Join us online and study the fundamental legal principles of managing oil and gas resources.
- See how these legal principles are applied in different petroleum provinces around the world.
- Gain a detailed overview of the issues in providing access to petroleum resources.
- Examine the relationship between the state and the private sector, including licensing regimes and production-sharing agreements.
Learn online with a top UK law school with decades of experience and influence in Europe’s energy capital.
You’ll benefit from:
- our strong ties to industry and its regulators, wherever you’re based
- flexible study hours that fit around full-time work.
Who is this online energy law course for?
This distance-learning course is ideal for ambitious oil and gas industry professionals aiming for senior management.

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 postgraduate qualification.
What you’ll study
You’ll cover the fundamental legal principles and key issues in the provision of access to petroleum resources, including:
- licensing
- production
- sharing agreements
- managing the relationship between the state and the private sector.
You’ll focus on:
- the role and objectives of the state
- the roles and interaction of international commercial oil companies and national oil companies
- licensing regimes – from both a theoretical and comparative perspective
- contractual access regimes – including production sharing agreements (PSAs) and service contracts.
You’ll look beyond the North Sea to explore how the legal fundamentals are applied in other petroleum regions, including less mature provinces such as West Africa.
Real case studies and contracts will form a core part of your course, allowing you to compare differing legal regimes and build a strong comparative perspective.
Why study Law online with the University of Aberdeen?
Study at a university with one of the largest and most internationally experienced teams of legal experts in any European law school.

Flexible
Part-time hours and 24/7 access, so you can study when it suits you.

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

20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off this online course.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning energy law 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 our LLM in Oil and Gas Law, 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
- case studies
- videos and podcasts
- reading materials
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Taylor Law Library
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from highly skilled lawyers with extensive experience in both international law and the energy industry.
Your course coordinator

Professor John Paterson
John is Chair in Law at the University and is co-founder of our Centre for Energy Law. His teaching and research have taken him all over the world, covering systems theory, the regulation of risk, governance in the EU, corporate governance and energy law. John has also provided specialist training in oil and gas law and corporate governance for the corporate sector, expert advice in international arbitration, and consultancy to international organisations.
View John’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 an LLM
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:

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
The course is designed with your career in mind.
You’ll enhance your skills and prospects whether you’re:
- working in the industry and looking for a fast-track to senior roles, or
- a practising lawyer interested in oil and gas law and its international perspective.
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.
Entry requirements
The minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- an 2:1 (upper-second-class) Law degree (or equivalent).
Relevant practical experience in a related field is also beneficial.
Apply for this course