Energy Politics and Law, _MSc

Programme Fees

Fee information

Fee category	Cost
EU / International students	£23,000
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
UK	£11,100
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

Students will take the following:

• BU5053 Introduction to Energy Economics
• PI5028 Environmental and Climate Politics
• PD5006 Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen

Introduction to Energy Economics (BU5053)

15 Credit Points

This course introduces key techniques from economics and finance to allowing understanding of the basics of business decision making within the energy industries and the economic implications of key energy policies. We consider basic financial concepts such as: present value, the opportunity cost of capital and their role in business decision making in energy industries. We also consider key economic elements of markets and how the economic environment structures the way in which businesses make decisions and energy market outcomes.

Detailed course information

Environmental and Climate Politics (PI5028)

15 Credit Points

The politics of climate change cannot be separated from those of the environment. The programme will centre on how modern relationships with the environment have brought the world to this point of climate crisis, while placing a critical lens over the solutions being brought forth. We will examine different framings of the environment and of the climate crisis, looking at the politics upholding particular framings over others. By the end of the 6-week course, students will attain a more critical understanding of the environment and climate as political spaces.

Detailed course information

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.

Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Optional Courses

In addition to the mandatory courses, students will choose one of the following:

State Control of Hydrocarbons (LS501E)

30 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 online lectures, students will participate in interactive seminars considering topics such as: from energy security to energy trilemma; national oil companies; licensing and production sharing agreements; resource curse and transparency; health, safety and environmental regulation; and decommissioning. This course is available to students registering for the LLM Oil and Gas Law programmes (Dissertation or Professional Skills).

Detailed course information

Renewable Energy Law (LS504L)

30 Credit Points

A transition from reliance on fossil fuels to low-carbon renewable energy is essential for mitigating climate change and for making energy supplies more sustainable. This course examines the legal frameworks governing authorisation of renewable energy projects, as well as health, safety & environmental regulation. With a focus on the UK and Scotland, the course also considers European Union and other jurisdictions to draw comparison and analysis.

Detailed course information

Stage 2

Compulsory Courses

International Energy Politics and Security (PI5522)

30 Credit Points

Topics:

Oil and Security – how oil crises have occurred since 1973, with a focus on the energy demand and supply pressures and the political factors triggering the 1973 and 1979 oil crises. OPEC and IEA. The factors underpinning the oil crisis of 2008 and its relationships to world economic crisis. The role of China in oil politics.

Natural Gas, the EU and Russia. How conceptions of (natural gas) energy security are constructed and implemented in the EU and Russia –Nuclear Power and energy security;– eg Iran .

Climate Security

Detailed course information

Optional Courses

In addition to the mandatory courses, students will choose one of the following:

• LS5594 Downstream Energy Law
• LS555L International Investment Law and Energy Arbitration

Downstream Energy Law (LS5594)

30 Credit Points

The transport and supply of hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and electricity is essential for modern civilisation. If energy cannot get to the consumer, then energy security is threatened and economic development may be restricted.

These challenges are important in the context of the liberalisation of these sectors, especially the restructuring of these industries from monopolies to competitive markets. This course explores the law and policy framework governing the movement and distribution of energy, particularly within a liberalised market, in an era of climate change. Topics covered include market liberalisation, energy security, gas sales and transport, and market regulation.

Detailed course information

International Investment Law and Energy Arbitration (LS555L)

30 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 strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines and international investment protection framework, are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century and how best to avoid disputes and manage them.

Detailed course information

Stage 3

Compulsory Courses

Energy Politics and Law Project (PI5907)

60 Credit Points

The project will take the form of a traditional dissertation in that a research question will be set, theory that is relevant to the empirical topic under consideration will be selected and utilised to answer the research question, and an appropriate methodology will be used to answer the research question. There will be a discussion of the evidence and theory discussed and a cogent conclusion reached on the basis of the argument that is developed.

Detailed course information

Programme Fees

Fee information

Fee category	Cost
EU / International students	£23,800
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year
UK	£11,100
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

International Energy Politics and Security (PI5522)

30 Credit Points

Topics:

Oil and Security – how oil crises have occurred since 1973, with a focus on the energy demand and supply pressures and the political factors triggering the 1973 and 1979 oil crises. OPEC and IEA. The factors underpinning the oil crisis of 2008 and its relationships to world economic crisis. The role of China in oil politics.

Natural Gas, the EU and Russia. How conceptions of (natural gas) energy security are constructed and implemented in the EU and Russia –Nuclear Power and energy security;– eg Iran .

Climate Security

Detailed course information

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5506)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.

Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Optional Courses

In addition to the mandatory courses, students will choose one of the following:

Downstream Energy Law (LS5594)

30 Credit Points

The transport and supply of hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and electricity is essential for modern civilisation. If energy cannot get to the consumer, then energy security is threatened and economic development may be restricted.

These challenges are important in the context of the liberalisation of these sectors, especially the restructuring of these industries from monopolies to competitive markets. This course explores the law and policy framework governing the movement and distribution of energy, particularly within a liberalised market, in an era of climate change. Topics covered include market liberalisation, energy security, gas sales and transport, and market regulation.

Detailed course information

International Investment Law and Energy Arbitration (LS555L)

30 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 strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines and international investment protection framework, are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century and how best to avoid disputes and manage them.

Detailed course information

Stage 2

Compulsory Courses

Energy Politics and Law Project (PI5907)

60 Credit Points

The project will take the form of a traditional dissertation in that a research question will be set, theory that is relevant to the empirical topic under consideration will be selected and utilised to answer the research question, and an appropriate methodology will be used to answer the research question. There will be a discussion of the evidence and theory discussed and a cogent conclusion reached on the basis of the argument that is developed.

Detailed course information

Stage 3

Compulsory Courses

Environmental and Climate Politics (PI5028)

15 Credit Points

The politics of climate change cannot be separated from those of the environment. The programme will centre on how modern relationships with the environment have brought the world to this point of climate crisis, while placing a critical lens over the solutions being brought forth. We will examine different framings of the environment and of the climate crisis, looking at the politics upholding particular framings over others. By the end of the 6-week course, students will attain a more critical understanding of the environment and climate as political spaces.

Detailed course information

Introduction to Energy Economics (BU5053)

15 Credit Points

This course introduces key techniques from economics and finance to allowing understanding of the basics of business decision making within the energy industries and the economic implications of key energy policies. We consider basic financial concepts such as: present value, the opportunity cost of capital and their role in business decision making in energy industries. We also consider key economic elements of markets and how the economic environment structures the way in which businesses make decisions and energy market outcomes.

Detailed course information

Optional Courses

In addition to the mandatory courses, students will choose one of the following:

State Control of Hydrocarbons (LS501E)

30 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 online lectures, students will participate in interactive seminars considering topics such as: from energy security to energy trilemma; national oil companies; licensing and production sharing agreements; resource curse and transparency; health, safety and environmental regulation; and decommissioning. This course is available to students registering for the LLM Oil and Gas Law programmes (Dissertation or Professional Skills).

Detailed course information

Renewable Energy Law (LS504L)

30 Credit Points

A transition from reliance on fossil fuels to low-carbon renewable energy is essential for mitigating climate change and for making energy supplies more sustainable. This course examines the legal frameworks governing authorisation of renewable energy projects, as well as health, safety & environmental regulation. With a focus on the UK and Scotland, the course also considers European Union and other jurisdictions to draw comparison and analysis.

Detailed course information