Study for an Oil and Gas LLM at RGU

1. enhance your career in
energy
practical rewarding
flexible accredited
my time my career my future
LLM/MSc Oil and Gas Law

2. History of Oil and Gas in Aberdeen
Aberdeen is recognised throughout the world as an
international energy capital. Its engineering and technology
expertise is exported around the globe, building on a long
history of international trade and global communications.

3. History
Aberdeen has been home to the international Oil and Gas industry
for over 35 years, when oil was first discovered in the North Sea.
The industry was attracted here because of the city’s status as an
international trading port with a natural harbour and over eight
centuries of trade. This was also supported by the city’s excellent
communications network with airport, heliport and rail links, the
resource available from the city’s two universities and, not least, by
the region’s innovative and pioneering spirit.
International Trade Oil and gas activity will continue to be a driving
factor for Aberdeen’s economy for several decades and with
long term confidence in the future of offshore operations, the city
continues to be acknowledged as the Energy Capital of Europe
World Class Expertise
Aberdeen based businesses have forty years oil and gas
experience and have developed world class engineering
expertise in drilling, well technology, well intervention, pipeline
technology, control systems, subsea, smart instrumentation,
monitoring, oilfield logistics, and design and construction. The
greatest concentration of subsea expertise in the world is located
in Aberdeen.
Global Energy Capital
The city is now home to more than 3,000 international energy
companies, from multi-national operators to large-scale service
providers and innovation focused SMEs. Together these
organisations provide a critical mass of energy industry activity,
which underpins Aberdeen’s status as a Global Energy Capital.
Renewable Energy
Aberdeen’s energy businesses are again diversifying and
capitalising on new opportunities. The city is now hailing the
emergence of Renewable Energy and applying the technology,
skills and processes developed for the oil and gas industry to
global opportunities in renewables.
Aberdeen truly has the resource and capability to identify and
exploit global energy sector business opportunities and to lead
the development of a 21st century energy industry in the UK.

4. OIL AND GAS LAW
LLM/MSc
Part-time Full-time
Semester 1 (Year 1) Semester 1 (Year 1)
• Energy Law and Policy • Energy Law and Policy
• Energy Taxation • Energy Taxation
• Oil and Gas Law
• Environmental Aspects of Oil and Gas Law
Semester 2 (Year 1)
• Oil and Gas Contract Law Exit with Postgraduate certificate
• Renewable Energy Issues (PgCert)
Exit with Postgraduate certificate
(PgCert) Semester 2 (Year 1)
• Oil and Gas Contract Law
• Renewable Energy Issues
Semester 3 (Year 2) Choose from:
• Oil and Gas Law
• Environmental Aspects of Oil and Route A
Gas Law • Arbitration Practice and Procedure
• Arbitration Law
Route B
Semester 4 (Year 2) • Oil and Gas Management
Choose from: • Dispute Resolution in Oil and Gas Contracting
Route A
• Arbitration Practice and Procedure Exit with Postgraduate Diploma
• Arbitration Law (PgDip)
Route B
• Oil and Gas Management Semester 3 (Year 1)
• Dispute Resolution in Oil and Gas Contracting • Dissertation
Exit with Postgraduate Diploma Exit with Masters (LLM/MSc)
(PgDip)
Semester 5 (Year 3)
• Dissertation
Exit with Masters (LLM/MSc)

6. Mode of Study CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
On-Campus (full time and part time) FURTHER ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Distance Learning (full time and part time) OPPORTUNITIES
• PgCert 4 months (full time) The Oil and Gas Law course recognises the lack of rigorous
or 12 months (part time) academic publications in the oil and gas law field. Key issues
will be addressed and are considered throughout the course.
• PgDip 8 months (full time) For those students interested in further academic research
or 24 months (part time) there will be the chance to develop this further in different
forms, e.g. research projects, Masters Dissertation or
• MSc/LLM 12 months (full time) doctorate/PhD level research. There is also the opportunity
or 30 months (part time) to present research findings for journal articles, textbooks,
Oil and Gas Law conferences and other publications.
(PgCert/PgDip/MSc/LLM)
The LLM/MSc Oil and Gas Law has at it’s centre practical in-depth
knowledge and understanding of the main legal issues arising in
the oil and gas industry. The course develops a number of skills,
both practical and academic, and a detailed understanding of the
diverse range of legal problems and issues in the industry.
Aims
This course is aimed at oil and gas professionals and/or graduates
from any jurisdiction. The course provides the opportunity to
critically assess and examine key legal issues in the oil and gas
sector both in the UK and in other leading jurisdictions. By the
end of the course you will have developed the analytical skills and
knowledge to provide them with a solid foundation for work in
the oil and gas sector.
The course team have a wealth of experience in law, business
and the Oil & Gas industry and have designed the course with
employability and practical skills at its core.
· William J Craig
· Leon Moller
· John Karlberg
Entry Requirements
Normally a first degree in a relevant discipline is preferred, but
not essential - relevant experience in the oil and gas sector may
offer an acceptable substitute for a formal undergraduate degree.
All international students, for whom English is not their first
language, must gain either IELTS 6.5 or TO EFL 570 (230 on the
computerised test)

7. CAREER PROSPECTS
This LLM/MSc Oil and Gas Law course will enhance your ability, professional standing and employability within the oil and gas industry.
There is an increasing need for knowledge of the legal technicalities that affect the oil industry today. Masters level is a very highly
regarded asset in any professional or academic sector. The oil and gas industry is no exception, and this qualification is key to career
advancement.
Law students at Aberdeen Business School have excellent graduate employment prospects. Our close links with industry and professional
accreditation helps ensure that our graduates are well equipped to meet the needs of employers globally. Our graduates are employed
worldwide in all sectors – industrial, governmental, technical, administrative, operational and self-employed – in companies such as Agip
Oil, Halliburton, Amec, Marathon, Schlumberger, Shell, Stolt Offshore, Total and Weatherford.
TESTIMONIALS
Having worked within the oil and gas industry for the past 17 Having worked as a contracts engineer for a subsea construction
years, with 10 of those being within a commercial/contractual company for almost 4 years I decided that I wanted to expand
sphere, I decided that in order to assist with my career my legal knowledge on oil and gas related issues that I use on
development, I should consider a Legal Course that would not a daily basis in my working life. I had previously completed my
only enhance and compliment my existing knowledge base but BA(Hons) Law and Management at RGU which had given me an
also support me in my working environment. In order to maintain insight into general legal issues such as contract law, so I knew
my day job combined with studying it was important for me to that RGU was a good place to study. I found out that Oil and Gas
secure a programme of study that allowed flexibility and having law was taught through distance learning which was a must for
already completed a Postgraduate Course in Management me as I work full time and attending classes would be difficult.
through RGU’s Virtual Campus programme I was delighted to
find that they offered the Oil & Gas Law course through this Once I started the course I found the variety of topics covered
mode of study. This course was more akin to my requirements extremely enjoyable. I also liked interacting with other students
than a general legal course, whereby over the term of the via the forums on the portal, which was invaluable to me as a
programme I was due to tackle areas specific to those faced distance learning student as I would have no interaction with
by my existing employer including: renewable energy; doing classmates without it.
business overseas; mergers and acquisitions and understanding
the laws, structure and processes associated with the oil and I have not graduated yet from this course but I am already being
gas industry. As Contracts Manager of a major Subsea company able to apply some of the theory learnt in my day to day working life.
it is imperative that I keep abreast of the legal issues affecting My job entails responding to tender packages from clients, pricing
the industry to ensure the protection of the company whilst the work to be carried out, reviewing and ultimately negotiating
maintaining compliance and this course certainly provides me contracts. This course applies as it is giving me greater exposure
with the knowledge to assist me with key decision making and the to some of the legal issues that need to be negotiated within the
competency to provide guidance to other work colleagues. contract and it is giving me an insight to the view points of an
operator. For example in one of the modules we looked at permits
RGU has a wealth of Oil and Gas knowledge available to them and licensing regimes for oil and gas exploration, this is something
through their industry contacts and I would recommend this I have never had any exposure to in the past but has given me an
course to like minded professionals who wish to gain a broader appreciation for what an operator must do before they come to
understanding of the legal complexities pertaining to the Oil and contractors, such as the company I work for, to install infrastructure
Gas Industry which will assist them in tackling the issues facing the required for exploration. This course was recommended to me by a
industry on a day to day basis. college and I would be more than happy to recommend it to others, it
is definitely a useful course to study and is going to be so beneficial to
Jason Keith, LLM/MSc Oil and Gas Law my career in the oil and gas industry.
Elaine Skene, LLM/Msc Oil and Gas Law

8. How to apply
Visit: www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline
Tel: +44 (0)1224 262728
Fax: +44 (0)1224 262147
E-mail: PGOffice@rgu.ac.uk
Contact Us
William J Craig (Course Leader, LLM/ MSc Oil & Gas Law)
E: w.craig@rgu.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1224 263417
LLM/MSc Oil and Gas Law is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
and the Energy Institute
The Robert Gordon University, a Scottish charity registered under charity number SCO13781