protected Areas” is offered by the Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), in Orestiada, Greece. It provides advanced academic specialisation in the inventory and monitoring of forest ecosystems and protected areas.

Purpose and skills

The programme combines forestry, field sampling, geospatial technologies and data analysis. It prepares specialised scientists for public and private organisations and supports research in environmental sciences.

• Plan forest inventories and monitoring work using appropriate definitions, sampling units and protocols.
• Use GIS and remote sensing to organise, map and assess environmental data.
• Analyse forest structure, biomass, carbon stocks and biodiversity indicators.
• Manage databases, apply statistical methods and communicate findings in technical reports.
• Apply these methods to real tasks during a supervised traineeship.

These areas are relevant to National Forest Inventory work, protected-area management, environmental consulting and research. Progression to doctoral studies is subject to the admission rules of the receiving institution.

Programme basis: Internal Regulation, Government Gazette B 2263/22 April 2026 (Greek PDF).

02. Admission and applications

Holders of first-cycle higher-education degrees from Greek universities/TEIs or eligible foreign institutions may apply. A forestry degree is not required. The 2026–2027 call provides for up to 30 admitted students; at least five enrolled students are required for the programme to operate.

Language requirements

The English website and this guide provide programme information for international readers. They do not establish a separate English-taught route. Admission requires sufficient knowledge of English. Foreign applicants must also provide the Greek-language certificate specified in the call unless they completed secondary education in Greece or at a Greek-language school abroad. Contact the Secretariat about teaching and assessment language arrangements before applying.

Submit an official application

Send the completed form and supporting documents to otemperi@affil.duth.gr between 2 June and 30 September 2026. A request for information or an advertising lead form is an enquiry; an official application requires the complete application file sent to the Secretariat.

• Completed application form (Greek DOC).
• First-cycle degree and academic transcript; the Secretariat checks the relevant DOATAP registers for foreign institutions and award types.
• Copy of identity card or passport.
• For applicants whose first degree is still pending: the declaration specified in the call and the required degree/transcript before enrolment.
• Evidence of English proficiency accepted under the call. Applicants without a certificate are assessed through a written English examination, scored from 0 to 10.
• Greek-language certificate for foreign applicants where required, subject to the secondary-education exemption.
• Full CV documenting education, research and professional experience, and publications.
• Any existing postgraduate degree and evidence of a relevant undergraduate dissertation/project, where applicable.
• Evidence of relevant research or professional experience, stating its duration, and copies or links and full details of relevant publications.
• For eligible DUTH staff applying for supernumerary admission: the staff certificate and declaration required by the call.
• Any additional documents supporting the qualifications claimed in the application.

The call contains the detailed requirements, including conditional applications before graduation and the provisions for eligible DUTH staff. Check it before submitting your file: 2026–2027 call (Greek PDF). Incomplete, late or supplementary supporting evidence is not accepted under the call, apart from the expressly provided arrangements for pending first degrees.

03. Selection and enrolment

A three-member selection committee checks eligibility and ranks applicants using the criteria below. Assessment for the 2026–2027 intake is scheduled for the first ten days of October 2026.

The table summarises the published criteria; the call and Regulation determine how supporting evidence is assessed. It does not predict an individual applicant’s final score.

From application to enrolment

• The Secretariat records applications and the committee checks eligibility.
• A provisional ranking is published with an objection period.
• After objections are considered, the final ranking is approved by the Department Assembly.
• Successful applicants must confirm acceptance in writing within the deadline communicated by the Secretariat.
• Enrolment is completed only after all required documents have been submitted and the programme rules accepted. Vacancies pass to the next eligible person on the waiting list.

Tied applicants are admitted if the maximum intake is not exceeded; when places are filled, the higher first-degree grade determines priority. Admission and enrolment dates are communicated by the Secretariat.

04. Curriculum structure and workload

The programme totals 75 ECTS: 30 in Semester 1, 30 in Semester 2 and 15 during the intensive summer period. All eight courses and the traineeship are compulsory. The published 2026 curriculum requires successful completion of these components; it does not list a separate master’s dissertation.

Semester 1 — 30 ECTS

Semester 2 — 30 ECTS

Intensive summer period — 15 ECTS

Contact hours and credits

Each course has at least 39 teaching hours. The published timetable structure allocates 35 hours to synchronous distance teaching and four hours to in-person teaching, with no asynchronous hours allocated in the course table. Each course carries 7.5 ECTS; contact hours and ECTS measure different aspects of study.

Across eight courses, the taught component comprises 312 hours: 280 online and 32 in person. The 375-hour traineeship is an additional component. Its 15 ECTS correspond to 25 hours of workload per credit, as specified in Article 11 of the Regulation.

05. Semester 1 — course outlines

Each course below is compulsory, carries 7.5 ECTS and has 35 synchronous online teaching hours plus four in-person hours. The course titles follow the English titles in the 2026 Regulation; the outlines translate its published syllabus.

Fundamentals of forest, forest land and protected areas inventory & monitoring

Definitions used in national legislation, ELSTAT and LULUCF; land-cover categories and forest types; European forest inventories; soil-resource inventory; permanent forest-plot monitoring protocols; monitoring growth, health and functions of forest ecosystems; categories of protected areas and the Natura 2000 network.

Remote sensing & GIS for natural environment monitoring

Basic principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing; primary and secondary geospatial data sources; vector and raster data; electromagnetic radiation and major remote-sensing systems; geodatabases, reference systems and map projections; importing data and running spatial queries; finding and downloading remote-sensing data and products; mapping and monitoring natural ecosystems and protected areas.

Forest structure

Horizontal and vertical forest structure, canopy closure and age classes; structural diversity and biodiversity indicators; silvicultural and management systems; forest dynamics; the effects of disturbances on forest structure; regeneration.

Sampling in inventory & monitoring

Sampling units (individual trees and sample plots), sample size and plot area; simple random and stratified sampling; sampling and modelling for forest-biomass inventory; unequal-probability sampling, including list sampling, probability proportional to prediction (PPP) and probability proportional to size (PPS); multiphase, multistage and cluster sampling.

06. Semester 2 — course outlines

Each course below is compulsory, carries 7.5 ECTS and has 35 synchronous online teaching hours plus four in-person hours. The course titles follow the English titles in the 2026 Regulation; the outlines translate its published syllabus.

Geospatial technologies in forest inventory

Satellite and unmanned-aircraft data for forest inventory; vegetation spectral behaviour; processing and transforming multispectral data; detecting changes in forest ecosystems; forest photo-interpretation; digital-image classification; supervised classification for vegetation mapping; forest-map accuracy assessment; thematic map production in GIS; online forest-monitoring tools and services.

Monitoring carbon stocks

Forests in the carbon cycle; Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF); estimating above- and below-ground biomass and carbon; carbon flux through fine-root production; standing and fallen deadwood volume and decay; forest-floor biomass and carbon; litterfall carbon flux; soil organic carbon; forest CO2 removals; risks of carbon-stock loss and measures to conserve stocks.

Protected areas monitoring - Vegetation management for biodiversity

Terrestrial protected areas in Greece, protection zones, extent and characteristics; forest and stand management in relation to biodiversity; vegetation management and interventions in protected areas; protected-area monitoring; biodiversity assessment and the graded biodiversity index for Greek forests.

Statistical data analysis - Databases

National Forest Inventory databases; big data; meta-analysis; survival analysis; models for estimating tree- and stand-level biometric variables and their increments.

07. Teaching, attendance and assessment

Synchronous online teaching uses the MS Teams platform provided by DUTH. Students need a computer, camera, speakers or headphones, microphone and an internet connection. The Regulation requires cameras to remain on during classes.

Attendance

Attendance is compulsory, with absences permitted for up to 30% of the scheduled teaching hours of each course. The four in-person hours are about 10.3% of a course’s 39 hours and fall within this allowance if the student’s total absences remain within the limit. This does not remove assessment or traineeship obligations. Cases exceeding the allowance for serious reasons require the procedure and approval set out in the Regulation.

Assessment and grades

Assessment may use written or oral examinations, assignments, presentations, reports or a combination. The course coordinator announces the method at the start of teaching. Any remote assessment must comply with the applicable examination rules and the arrangements announced for the course.

• Grades range from 0 to 10; the pass mark is 5.
• Degree classifications: Excellent, 8.50–10; Very Good, 6.50–8.49; Good, 5–6.49.
• The final degree grade is weighted by the ECTS of the courses and traineeship.
• Repeating an examination solely to improve an already awarded grade is not allowed.
• The Regulation provides an application procedure for examination by a three-member faculty committee in the case of unsuccessful completion; the original examiner is excluded.

Assessment calendar

The detailed annual calendar, class dates, assessment arrangements and teaching assignments are provided by the programme and the Secretariat. Request the 2026–2027 timetable before making travel or work arrangements.

08. Compulsory traineeship

The traineeship is a compulsory educational activity during the summer period, worth 15 ECTS and 375 hours. It connects the programme’s methods with practical work in forest inventory, monitoring, management and conservation.

Host, location and supervision

Placements may take place in public services, local authorities, other public or private organisations and companies. A host abroad is possible where the educational process can be supervised. An agreement is concluded between the University, the student and the host organisation.

The traineeship coordinator and supervisors arrange the placement, schedule, work and supervision. Remote work is permitted where the host supports it and educational supervision is ensured. This requires an approved placement arrangement; it is not an automatic entitlement to complete any placement remotely.

Examples of relevant work

• Forest sampling and field-inventory data collection or checking.
• GIS databases, thematic maps, spatial analysis and remote-sensing classifications.
• Biomass and carbon-stock calculations, including LULUCF-related data.
• Protected-area and biodiversity monitoring.
• Data quality checks, statistical analysis, metadata and technical reporting.

Completion and assessment

Students submit a written report on the traineeship, including their evaluation using the prescribed questionnaire. Assessment considers the host’s evaluation and the student’s report. The grade uses the same 0–10 scale, with 5 required to pass. Unsuccessful completion requires repetition of the traineeship or part of it.

The Regulation provides compulsory accident insurance arrangements, with the specified cost borne by the host. The Secretariat and traineeship coordinator explain the applicable paperwork before the placement begins.

Further details: Practical Training Guide (Greek PDF) and Article 11 of the 2026 Regulation (Greek PDF).

09. Fees, financial support and study arrangements

Tuition and payments

Tuition for the complete programme is €1,800, paid in three instalments of €600. The first is due within ten days of completing enrolment. The second and third are due within ten days of the start of the respective study period.

The Secretariat provides the DUTH Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE) bank details and payment-reference instructions. Students send proof of payment to the Secretariat. Late or missing payment has the consequences specified in Article 14; all financial obligations must be settled before the completion certificate and degree are issued.

Fee exemptions and excellence award

Fee exemptions are available under the applicable provisions and the process announced by the Secretariat. Eligible DUTH staff may apply for the supernumerary, fee-exempt admission route specified in the call; this opportunity is available once and for one postgraduate programme.

Article 15 provides a €600 excellence award, by Department Assembly decision, for the eligible student with the highest average course grade in the academic-year cohort, subject to normal attendance and passing all courses. In a tie, the previous year’s income is considered. It is not an automatic fee reduction for every student.

Part-time study

Part-time study may be available for students working at least 20 hours per week, supported by an employer’s certificate, and for other eligible categories or exceptionally serious circumstances specified in Article 7. Part-time duration may not exceed twice the normal duration. Apply to the Secretariat with the required evidence.

Temporary suspension

In exceptional circumstances, a student may apply for suspension for up to two consecutive semesters, subject to Department Assembly approval following a Steering Committee recommendation. Student status is suspended during this time; the suspension period does not count towards the maximum normal duration.

10. Teaching staff and student support

Programme Director: Elias Milios. The list below reflects the teaching-staff section of the programme website on 15 September 2026. Individual course assignments and the annual timetable are confirmed by the programme. Linked staff profiles may be in Greek.

Department faculty

• Elias Milios
• Vasiliki Dimou
• Vasileios Drosos
• Thomas Katagis
• Kyriaki Kitikidou
• Georgios Korakis
• Kalliopi Radoglou
• Michail Orfanoudakis

External collaborators

• Nikolaos Georgopoulos
• Ioannis Gitas
• Sylvia Zakkak
• Evangelia Korakaki
• Nikos Markos
• Athanasios Stampoulidis
• Spyridon Tsiftsis
• Mariangela Fotelli

Library and learning resources

The DUTH Library and Information Centre (English) provides access to its catalogue, electronic journals, databases, e-books and institutional repository. Its website gives library opening hours and access information. Contact the Secretariat for the appropriate departmental library and account-access support.

Teaching facilities and laboratories

The Department supports the programme’s field, GIS, remote-sensing and data-analysis activities. Course coordinators provide instructions for laboratory sessions, equipment, teaching materials and access arrangements. Confirm supervised access and any fieldwork requirements with the responsible instructor.

Secretariat

Evgenia Otemperi · otemperi@affil.duth.gr · +30 25520 41172.
Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, DUTH, Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, Greece.

11. Student rights, responsibilities and quality

Rights and accessibility

Postgraduate students have the rights, benefits and facilities provided by the applicable student framework, except the entitlement to free textbooks. The Department must provide accessibility and reasonable educational arrangements for students with disabilities and/or special educational needs, including appropriate examination accommodations.

Responsibilities and academic integrity

• Attend classes and participate in the educational process.
• Submit assignments and traineeship deliverables on time and take the required assessments.
• Meet tuition-payment obligations under the Regulation.
• Respect programme, Department and University decisions, academic ethics and proper attribution of sources.

Insufficient academic progress, failure to fulfil obligations or breaches of academic ethics, including plagiarism, may lead to removal from the programme under the procedure in Article 7. Students may also request withdrawal.

Questions, complaints and objections

Contact the Secretariat for the appropriate enquiry, complaint or objection procedure. Under Article 22, complaints received by the Secretariat are referred to the Director, who handles them with confidentiality, discretion and respect for personal data. The academic adviser, Department Assembly or competent University services may be involved where necessary. The Regulation provides for resolution within 20 working days.

Quality assurance and feedback

The programme undertakes annual internal evaluation in cooperation with DUTH’s Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP). External evaluation and accreditation follow the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education procedures. Student feedback on courses, teaching and the overall programme forms part of this process.

Read the 2026 Quality Policy (Greek PDF). Graduates receive a Diploma Supplement in Greek and English alongside the degree, as provided in Article 16.

12. Documents, contacts and annual updates

This English guide brings together the curriculum and student information in the programme’s published 2026 Regulation, the Greek Study Guide and the 2026–2027 call. The approved Greek documents remain the reference for the detailed rules and individual administrative decisions.

• Internal Regulation — Government Gazette B 2263/22 April 2026 (Greek PDF)
• Study Guide 2026–2027 (Greek PDF)
• Call for applications 2026–2027 (Greek PDF)
• Application form 2026–2027 (Greek DOC)
• Practical Training Guide (Greek PDF)
• Quality Policy 2026 (Greek PDF)

Keep the annual information together

The annual teaching timetable, named course coordinators, detailed laboratory arrangements and specific assessment dates are communicated by the programme. The Greek guide’s annual timetable and teaching-allocation tables do not yet contain completed details. Please obtain the current schedule from the Secretariat.

Contact and English pages

otemperi@affil.duth.gr · +30 25520 41172

• Home (English)
• Curriculum (English)
• FAQ (English)
• Applications (English)

English edition: 15 September 2026. Academic year: 2026–2027. Programme Director and website content officer: Elias Milios.