Poznan University of Life Sciences

A Master’s degree in the field of Wood Science provides graduates with in-depth and multi-disciplinary knowledge in wood engineering, furniture design, wood protection and modification. This course is dedicated to students who have completed their undergraduate studies in Wood Technology, or Wood Science, or Forest Products Engineering, or Forestry and have received the BSc degree in the above mentioned studies or in related sciences such as Renewable Materials, Natural Resources, Forest Engineering, Ecological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Bioengineering, etc. We have an excellent student to professor ratio, guaranteeing personal attention and supervision for all students in the programme. All students learn wood anatomy and chemical properties of wood, wood processing, how furniture is created, how wood can be combined with other materials and how it can be protected. We emphasize in our course that Wood Science is the key to natural resource conservation, as it is the only field that provides education for the proper utilization of the most widely used natural resource.

Course overview

The course focuses on the optimal use of the renewable material such as wood both in conventional and modern industries. Our course is exceptional, because during studies at our Faculty you will gain knowledge both in chemical and mechanical wood technology as well as furniture design. You will be taught how to select materials for wood industry on the basis of their chemical and physical properties and how to prepare them to suit the needs of a specific wood industry sector. By completing our studies you will know which characteristics of wood are the most important for mechanical and chemical wood technology. You will also become acquainted with modern woodworking technologies and state-of-the-art woodworking machinery used in wood industry. We will teach you that timber drying is a complex process, of great importance for wood technology. You will discover causes for degradation of wood and wood-based panels and means of their protection. We are going to show you how to glue wood and which coatings should be used for wood and wood-based panels. We will help you explore knowledge connected with the history of furniture design and furniture production management. We have professional and modern equip-ment in our labs and semi-industrial facilities, so that you will be able to explore many aspects related to wood science in a practical way. Our Faculty is known for excellent collaboration with wood industry. Therefore, you can expand your practical skills during the course by visiting companies associated with timber industry. The course teachers carry out research on physical and chemical properties of wood, wood protection, drying and hydrothermal processing of wood, wood machining, gluing and coating of wood, furniture design and engineering, and they will be eager to share their experience with you. We invite students who are motivated to gain knowledge concerning wood, which is a renewable, durable, versatile and beautiful material, which helps tackle climate change and has a unique ability to store carbon.

Field trips being organized educational activities taking place in industry give you good opportunity to face practical problems related to the field of study. The trips give students a chance to share their thoughts and ideas about the practical problems. It is also an important activity preparing students for their near-future jobs.

Career options

There is an increasing demand for sustainable biomaterials, and tremendous opportunities for professionals to help with design, engineering, manufacturing, and sales of these new materials and products. Graduates from Wood Science studies are prepared to undertake jobs in forest products industry, sawmilling industry, companies cooperating with wood processing industry (e.g. furniture or wood-based panel industry and similar). Job locations are available globally, both in large metropolitan centers and in rural communities.

Leading modules

• Physical properties of wood
• Chemical properties of wood
• Wood protection
• Drying and hydrothermal processing of wood 
• Furniture design and engineering
• Wood machining