Energy, petroleum and mineral law and policy research degrees

An overview of our postgraduate research in energy, petroleum and mineral law and policy and entry requirements for PhDs and other research degrees.

Our academics in this field are based within the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), part of the wider School of Social Sciences. To read more, on their research interests and actives, please visit the CEPMLP research pages.

CEPMLP is at the forefront of education in and for global energy and resource economy. Our academics are engaged in research related to the natural resources industries from multiple viewpoints including economic, legal-regulatory and climate change perspectives.

Law and International Politics research topics includes

• The Future of Energy Law and Policy
• The Just Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy
• Energy and territorial disputes: politics and international law
• Liability in the Energy Sector: Oil, Gas and Low Carbon Energy sources
• Energy Justice in the Energy Sector
• Law for Developing Energy Infrastructure in the Global South
• Exploring the success of the UN Sustainable Development Goal in Africa and South-East Asia
• The modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty
• Energy Charter Treaty Disputes and Investment Law
• Functions of the International Energy Forum
• Indigenous rights and renewable energy projects in international law
• The use of non-law instruments by international organisations in international energy governance
• The precautionary principle in international energy law
• Corporate social responsibility of oil majors in the era of climate change
• Solidarity and the Just Transition after COP24
• An international law of transnational electricity grids?
• Regulatory response to environmental challenges in the energy and extractive industries
• Legal issues of decommissioning in the extractive and energy sectors
• Stabilisation Clauses in Petroleum and Mineral Contracts
• China’s energy diplomacy towards Central Asia, Africa or Middle East
• Energy Transition vs sustainable economic development
• Minerals law and governance along global value chains
• Multi-tiered governance coordination to meet the SDGs in the mining sector
• Systematic disclosure to improve decision-making processes in the mining sector
• Minerals, metals and the governance for the just energy transition
• China’s Road and Belt Initiative and energy transition
• Emissions Trading Scheme, China or EU
• Climate change and energy security of East Asia (China/Taiwan, