Study climate law and what it means for the energy sector.

Climate change is the biggest environmental challenge of our time and the energy sector is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Addressing these emissions requires a range of regulatory tools and strategies, which you’ll learn about in this Masters-level online short course.

With teaching from legal experts who shape national and international energy policy, you will:

  • examine climate law at the international and national levels
  • critically analyse the role of law in mitigating the climate crisis, and
  • consider some of the legal instruments, policies, strategies and tools in regulating emissions in the energy sector.

Who can join this online renewable energy regulations course?

This is a course for anyone interested in the role of climate law in the energy sector.

Understanding the changing legal and policy landscape in climate and energy law is important for both professionals and academics in this field.

This distance-learning course is particularly valuable for:

  • lawyers
  • energy professionals
  • environmental and climate scientists
  • students and academics.

Build credits towards a Masters degree

This online course is part of:

You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards this LLM qualification.

What you’ll study

In this course, you’ll examine national and international climate change law and its relevance to the energy sector.

Through lectures and interactive tutorials, you’ll learn about:

  • the role of Paris Agreement in curbing fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy
  • approaches to energy in the UK Climate Change Act and other national climate laws
  • regulation of oil and gas production, decarbonisation, and carbon capture and storage
  • climate impact assessment in the energy sector
  • corporate climate disclosures and reporting.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate a deeper knowledge and critical understanding of climate change law at various levels.
  • Interpret the text of the climate change laws and treaties, and analyse their implementation.
  • Critically analyse the regulation of carbon capture and storage, and oil and gas production decarbonisation.
  • Identify and engage with the relevant requirements for climate impact assessment and corporate climate reporting in the energy sector.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for online climate law courses

Study with a university that’s home to one of the largest and most internationally experienced teams of legal experts in any UK or European law school.

Fits around full-time work

This course is designed to fit around work. With flexible hours and 24/7 study access.

Top 5 in Scotland for Law

We’re ranked Top 5 in Scotland for Law in two league tables (Guardian University Guide 2025 and Complete University Guide 2025).

Over 525 years of excellence

Join a university founded in 1495, where Law has been taught for more than five centuries.

How you’ll study

Online learning

This distance-learning climate law course is delivered flexibly, 100% online.

You can learn with us anywhere, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your teaching

This course is taught at Masters level.

Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.

You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources available, including:

  • videos
  • pre-recorded video lectures
  • live online tutorials
  • slide shows
  • quizzes
  • reading materials
  • discussion boards with your tutors and peers
  • online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and Taylor Law Library.

Both libraries have first-class collections of reference works in law and related subjects.

Live online tutorials

This course features three interactive online tutorials. These are live and scheduled to last for around one hour. Live attendance is not compulsory and the tutorials will be recorded so you can view them after they’ve taken place.

Your tutors

This course is delivered by our School of Law.

This online course is led by our award-winning lecturers. You’ll learn from academics who not only teach diverse energy courses and programmes on campus but also conduct groundbreaking research in energy and climate law.

This course is assessed online.

You’ll be assessed via:

  • a case note analysing a relevant court decision (worth 40% of your final course grade)
  • an oral presentation at the end of term (60% of your final course grade).

Pre-recorded online lectures

This course features seven pre-recorded lectures. These are between 30 and 60 minutes long. Each lecture will be available for you to engage with in your own time.

Live online tutorials

This course also features three live online tutorials. These are each scheduled to last for around one hour.

Tutorial dates and times will be organised at the start of the course. Your course coordinator will consider everyone’s circumstances and time zones before setting up live tutorial times.

Live attendance is not compulsory and tutorials will be recorded so you can view them after they’ve taken place.

Study hours

This course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen, the University’s virtual learning environment, is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

Activities at fixed times

There may be some activities scheduled at fixed times, such as live tutorials and assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

Your course coordinator

Dr Daria Shapovalova

Daria is the Director of the Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law and coordinator of the Just Transitions Lab.

Her main research interests are in energy, environmental law and human rights. Daria is currently researching climate change and energy law with a focus on just transition.

View Daria’s profile

Online learning in the School of Law

Advocates share their experiences of working while studying online Law courses with us.

Where this will take you

Towards an LLM

You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our online:

LLM in Energy Transition Law

Learn the legal skills you need to consult on energy transition law and policy. Study online with experts in this field and develop your understanding of energy law, environmental law, and climate law.

View LLM Energy Transition Law

Careers

This online climate law course will enhance your skills, experience and connections as a:

  • lawyer
  • senior manager
  • policy analyst
  • student or academic
  • policymaker
  • other professional working within the energy or environment industry.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.

Free career support

Access our free careers service while you study.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

See how our careers service can help you.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.

But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.

If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.

Visa requirements

You do not need a student visa to study online with us.

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.

Recommended level of English

This course uses our Postgraduate Higher level of English language proficiency.

These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements, and these are minimum scores.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 21 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening and speaking
  • 169 for reading and writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening and speaking
  • 65 for reading and writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening and speaking
  • 105 for reading and writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.

You will need access to:

A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:

  • Windows 10 or later
  • macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable internet access

We recommend:

  • a wired connection
  • a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or headphones

  • We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
  • A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.

Software

We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:

  • Be realistic
  • Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.

Fee payment

Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.

We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.

Ways to save

You may be able to get help funding this course via:

  • discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
  • employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.

Find out more about funding options.

Student card

All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.

Learning resources

Access to all the books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.

Printing

You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.

The course is delivered at LLM level. At this level, you’d usually have at least:

  • a 2:1 (upper-second-class) Law degree, or
  • relevant work experience that supports this level of study.

Apply for this course

Start date
27 January 2025
Cost
£1,290
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