Learn to better analyse the complex uncertainties of the energy sector.

Join our online MSc in Energy Economics and Finance and train in the economic principles that businesses and governments use to understand world energy markets.

You’ll graduate ready to work as an economist or consultant within the energy industry, government or the third sector.

You’ll learn how economics and finance techniques are used to guide decision-making in the industry. And you’ll explore how the industry works. Studying with our expert team of economists and energy industry partners, you’ll cover:

  • the drivers of energy demand and supply
  • how the energy sector makes investment decisions
  • how governments design and implement energy and environmental policies
  • how to gather, use and analyse energy data.

No need for a career break

This flexible online degree can be studied part-time. You decide how many credits to study for each term, controlling the pace and cost of your degree term by term.

Who can study MSc Energy Economics and Finance?

This online energy economics degree is for anyone keen to understand the energy industry, how decisions are taken, and policies made.

It’s designed for energy professionals looking for a recognised path to career progression, or for anyone who wants to begin a successful career in the energy industry.

You can study this degree online with us anywhere in the world, with no need for a study visa. If you’d rather study full-time on campus, you may be interested in:

Choose the University of Aberdeen for online energy economics courses

We’re EQUIS accredited

Our Business School is EFMD EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions.

Over 525 years of excellence

Graduate from the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.

Earn as you learn

We fit around full-time work, so you can earn qualifications while you keep earning a salary.

Outstanding expertise

Professor Alex Kemp OBE will be teaching you on this programme.

One of the world’s best-known energy experts, Alex has been a specialist adviser to governments and energy companies, in the UK and globally, for decades.

You’ll benefit from his unique experience, insights, and analysis of international energy markets.

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

  • Analyse energy markets and trends.
  • Evaluate the profitability of energy investments.
  • Apply quantitative skills to better utilise data to inform strategic decisions.
  • Employ the global perspectives essential to professional success in this sector.
  • Critically assess energy policies of different countries.
  • Evaluate the links between energy, climate change and environmental policy.

What you’ll study

You can choose to study for a:

  • Masters (180 credits)
  • Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
  • Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), or
  • start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (15 credits).

How you’ll study

Online learning

This distance-learning Energy Economics MSc is delivered flexibly, 100% online.

You can learn with us anywhere, with no need for a study visa, and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your teaching

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:

  • videos
  • live online webinars
  • reading materials
  • discussion boards with colleagues and tutors
  • the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.

Your tutors

You’ll learn from a team of academic experts from the University of Aberdeen Business School.

Your tutors include Professor Alex Kemp, OBE. A Professor of Energy Economics, Alex is also Director of the internationally recognised Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance (ACREEF). All your tutors are members of ACREEF, and are active in research and teaching across energy economics.

As well as interacting with leading researchers in the field, you’ll benefit from direct input from our significant range of energy industry partners.

Live online webinars

Each course that’s part of this degree features eight live webinars with academic experts in energy economics.

You’ll have direct interaction with your tutors in these webinars, giving you a more personal learning experience. The interactive webinars are central to your learning, and your participation in them counts towards your final grades.

Ahead of webinars, you’ll be asked to study some online materials, post questions to your tutor online, and undertake multiple-choice quizzes and other tasks. You may also be asked to work in small groups to prepare for some of the live sessions.

This degree is assessed entirely online via methods including:

  • online quizzes
  • a written online assessment at the end of each course
  • your participation in live online forums and webinars (worth 5% of your final grade).

Live online webinars

Each 15-credit course in this degree features eight online webinars. Webinars are live and scheduled to last for around one hour.

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

Study hours for online courses

To study part-time, we recommend you take a maximum of 30 credits per term. Students typically take one or two 15-credit short courses per term.

15 credits

  • Around 150 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 10 – 15 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

30 credits

  • Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 15 – 20 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes.

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

Activities at fixed times

You’ll have live online webinars at fixed times, plus assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through your courses at your convenience.

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.

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.

We’re a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).

Access study spaces, books and journals in your area

The SCONUL Access scheme allows you, as a University of Aberdeen student, to access books and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland, or visit them for a quiet place to study.

You’ll be able to use study spaces, books and journals at over 150 university libraries which belong to the scheme.

Find out about the SCONUL Access scheme for libraries.

Your support team

Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Dr Yakubu Abdul-Salam

Salam is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Cherie Connon

Cherie is part of the School’s postgraduate teaching support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer your non-academic queries.

Get in touch

The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.

Ask us a question

Where this will take you

Careers

MSc Energy Economics and Finance will prepare you for career success in energy companies, consultancy, government, and environmental or regulatory departments of energy.

Your MSc qualification will be recognised by industry and educational institutions around the world.

If you’re a professional already working in the energy sector, this degree provides a strong route to career progression.

It will also prepare you for work with governments and NGOs who need high-quality graduates with an excellent understanding of the energy sector.

You’ll graduate ready to take up roles including:

  • Commercial Analyst
  • Economist
  • Energy and Business Consultant
  • Market Analyst
  • Oil and Gas Associates
  • Project Manager
  • Strategy Analyst.

Lifelong career support

Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.

You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.

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

Fees and funding

The fees quoted above are based on you starting your studies with us in the 2024/25 academic year.

We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2025/26 academic year. Our indicative costs include a 5% fee rise each year.

Pay as you go

This is a pay-as-you-go degree.

You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.

You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.

How it works

  • You decide how many credits to study for each term.
  • At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
  • This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your degree.

Your personalised cost breakdown

Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.

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.

There are several ways you may be able to get help funding your studies:

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.

20% Alumni discount

You’re entitled to 20% off our postgraduate taught degrees and short courses if you have a degree from the University of Aberdeen. View Alumni discount details.

How discounts work

Discounts are applied during your application process. You can only use one discount per application.

Entry requirements

MSc, PgDip, PgCert

The minimum entry requirements for this degree are:

  • a relevant honours degree with a 2:2 or above.

You’re also welcome to apply if you have:

  • other relevant qualifications, and
  • professional experience with supportive references.

Short course route to online MSc Energy Economics and Finance

If you do not meet these entry requirements, or are not ready to commit to a full MSc, you may be able to use our online short courses as a route into this degree.

Find out about the short course route to entry

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

See the minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications from your country.

Visa requirements

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

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.

English language tests and scores

If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept.

These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements.

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

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

You apply through our online Applicant Portal. It allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents.

Applying to the University of Aberdeen is always free.

What you need to apply for this degree

  • Degree transcript
  • Personal statement
  • CV / Resume

Apply now

Start with our step-by-step guide. It explains degree transcripts, what to write in your personal statement and how to use our Applicant Portal.

You can apply to start in either September or January.

Apply as early as you can. This is so we have time to review your application and get a decision to you. We also want to ensure you have time to enrol before teaching starts.

September 2024 intake

For our September 2024 intake, the application deadline is 8 September 2024.

You will need to accept your offer and provide any outstanding documents to meet the conditions of your offer by 15 September 2024.

Teaching starts on 23 September 2024.

January 2025 intake

Teaching starts on 27 January 2025.

Application deadlines will be announced in due course.

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.

NEW: Try our degree scheduler

Choose your courses

Choose your courses

See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.

Manage your study schedule

Manage your study schedule

Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.

Save to your wishlist

Save to your wishlist

Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.

Customise your degree

Master of Science

180 credits

£18,210

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2024.

Postgraduate Diploma

120 credits

£11,990

This indicative cost is based on 120 credits of study over four terms, starting in September 2024.

Postgraduate Certificate

60 credits

£5,920

This indicative cost is based on 30 credits of study per term, starting in September 2024.

Apply for this programme

Start month
September or January
INDICATIVE COST
£18,210

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2024.

Apply via our Applicant Portal
Added to your wishlist