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LOCATION
University Square Stratford
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
The exploration, extraction, sale and distribution of natural resources, including fossil fuels and minerals, is a massive undertaking. It is a highly regulated industry with legal implications at every stage of the process. This new course gives a comparative, socio-legal approach.
This distinctive master's course examines upstream and downstream regulatory trends in oil, gas and minerals in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, placing this in the context of the broader economic, technological and environmental and sustainability issues that have an impact on the industry.
You will learn how the law interacts with business, politics and finance in a sector that is under constant scrutiny.
If you are a law graduate, legal professional, or graduate in another subject who works in - or is hoping to work in - the mining, energy or natural resource sector or a related field, this master's degree will be a wise choice.
If you want to keep on working and earn while you learn, you can do so, as all of our classes take place in the evening and lectures are also made available as podcasts and posted online.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
The global energy business is valuable, essential and sometimes controversial, with a huge role for legal professionals in regulation, commercial transactions, dispute resolution, policy formulation and legal research.
On this course you will study energy law within the broader context of international trade and regulation, the environment, renewables and energy technology, covering areas that are of big interest to firms, governments, consumer groups, lobbyists, and environmentalists.
You will assess how, for example, energy and environmental policy translates into practice, how the energy market operates and the legal implications of carbon emissions, sustainability and climate change.
You will study two core modules, which will give you a solid grounding in oil and gas policy and law and the regulation and governance of energy markets.
You can then choose two further modules from a choice of 12, including International Environmental Law, International Law and Business, International Corporate Governance and Financial Risk Management.
A 15,000-word dissertation is a compulsory element of the course, and you will be able to develop your own ideas by researching a relevant topic of most interest to you.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
LLM Energy and Natural Resources Law course specification
pdf, 128.11 KB
MODULES
- Core Modules
Oil and Gas Law and Policy (Mental Wealth) CloseOil and Gas Law and Policy (Mental Wealth)
The module aims to provide you with a comparative and analytical exploration of contemporary upstream and downstream oil and gas and minerals regulatory trends particularly in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East in some key areas like Oil and Gas Law, Contracting, Decommissioning and Trade. In particular it seeks to give you a thorough grounding in the areas:
- Oil and Gas finance and international economic law
- Energy transactions - Law, policy and practice
- Petroleum development and production arrangements and Rights
- Energy and the International treaty framework
Regulation and Governance of Energy (Mental Wealth) CloseRegulation and Governance of Energy (Mental Wealth)
The module aims to provide you the opportunity to explore within a multidisciplinary and critical framework, the regulatory and institutional aspects of the energy and natural resources and the wider economic, business, environmental and technological issues that are fundamental to energy and mineral economies and market. It covers complex concepts and modes of regulation in areas of :
- Natural resources concepts in domestic and international context
- The environment, energy security and sustainability law
- Renewable energy and alternative energy industry
- The WTO, natural resources Trade and Investment
- The Resolution of minerals and energy disputes
The module will also be supported by workshops focussing on issues of employability and skills.
Applied Project CloseApplied Project
The aim of the dissertation is to enable you to initiate and carry through an academic enquiry outside the formal structure of the taught LLM modules. Students select their own field of research and build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the taught LLM modules.
Optional ModulesRegulation of Financial Markets CloseRegulation of Financial Markets
You consider the nature and operation of financial regulation in all of its principle areas of application at the present time. The significant changes which are presently taking place in national and global financial markets make this an essential part of a postgraduate study in international law.
International Law and Business CloseInternational Law and Business
The module aims to provide students with an appreciation of the interface between international law and business through an analytical exploration of some key areas of International Law that shape, and is shaped, by business.
You will examine:
a) the role of business in international norm creation and the manner in which international law norms may be
applied to business entities
b) the general principles, rationale and efficacy of global regulation of business
c) the manner in which some principles of domestic business have been elevated to the international arena.
International Human Rights CloseInternational Human Rights
This module aims to provide an overview of human rights international human rights, their enforcement mechanisms and the contexts in which they are implemented. The module juxtaposes the conceptual and normative framework for international protection of rights with the prospects and strategies for their realisation through a range of methods both formal and informal and by the agency of diverse actors. The module critiques universal and regional human rights regimes as well as domestic approaches through examination of a range of human rights issues. Throughout the module, emphasis will be placed on examining the procedural and substantive provisions to examine good practices and testing tools and strategies.
Law of International Finance CloseLaw of International Finance
In this module you will examine the legal issues created by the international operations of large commercial banks, merchant banks and investment banks. Although based primarily on a discussion and analysis of current London City Practices, reference to other relevant laws are examined. The course has a strong comparative and international law content and emphasises a study of regulatory issues and private international law considerations in the context of international finance.
Financial Crime and Corporate Criminal Liability CloseFinancial Crime and Corporate Criminal Liability
- You will develop knowledge and critical understanding of financial crime offences from a domestic, European and international perspective.
- You will examine the most relevant legal issues related to fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering, terrorism financing, tax evasion, insider trading and cybercrime.
- You will learn about illustrate the UN, US and EU economic sanctions regimes.
- You will engage with issues related to proceeds and instruments of crime.
- You will gain an understating of the financial crime compliance measures adopted by corporations to fight against economic crime offences.
International Corporate Governance CloseInternational Corporate Governance
The module aims to provide you with a comprehensive appreciation of the legal, theoretical and practical underpinnings of the operation and control of contemporary corporations. It introduces students to the evolving framework that seeks to regulate the intricate relationships between, and often conflicting interests of, the corporation and its board of directors, the management, shareholders and the broader society within which they operate. Whilst the module draws from English law, it is international and comparative in focus and exposes students to the evolving global corporate governance regimes.
The Law of the World Trade Organisation and Globalisation CloseThe Law of the World Trade Organisation and Globalisation
The primary aim of this module is to introduce you to complex international trade law and globalization issues. As the approach will be interdisciplinary, at the end of the course you will have an understanding of the history and politics of the post-World War II trading regime in addition to the principles of international trade regulation. You will also interrogate factors and forces shaping globalization and the consequences of this process for the global trading order.
International Environmental Law CloseInternational Environmental Law
This course seeks to acquaint you with the basic principles of international environmental law. You will engage with some of the intricate issues arising out of the regulation of the environment. It is expected that by the end of the course you will have a good grasp of international environmental policy and regulation.
Economic Integration in the Developing World CloseEconomic Integration in the Developing World
This module focuses on economic integration in developing countries. It seeks to locate the process of regionalism within the framework of economic, legal and political development in economically disadvantaged parts of the world. The methodology of the module is interdisciplinary. You will explore questions of law, politics, economics, history and sociology. Thus, students are expected to understand both legal and non-legal perspectives on economic integration in developing countries.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
As a master's student you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study and research using archives, libraries and databases such as JSTOR. You will need to be motivated and disciplined, but you will be taught and supported by leading academics throughout the course.
You will be based in the home of our law department, University Square Stratford (USS), which provides state-of-the-art study facilities.
Our brand-new Stratford library is open 24/7 in term time and, as one of our postgraduate students, you will have access to the prestigious library of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Russell Square, with its unrivalled collection of law books and documentation.
A lot of your formal learning will take place in workshops, seminars and lectures, where you will discuss and debate issues with your fellow students with the support of our dedicated, research-active staff.
You will also benefit from our guest lecturer programme, with the chance to network with leading legal minds and business management experts through regular seminars and events which we host in our centres, research groups and forums.
As a research-based course you will be completing coursework rather than doing exams. This will include essays, reports and presentations, culminating in your dissertation.
Many of our students undertake a placement with a legal practice or a regulatory body while they are here – and we will encourage and help you to find somewhere suitable.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
All modules are research-based, involving coursework. You will take four modules of 30 credits each for which you will submit coursework of approximately 7,000 words at the end of the term. The LLM dissertation, accounting for 60 credits, involves a 15,000-word essay. Full-time students normally complete the 180 credits requirements in one academic year while part-time students complete the same in two years.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

University Square Stratford, University Square Stratford
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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YOUR FUTURE CAREER
This specialist LLM is a very useful and sought-after qualification if you have studied law before and want to take the next step in becoming a solicitor or barrister.
If after taking this master's course you decide that a legal career is for you but you did not study law as an undergraduate, you will have to take a law conversion course to embark on your journey. This LLM course is not a qualifying law degree.
As a graduate in LLM Energy and Natural Resources you will be well placed for a career in the energy or minerals industry. Your options include oil or mining corporations, law firms, regulatory or standards bodies, finance or research institutions or environmental groups.
You could help to draw up contracts, advise on mergers and acquisitions, ensure regulatory compliance - or take an associated role in the industry, such as structuring of projects or operations management.
As a graduate from this course, you will have strong research skills and the ability to analyse and apply critical thinking to any legal or business problem.
You will have high-level communication skills, be able to work as part of a team, debate, make a case and deliver a presentation.
To enhance your career prospects, we run a dedicated employability programme for students in the School of Business and Law. Called 'Employ', it includes employability workshops, skills training sessions, guest speaker events, voluntary work, student ambassador roles and work experience opportunities.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal