Learn about the legal aspects of approving and setting up renewable energy projects.

Join experienced energy lawyers online to study UK regulations and policies for the financial support and sustainability of renewable energy projects.

In this Masters-level online short course, you’ll explore forms and types of subsidies for renewable energy.

You’ll also develop an in-depth understanding of:

  • the Contracts for Difference scheme
  • the concept of sustainable development in the energy sector, and
  • the legal requirements and guidelines for public participation in renewable energy project planning and implementation.

With a primary focus on the UK and Scotland, you’ll also consider the European Union and other jurisdictions to draw comparison and analysis.

Who can join this online course in renewable energy law?

This course is designed for anyone interested in understanding the legal aspects of financing and setting up renewable energy projects in the UK and worldwide.

It’s particularly valuable learning for lawyers, engineers, analysts, and any professional working within or keen to move into the renewable energy sector.

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 study the legal frameworks that govern the public participation requirements, sustainable development requirements, and subsidy and support schemes for renewable energy projects.

Topics you’ll cover include:

  • the role of law in promoting renewable energy
  • forms and types of subsidies for renewable energy
  • Contracts for Difference in the renewable energy sector
  • public participation requirements for renewable energy projects
  • renewable energy and sustainable development.

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

  • Compare and analyse the legal and policy frameworks for renewable energy in the UK.
  • Compare regulatory requirements and practices in different jurisdictions.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of legal and policy frameworks governing public participation in the renewable energy sector.
  • Compare subsidy schemes for renewable energy, including their advantages and disadvantages for developers, policy-makers, and consumers.
  • Demonstrate knowledge in and experience with regulation and Contracts for Difference in the UK.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for online courses in renewable energy law

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.

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).

Fits around full-time work

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

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 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.

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.

You’ll learn from senior lecturers who not only teach a variety of energy degrees and courses on campus but are also actively involved in cutting-edge research on energy and climate law.

This course is assessed online.

You’ll be assessed via:

  • two multiple-choice tests (each worth 20% of your final course grade), and
  • an oral presentation at the end of term (60%).

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 teaching team

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

Dr Eddy Wifa

Eddy is a Senior Lecturer and active researcher in Energy Law. His expertise includes offshore health, safety and environmental regulation, decommissioning, energy and natural resource governance, energy transition and energy justice.

Eddy has advised governments, is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars, and is Director of the African Natural Resource and Energy Law Network (ANREL).

View Eddy’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

You’ll develop your skills, expertise, and professional network in this online renewable energy law course.

Your learning will help you to progress within a range of roles and career sectors, including:

  • lawyer
  • policy analyst
  • senior manager
  • health and safety specialist, or
  • other energy industry professional.

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
22 September 2025
Cost
£1,355
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