Course summary
This programme is highly regarded in the international oil and gas legal community, and as such has been a popular course taught at the University of Aberdeen for over 10 years. The University offers you an incredible depth of expertise from its learning and research in the European energy hub and enables you to be at the heart of regulation. Our LLM in Oil and Gas Law with Dissertation will build your expertise and grow your contacts. Improve your intellectual, critical and practical skills that are fundamental to practicing as a trained professional in this field, whilst engaging with a challenging yet extremely rewarding subject of study. You will be immersed in the grounding concepts of current oil and gas law, and will gain the advanced, specialist knowledge, critical analysis, and research efficiency required for the legal management of oil & gas exploration and production activity. Our teaching promotes the kind of contextual thinking that enables you to gain a deeper, more forward-thinking understanding about the industry and how the law works around it, whilst also encouraging you to think beyond the immediate interest and look towards long-term benefits and possible threats that the future might present. You will have the opportunity to study topics such as State Control of Hydrocarbons, Energy, Innovation and Law and Corporate Environmental Liability. Through the preparation of a 10,000 word dissertation, you will develop the skills of critical analysis and independent research in law which are relevant to the needs of the legal profession and other areas of employment. The LLM Oil and Gas Law with Dissertation provides an intellectual and academic programme. If you wish to pursue a more practical programme of equal intellectual rigour but with more practical testing of your skills, we also offer an LLM Oil and Gas Law with Professional Skills.
Modules
Learn how to think more critically, communicate more effectively and understand society more thoroughly, instilling the cross-cultural skills that can help you succeed in the legal practice. Learn strategies and techniques that will assist you in commercial decision-making. Benefit from a range of interactive methods and approaches to learning that will enhance your critical thinking, presentation and interpersonal skills.
Assessment method
Assessment is based on a combination of written examination at the end of the relevant semester and one or more course essays. In addition, students must complete a course in research methods and a dissertation on a topic within the specialism. The dissertation is planned and written between March and August each year. Guidance on the writing of a dissertation is given.
How to apply
International applicants
When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country and to arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs. In addition, it is important to check all immigration requirements regularly and before travelling, as they can change. Students without the necessary visa will be refused entry to the UK. You should allow plenty of time to organise your visa and ensure you are aware of all your responsibilities under the terms and conditions of your visa. Please note that the advice provided via the University is the Student Visa category of the UK's Points Based Immigration Scheme. For further information, please visit the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.
Entry requirements
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.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | Overall - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 6.0 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 90 | TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Overall - 90 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 21 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above. DI code is 0818 |
| PTE Academic | 62 | Overall - 62 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online test is not accepted. |
| Institution's Own Test | Academic English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE) - Pass (valid for 1 year). Academic English Preparation Programme undertaken at other UK HEI - accredited by BALEAP and within 1 year of start of course. | |
| Cambridge English Advanced | C | Overall - 176 with: Listening - 162 or above; Reading - 162 or above; Speaking - 162 or above; Writing - 169 or above. |
To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Postgraduate Higher requirements are used by the Schools of Business; Divinity, History and Philosophy; Education; Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture; Law; and Social Sciences. The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management and the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience also make use of the Postgraduate Higher requirements. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.
Please use the checklist at the following webpage to determine how you can meet our English language requirements:
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/requirements-pg-266.php
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fee information is not yet published for entry in Academic Year 2025/2026. For guidance, the fees on the University Online Prospectus website are for 2024/25.
Sponsorship information
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: www.abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/. The University of Aberdeen provides an Alumni Discount Scheme: The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen.
Provider information
University of Aberdeen
Directorate of External Relations
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX