1st In Scotland for Law*
The School of Law is Scotland's highest ranked university in the Times Good University Guide 2019, the School is ranked 5th in the UK for Law.
Our innovative Masters programme allows students the opportunity to develop the relevant skills and knowledge in managing natural energy resources for future generations. This programme will equip students with the knowledge, and skills, to develop sound governance regimes within areas that raise the most fundamental issues for humanity.
The University of Aberdeen has long held a reputation as a leader in teaching, and research, in the energy resources sector and this programme will give students a competitive advantage in highly relevant and rapidly developing sector. Our growing population has a major impact on the world’s natural resources. Indeed, this issue will only grow as the pressure to meet humanity’s developing demands. Hence, international and domestic law must address the legal implications of ownership, extraction distribution and management of natural resources. This unique programme focuses on the legal and regulatory issues associated with society’s use of and exploitation of the natural world.
Students will gain an in-depth understanding of extracting natural resources, ocean law, food law, and water law. Students must complete the Introduction to Natural Resources Law and Policy and Critical Legal Thinking and Scholarship. Students must then choose an additional 4 courses, taking 2 in semester 1 and 2 in semester 3.
Please note: Students staring their LLM programme in January write their Dissertation project during the Summer semester.
In additional to Critical legal Thinking all students must take LS503K Introduction to Natural Resources Law (This course provides a series of lectures on the fundamental concepts relating to natural resources law and policy. The aim of the course is to ensure that all students are equipped with the necessary conceptual framework and knowledge to be able to undertake study of the various and diverse courses offered within the LLM in Natural Resources Law. It will also assure that all students commence the degree on an equal knowledge footing.
This compulsory course provides students from diverse legal and educational backgrounds with a common understanding of the core research, analytical, and writing skills which would be required to excel in LLM-Taught courses. It commences with a few lectures and progresses to working in a workshop environment and finally to the submission of an individual assignment. It also incorporates elements such as library workshops to provide students with hands-on experience with the resources available for course and dissertation work.
View detailed information about this courseStudents must choose 4 additional courses taking 2 in semester 1 and 2 in semester 2 completing the programme with the dissertation in semester 3.
These will include those listed below,
30 Credit Points
The course deals with the regulation of international activities regarding energy and the environment. The course will consider the international legal framework regarding energy sources, and it will look at the various legal instruments at the global and regional level as well as the key actors that are involved in regulation. It will also examine environmental issues that correspond to the generation and use of energy in the international context and the responses relating to environmental protection of soil, water, air, atmosphere and species.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
With only limited exceptions hydrocarbons lie in the ownership or control of states, but are frequently explored for and produced by commercial actors. This course considers the means by which the state controls exploitation of its oil and gas reserves. Following a number of introductory lectures, students will participate in interactive seminars considering topics such as: energy security; licensing; upstream taxation; health, safety and environmental regulation; and international maritime boundaries and joint development. This course is available to students registering for the LLM Oil and Gas Law programmes (Dissertation or Professional Skills).
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
The blue economy is the exploitation and preservation/ conservation of the marine environment. This course will explore what is meant by the Blue Economy in an international context and how it relates to the marine environment and natural resources. It will consider how the Blue Economy has been defined and what it might mean in the future. Discussions on the international, EU and national legal regimes will be supported by an ecological and a social deliberative strand. The course benefits from international guest lectures and culminates in a workshop where students will simulate blue economy decision making adopting an ecosystem approach to a real-life scenario, implementing legal requirements and policy context.
View detailed information about this courseStudents must choose 2 courses from those listed below.
LS553U – Principals of Environmental & Natural Resources Regulation
30 Credit Points
Corporate environmental liability is a significant area of concern not only for those corporations engaged in activities which exhibit environmental risk but society as whole. An efficient, effective liability regime must be present to ensure that corporations do not shirk their financial liabilities. The course draws attention to the conflicting goals of corporate law (i.e. the limitation of liability) and environmental law (i.e. ensuring that polluters pay for damage caused) and encourages students to consider and develop solutions to this problem. Whilst the course focuses on EU environmental law, many of the concepts covered are relevant to other jurisdictions.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
The complex interaction between investment protection and the sovereign right of states to regulate has been most acute in the energy sector. On the one hand, investors require strong guarantees that states will respect the “rules of the game” that constitute the basis of their investments. On the other, states can be tempted to interfere with foreign energy investments because of their particular strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
This course explores the diversity of laws and policies that shape our food system. It considers crucial legal issues applicable to the access, production, processing, packaging, marketing, consumption and disposal of food such as food sovereignty, food security, right to food, intellectual property rights relating to food, food safety, food waste as well as the food -water -energy- land nexus. The course, delivered through seminars, encourages debates, critical thinking and formulation of opinions on the complex and often controversial issues covered. Seasoned guest speakers are invited to enrich the student’s knowledge and experience. Whilst the course focuses on the international and UK systems, relevant examples from other jurisdictions are employed.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
The oceans are widely considered to be Earth's final frontier. Oceans are vital for maintaining life on Earth, their natural resources are increasingly important to the global economy and about 90 per cent of all international trade is carried out by sea. In the development of humanity, the oceans and seas have always played a significant role, not only as a means of communication and trade, but also as a most important source for satisfying nutritional needs. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, in view of an ever-increasing world population, a growing necessity has arisen to exploit marine natural resources, whether living (such as fisheries) or non-living (such as hydrocarbons and deep-sea minerals). Creating an effective governance and regulatory regime for the worlds’ oceans and seas continues to be - perhaps now more than even - one of the greatest challenges for states and the international community as a whole.
The current legal framework for the oceans is largely codified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS) as an inseparable part of public international law. This Convention has often been called the ‘Constitution for the Oceans' and is based on the fundamental premise that all the problems of the oceans are inextricably intertwined and need to be considered as a whole. UNCLOS divides the oceans into several jurisdictional zones, namely internal waters, territorial sea, archipelagic waters, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the continental shelf, the high seas and the Area. In all these zones, the legal regime seeks to maintain a careful balance in reconciling the interests between individual states on one hand, and the protection of community interests on the other. Structured around this dual balancing objective, this course is designed to present students with the core elements of modern ocean law with a particular focus on the exploitation of marine natural resources, both living and non-living, marine environmental protection and international dispute settlement in the law of the sea.
View detailed information about this courseStudents must undertake the dissertation involving research in a specific area of natural resources law of their choice.
60 Credit Points
Between May and mid-August students prepare a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice related to their specialist LLM programme. Students are instructed through the delivery of a preparatory lecture, two supervisory meetings and a two hour dissertation planning workshop in a small group setting. Students are expected to spend considerable time on independent research throughout the course of the dissertation module, including; preparation of dissertation plan, amendment of plan in accordance with supervisory comments, preparation for the dissertation workshop, and, of course, in the final 10,000 word dissertation itself.
View detailed information about this courseFee category | Cost |
---|---|
EU / International students | £19,400 |
Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year | |
Home / RUK | £10,200 |
Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year |
In additional to Critical legal Thinking all students must take LS553K Introduction to Natural Resources Law . This course provides a series of lectures on the fundamental concepts relating to natural resources law and policy. The aim of the course is to ensure that all students are equipped with the necessary conceptual framework and knowledge to be able to undertake study of the various and diverse courses offered within the LLM in Natural Resources Law. It will also assure that all students commence the degree on an equal knowledge footing.
This compulsory course provides students from diverse legal and educational backgrounds with a common understanding of the core research, analytical, and writing skills which would be required to excel in LLM-Taught courses. It commences with a few lectures and progresses to working in a workshop environment and finally to the submission of an individual assignment. It also incorporates elements such as library workshops to provide students with hands-on experience with the resources available for course and dissertation work.
View detailed information about this courseFour optional courses must be selected. Two should be selected from semester 1 and two from semester 3 .
LS553U – Principals of Environmental & Natural Resources Regulation
30 Credit Points
Corporate environmental liability is a significant area of concern not only for those corporations engaged in activities which exhibit environmental risk but society as whole. An efficient, effective liability regime must be present to ensure that corporations do not shirk their financial liabilities. The course draws attention to the conflicting goals of corporate law (i.e. the limitation of liability) and environmental law (i.e. ensuring that polluters pay for damage caused) and encourages students to consider and develop solutions to this problem. Whilst the course focuses on EU environmental law, many of the concepts covered are relevant to other jurisdictions.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
The complex interaction between investment protection and the sovereign right of states to regulate has been most acute in the energy sector. On the one hand, investors require strong guarantees that states will respect the “rules of the game” that constitute the basis of their investments. On the other, states can be tempted to interfere with foreign energy investments because of their particular strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
This course explores the diversity of laws and policies that shape our food system. It considers crucial legal issues applicable to the access, production, processing, packaging, marketing, consumption and disposal of food such as food sovereignty, food security, right to food, intellectual property rights relating to food, food safety, food waste as well as the food -water -energy- land nexus. The course, delivered through seminars, encourages debates, critical thinking and formulation of opinions on the complex and often controversial issues covered. Seasoned guest speakers are invited to enrich the student’s knowledge and experience. Whilst the course focuses on the international and UK systems, relevant examples from other jurisdictions are employed.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
The oceans are widely considered to be Earth's final frontier. Oceans are vital for maintaining life on Earth, their natural resources are increasingly important to the global economy and about 90 per cent of all international trade is carried out by sea. In the development of humanity, the oceans and seas have always played a significant role, not only as a means of communication and trade, but also as a most important source for satisfying nutritional needs. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, in view of an ever-increasing world population, a growing necessity has arisen to exploit marine natural resources, whether living (such as fisheries) or non-living (such as hydrocarbons and deep-sea minerals). Creating an effective governance and regulatory regime for the worlds’ oceans and seas continues to be - perhaps now more than even - one of the greatest challenges for states and the international community as a whole.
