Master’s in Forestry Engineering: Harvesters and Forwarders
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in forestry engineering: harvesters and forwarders. 12 modules covering harvesting systems, harvester architecture, harvester heads, forwarders, forestry cranes, measurement and control, slope and soft-soil operation, productivity and costs, safety, maintenance and innovation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Forestry Engineering: Harvesters and Forwarders — studying from Australia
Off-road and special-purpose vehicles are central to Australia's mining, agriculture, construction and emergency services sectors. Remote geography and harsh conditions create strong demand for robust machinery, including haul trucks, agricultural equipment and specialist fire and rescue vehicles. Engineers work on hydraulics, drivetrains, operator safety and machine automation. Employers include mining equipment manufacturers and dealers, agricultural machinery firms, construction companies and government fleet agencies.
Fees for Australia: A$12,600 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Will this qualification be recognised by Australian engineering bodies for off-road vehicle work?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by Engineers Australia or any national body. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant professional body assessing your application. Engineers Australia assesses competence independently, so check its requirements before enrolling if membership is your goal.
Which Australian employers work with off-road and special vehicles and machinery?
Mining and agricultural equipment makers, fleet operators, defence and emergency service vehicle suppliers, and four-wheel-drive modification businesses are examples. Their hiring decisions depend on their own criteria. Relevant experience and a practical final project are often as important as the qualification.
Can I study this online while working in Australia, and is there support?
Yes, the programmes are 100% online and taught in English, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. You can study from anywhere in Australia without a student visa. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible; check the total hours and plan a realistic schedule.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Select mechanised harvesting systems.
Analyse the architecture of harvesters and forwarders.
Adjust harvester heads and forestry cranes.
Manage production data with StanForD.
Plan operation on slopes and fragile soils.
Calculate productivity and costs per cubic metre.
Apply forestry safety and maintenance requirements.
Who it's for
- Forestry machinery engineers
- Forest harvesting managers
- Forestry product technicians
- Harvester operator trainers
- Managers of forestry service companies
- Forestry maintenance technicians
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter forest harvesting
What you'll work with
- ISO 11850 (safety of forestry machinery)
- ISO 8082-1 (protective structures for forestry machines)
- ISO 8083 (falling-object protective structures for forestry machines)
- ISO 11837 (saw chain shot guarding systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (deforestation)
- StanForD 2010 (forestry data standard)
- Komatsu MaxiFleet
- John Deere TimberManager
- QGIS
- Microsoft Excel
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Cut-to-length system1.2Whole-tree system1.3Mechanised versus motor-manual harvesting1.4Harvesters and forwarders1.5Skidders and feller bunchers1.6Cable yarding on slopes1.7Harvesting planning1.8The timber market1.9Harvesting in Mediterranean forests1.10Case study: choosing a harvesting system
2.1Wheeled and tracked harvesters2.2Articulated frame and bogies2.3Levelling and rotating cabs2.4The harvester crane2.5Engine and hydraulic power unit2.6Hydrostatic traction drive2.7Slope levelling systems2.8Manufacturers and models2.9Harvester selection2.10Lab: stability of a harvester on a slope
3.1Feed rollers3.2Delimbing knives3.3Cross-cutting chain saw3.4Diameter and length measurement3.5Stump treatment3.6Heads for eucalyptus and debarking3.7Multi-stem heads3.8Head hydraulics3.9Head maintenance3.10Workshop: pressure adjustment of a head
4.1The forwarder concept4.2Load capacity and bunk4.3The forwarder crane4.4Bogies and traction4.5Bogie tracks4.6Traction-assist winches4.7Extraction productivity4.8Extraction distance and output4.9Forwarder selection4.10Practical exercise: extraction output by distance
5.1Kinematics of forestry cranes5.2Boom-tip control5.3Crane hydraulics5.4Stability and load moment5.5Rotators and grapples5.6Structural fatigue of cranes5.7Ergonomics of crane operation5.8Partial crane automation5.9Crane maintenance5.10Lab: boom-tip control in a simulator
6.1Forestry on-board computers6.2StanForD data standard6.3Value-based bucking optimisation6.4Cutting instructions and price lists6.5Measurement calibration6.6Production reports6.7Georeferencing of logs6.8Communication with the industry6.9Timber traceability6.10Practical exercise: StanForD production file
7.1Slope limits by machine7.2Use of the traction winch on slopes7.3Risk of rollover and sliding7.4Tracks and bands for soft soil7.5Extraction trails and brush mats7.6Compaction and rutting7.7Extraction trail planning7.8Operation in winter and thaw7.9Good environmental practice7.10Case study: winch-assisted harvesting on a slope
8.1Forestry time studies8.2Harvester productivity models8.3Factors influencing output8.4Hourly cost of forestry machines8.5Cost per cubic metre8.6Optimising the harvester-forwarder pairing8.7Machine utilisation8.8Benchmarking between companies8.9Production indicators8.10Practical exercise: cost per cubic metre of a felling
9.1Risks in mechanised harvesting9.2Operator protection against projectiles9.3Saw chain breakage9.4Protective structures on forestry machines9.5Safety cabs9.6Vibration and noise9.7Lone working and communications9.8Fires on forestry machines9.9Operator training9.10Case study: analysis of a chain breakage
10.1Daily maintenance plan10.2Head and saw maintenance10.3Hydraulics and contamination10.4Tyres, chains and tracks10.5Lubrication in the forest10.6Field service in remote areas10.7Spare parts management10.8Remote fault diagnosis10.9Maintenance costs10.10Practical exercise: weekly maintenance plan
11.1Hybridisation and electrification11.2Crane automation11.3Teleoperation of forestry machines11.4Laser scanning of the forest11.5Digital harvesting planning11.6Biomass harvesting11.7Training simulators11.8Forestry robotics in research11.9Market trends11.10Case study: crane with automatic assistance
12.1Selection of the forest stand12.2Proposed harvesting plan12.3Machine selection12.4Extraction trail plan12.5Productivity study12.6Safety plan12.7Maintenance plan12.8Cost analysis12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Komatsu MaxiFleet, John Deere TimberManager, QGIS and Microsoft Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for harvesting productivity studies, extraction trail planning and harvester head adjustment. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 11850, ISO 8082-1, ISO 8083, ISO 11837, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, StanForD 2010.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Komatsu MaxiFleet, John Deere TimberManager, QGIS and Microsoft Excel, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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