Perhaps you’ve heard your older siblings or cousins say they want to quit their jobs and move to a farm in the middle of nowhere.
They’ll go on and on about how stressful it is to live the hustle life in a bustling city — and that’s all you’ll hear during family gatherings.
This might get you thinking, “What’s so bad about being in the city? Isn’t that where people thrive and get the best opportunities? Isn’t it the only way for us to become successful? Should I be worried? Where should I study then?”
Well, here’s the thing — that’s not always true. Studying at university campuses in rural places, surrounded by trees and fresh air, might actually be the best environment for you.
Common misconceptions of studying in rural areas
Studying at university campuses in rural areas — especially forest-dense areas — comes with a lot of questions. The top one being, “But…is there wifi”?
We’re here to bust these myths.
Lack of diversity
Rumours have it that rural areas lack diversity. For instance, in the US, it’s often said that these rural areas are predominantly white with very few people of colour.
Well, that may be true in some communities, but things are changing.
Vox reports that around one-fifth of rural residents in the US are now people of colour, and their interests and political views are just as diverse.
In fact, the share of people of colour in rural communities climbed from 20% in 2010 to 24% in 2020, according to the US Census data.
Boring — there’s literally nothing to do
Sure, rural university campus life can seem a little quiet — but that doesn’t mean there’s “literally nothing to do.” Actually, the slower pace can be more of a plus than a minus.
Universities in rural areas usually have loads of student associations, clubs, and events throughout the year to help build a tight-knit, outgoing community.
Many students at quiet, rural university campuses have come to love the peace, connection, and simplicity of life out there.
Bonus? The cost of living is often much cheaper.
No access to the internet
If you’re trekking the wilderness of Svalbard, Norway or the Outback in Australia, you’ll most likely not have any connection to the internet — goodbye social media.
While it may look like a great way for you to lock in on your studies, universities know how important having internet is for students to succeed. Even if it were to cut off one day, they often have solutions in place to ensure students have access to online resources.
You can add birdwatching to your list of hobbies, as birds often flock to areas with a lot of trees. Source: AFP
What are the benefits of studying on a university campus surrounded by forests?
Now with the common misconceptions out of the way, let’s talk about why studying in a university campus surrounded by forests will benefit you in the long run.
A Quora user commented that “Putting such a college that focuses on science and arts in a rural location will tap into new ideas and exquisite talent.”
Closer proximity to nature = Less stress
One of the biggest perks of studying on a university campus in a forested area is being surrounded by nature — and yes, your eyes will thank you for it.
There’s no doubt that in this era, our eyes are often glued to our phones, and it’s always best to touch some grass occasionally. Enter the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, you should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a break from screens.
It’s a simple trick, and best if it’s done in a place surrounded by greenery.
Being close to nature has also been shown to improve physical and mental health. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that just 20 minutes in nature can significantly lower stress hormone levels.
So while your city friends are dodging traffic and rushing to class, you’ll be taking deep breaths fo fresh air, surrounded by trees, and probably doing better on that final exam too.
Sense of community
There’s something pretty special about attending a university where everyone knows your name — or at least your face.
In rural university campuses, you’re not just another student lost in the crowd. You’re bound to bump into the same friendly faces at the dining hall, lecture halls, or while grabbing a coffee at the local cafe.
It’s the place where people actually say “hi” when they pass you, and where lecturers remember your name.
Besides, a smaller student population often mean tighter bonds. Clubs and societies are more inclusive and less intimidating, even if you’ve never tried something.
Plus, when your university campus is surrounded by nature, there’s a natural urge to spend more time outside together.
If you’re looking to pursue a degree in environmental science or even just to live in a peaceful environment, these universities are your best bet.
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Here are 7 universities that are located INSIDE forests:
Kenyon College
Country: US
Not only is Kenyon College known as Ohio’s oldest private college, but the school is also known as “The Writer’s College” for its strong literary tradition. Oh, it has also made its way to US News and World Report’s list of “Beautiful College Campuses” in the US.
The university campus is located in the small rural village of Gambier, Ohio, and its entire university campus is surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills, with Mount Vernon being its closest major city, only an eight-minute drive away.
When it comes to academics, Kenyon College is ranked #45 in US News and World Report’s National Liberal Arts Colleges list. The college has over 50 majors, minors and concentrations, including anthropology, film, economics, gender and sexual studies, neuroscience, and political science.
Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry (IOF)
Country: Nepal
Nestled in Pokhara, Nepal, the Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry is Nepal’s largest academic institution, with its university campus surrounded by vast mountain ranges and dense forests.
Previously known as Nepal Forestry Institute, IOF was founded in 1947 and is known to be the only institution in the country that’s dedicated to educating its students in forestry and natural resource management education.
IOF only offers one undergraduate programme, which is the Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BScF). However, the university offers several MSc programmes, such as an MSc in Watershed Management, MSc in Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, and MSc in Mountain Environment and Developmental Studies. PhD programmes in Forestry and allied subjects are also available at IOF.
The Agricultural University of Iceland is located in Borgarnes, which is home to just 2,000 inhabitants. Source: Agricultural University of Iceland
Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI)
Country: Iceland
While not surrounded by forests, the Agricultural University of Iceland has vast greenery encircling its university campus — wherever you turn, it’s just green grass with mountains in the far distance. The town where the university campus is located, Borgarnes, is home to just 2,000 inhabitants.
Despite its extreme ruralness, AUI is #3 in Iceland on EduRank, focusing on agriculture, environmental sciences, and landscape architecture and planning.
AUI offers bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in Agricultural Science, Forestry Sciences, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Changes at Higher Latitudes and Restoration Ecology.
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Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK)
Country: Finland
At Häme University of Applied Sciences, it would probably take you a couple of steps from your dorm room to be surrounded by forests. And that’s not all; you’ll be surrounded by beautiful lakes.
Just an hour and a half drive from Helsinki, HAMK is a multidisciplinary university of applied sciences, and it’s been ranked #18 out of nearly 1,500 participants in the International GreenMetric Ranking 2024.
HAMK offers several bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes, such as smart and sustainable design, international business, nursing, sustainable forest management, construction engineering, and information and communication technology, robotics.
The best part of it all? The programmes are taught in English.
The University of Melbourne (UniMelb), Creswick
Country: Australia
Tucked away in the little town with a population of 3,170 inhabitants, the University of Melbourne’s Creswick campus is surrounded by 15 hectares of land with adjacent native and plantation forests, and there are two good reasons for it.
First of all, Creswick is known for its thriving forestry industry and its beautiful natural attractions like the Creswick Regional Park and the Calembeen Park lakes. And thanks to its thick, thriving forests, the campus is Australia’s only dedicated forest science and research campus, and has been the centre of the field since 1910.
While not listed on its website, the UniMelb’s Creswick campus offers programmes related to forestry, and the university is ranked #19 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and #33 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject in Agriculture and Forestry.
By the way, you’d probably bump into a kangaroo or wallaby on the way to class.
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University of Stirling (Stir)
Country: Scotland
Just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, the University of Stirling is the place for those looking to be surrounded by tall trees and a beautiful blue lake.
Founded in 1967, Stir is a public university known for its sport-related subjects, and its #1 ranked sport facilities and campus environment in the UK and #5 in the world. The university is also home to several successful sports athletes, such as British Olympic swimmer Duncan Scott and tennis players Andy Murray.
Stir offers several bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes, such as accounting, animal biology, sports development and coaching, film and media, history, philosophy, and LLM human rights and diplomacy.
Novosibirsk State University (NSU)
Country: Russia
Tall green trees — that’s all you’ll see when attending Novosibirsk State University.
Located 42 hours away by car from the capital of Russia, NSU is a public research university founded in 1958, on the principles of integration of education and science. The university is ranked #5 out of over 3,000 in Russia, according to the Centre for World University Rankings.
If you’re looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree at NSU, you’ll only be able to complete it in Russian.
However, the universities’ master’s, PhD, specialist, and residency training programmes are taught in English — the programmes include artificial intelligence, functional anatomy, Classics and Philosophy, astroparticle physics, and general medicine.
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