Oil and gas contracts are about risk and reward, complex partnerships and agreements.
Drafting contracts enforceable under English law requires considerable skill from energy lawyers.
This distance-learning course is designed to hone your skills and boost your career in this critical and complex area of law.
- Cover all the aspects involved in the law relating to risk allocation in oilfield contracts.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues at stake when developing these contracts.
- Learn to draft contracts that work for the industry and can be understood and enforced under the English legal system.
Study flexibly online with a top UK law school, wherever you’re based. Learn from expert lawyers and a university with decades of experience and influence in Europe’s energy capital.

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 all the areas involved in the law relating to risk allocation in oilfield contracts, including:
- the role of insurance
- public policy challenges
- gross negligence
- third-party issues and solutions
- limitations of different solutions
- different approaches in jurisdictions
- contractual interpretation.
By doing so, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of all the issues at stake when developing these contracts.
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
Risk Allocation in Oilfield Service Contracts is delivered part-time, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.
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:
- podcasts of lectures
- reading materials
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Law Library
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from legal professionals at a university that’s home to one of the most experienced teams of oil and gas experts in any European law school, with the added value of direct industry input.
Your course coordinator

Dr Eddy Wifa
Eddy is a 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 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
This course will help you grow your expertise, contacts and career prospects within this demanding and highly technical field.
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