The current legal framework for the oceans is largely codified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS) as an inseparable part of public international law. This Convention has often been called the ‘Constitution for the Oceans' and is based on the fundamental premise that all the problems of the oceans are inextricably intertwined and need to be considered as a whole. UNCLOS divides the oceans into several jurisdictional zones, namely internal waters, territorial sea, archipelagic waters, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the continental shelf, the high seas and the Area. In all these zones, the legal regime seeks to maintain a careful balance in reconciling the interests between individual states on one hand, and the protection of community interests on the other. Structured around this dual balancing objective, this course is designed to present students with the core elements of modern ocean law with a particular focus on the exploitation of marine natural resources, both living and non-living, marine environmental protection and international dispute settlement in the law of the sea.
View detailed information about this courseStudents must undertake the dissertation involving research in a specific area of natural resources law of their choice.
60 Credit Points
Between May and mid-August students prepare a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice related to their specialist LLM programme. Students are instructed through the delivery of a preparatory lecture, two supervisory meetings and a two hour dissertation planning workshop in a small group setting. Students are expected to spend considerable time on independent research throughout the course of the dissertation module, including; preparation of dissertation plan, amendment of plan in accordance with supervisory comments, preparation for the dissertation workshop, and, of course, in the final 10,000 word dissertation itself.
View detailed information about this courseAs in semester 1 students must choose 2 courses from those listed below
Students will also be able to choose from the additional following courses:
30 Credit Points
The course deals with the regulation of international activities regarding energy and the environment. The course will consider the international legal framework regarding energy sources, and it will look at the various legal instruments at the global and regional level as well as the key actors that are involved in regulation. It will also examine environmental issues that correspond to the generation and use of energy in the international context and the responses relating to environmental protection of soil, water, air, atmosphere and species.
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
With only limited exceptions hydrocarbons lie in the ownership or control of states, but are frequently explored for and produced by commercial actors. This course considers the means by which the state controls exploitation of its oil and gas reserves. Following a number of introductory lectures, students will participate in interactive seminars considering topics such as: energy security; licensing; upstream taxation; health, safety and environmental regulation; and international maritime boundaries and joint development. This course is available to students registering for the LLM Oil and Gas Law programmes (Dissertation or Professional Skills).
View detailed information about this course30 Credit Points
The blue economy is the exploitation and preservation/ conservation of the marine environment. This course will explore what is meant by the Blue Economy in an international context and how it relates to the marine environment and natural resources. It will consider how the Blue Economy has been defined and what it might mean in the future. Discussions on the international, EU and national legal regimes will be supported by an ecological and a social deliberative strand. The course benefits from international guest lectures and culminates in a workshop where students will simulate blue economy decision making adopting an ecosystem approach to a real-life scenario, implementing legal requirements and policy context.
View detailed information about this courseFee category | Cost |
---|---|
EU / International students | £19,400 |
Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year | |
Home / RUK | £10,200 |
Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year |
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Teaching is organised on a modular basis. There are two eleven-week semesters. Examinations are held at the end of each semester in December and May. The dissertation is submitted in August. The variety of assessments in the programme ensures that students apply theory to practical situations in order to become expert at being able to analyse and reason issues thoroughly. Moreover, students will gain transferrable skills including: enhanced ability to undertake advanced research in the field; an opportunity to undertake group work activities; ability to synthesise ideas and present work in oral and written assignments, plus students will undertake critical analysis.
Assessment is a combination of coursework during the semester and an examination at the end of the relevant semester. In addition, students must complete research skills course and a dissertation on a topic within the specialism. All full time students who begin in January commence work on the dissertation in May with a final submission date in the beginning of August.
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
Normally, a 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Law will be required to be accepted onto this programme. Relevant practical experience in a related field will also be beneficial.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.
On Tuesday 18th May, The University of Aberdeen will hold a Postgraduate Virtual Open Day.
It is open to everyone who is interested in Postgraduate Taught and Research study.
Find out moreAs the Law has an impact on many parts of public life and, thus, is beneficial should you wish to enter politics, business, international finance or banking. More and more non-legal employers are valuing the eminently transferable skills law graduates can bring to industry and other international business organisations. These skills include but are not limited to:
This programme would equip graduates interested in a career in the following industries and sectors: policy, planning, NGOs, civil service, energy and extraction.
Programme Coordinator Professor Tina Soliman Hunter, course academics Dr Titilayo Adebola Professor Zeray Yihedgo Dr Constantinos Yiallourides
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.