Progress your career in the energy sector with an online decommissioning course you can fit around full-time work.
Gain a comprehensive overview of the complex contractual and commercial aspects of decommissioning.
As UK and other offshore basins mature and industry activity evolves, decommissioning existing infrastructure is creating new career opportunities in a market estimated at £30-50bn.
- Enhance your skills in this rapidly developing area and advance your career as an ambitious industry or legal professional.
- Study flexibly online with a university proud of an unrivalled reputation in energy and law.
- Access our expert teaching and strong links with industry and regulators wherever you’re based, with no need for a study visa.

Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of:
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards either of these postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll study
This distance-learning decommissioning course will give you a comprehensive overview of the contractual and commercial issues that arise when decommissioning offshore installations.
You’ll use the UK as an example to consider the commercial context for decommissioning, in light of the MER UK strategy – Maximising the Economic Recovery of hydrocarbons. You’ll consider the supply chain and the perspectives of the operator and contractors.
Focusing on contracts, you’ll cover key contractual clauses and how risk is allocated. You’ll examine innovative and alternative contracting models, including turnkey and campaign contracting strategies.
You’ll also look at decommissioning costs, including:
- the tax implications of decommissioning
- tax stability
- portability of tax history
- decommissioning cost deeds
- the interaction between decommissioning and the law of insolvency.
Why study Decommissioning online with the University of Aberdeen?

2nd in UK for student satisfaction
Our Law School ranks 2nd in the UK for Overall Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2021).

Decommissioning pioneers
Home to the National Decommissioning Centre, we’re the first university in the world to offer a Masters in Decommissioning.
Visit the Decommissioning Centre website
20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off this online course.
How you’ll study
Online learning
Our distance-learning decommissioning course is delivered part-time, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.
Part of the world’s first Masters in Decommissioning, this course is taught at Masters level.
Your teaching
Your 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 at your fingertips, including:
- online lectures
- videos
- reading materials
- case studies
- projects
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Taylor Law Library.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from lawyers highly experienced within the energy sector here in Aberdeen and globally, with strong links to industry and regulators.
Your course coordinator

Professor Greg Gordon
Greg is Head of our Law School. Prior to joining us as a lecturer in 2004, he practised as a commercial litigator in Aberdeen and London, primarily in the oil and gas sector. Greg leads our LLM in Oil and Gas Law and is a local committee member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
View Greg’s profileOnline learning in the School of Law
Advocates share their experiences of working while studying law online with us.
Where this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:

Masters in Decommissioning
Join the world’s first and only accredited online Masters degree in decommissioning oil rigs, platforms and offshore structures.
View MSc Decommissioning
LLM in Oil and Gas Law
Our LLM in Oil and Gas Law has been producing outstanding energy lawyers for over a decade. Join the flexible, online version of this LLM and earn your Masters part-time, without taking a career break.
View LLM Oil and Gas LawBuild your learning
We offer a wide range of specialist online Law and Energy short courses you can use to build your skills.
Many are part of existing Masters degrees and can be used to build up credits towards postgraduate qualifications.
Careers
Decommissioning is now a major industry and creating new career paths all over the globe.
This course has been developed to enhance your career prospects in this sector. It will deliver career benefits for:
- graduate lawyers working in, or keen to move into, the oil and gas sector
- any professional working in decommissioning who needs to understand the legal framework.
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 careers advice
We’ll help you explore your career potential and connect with job opportunities around the world.
You can access our free careers service while you study.
From interview training to CV clinics, we’re here with tailored, impartial and professional advice.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters 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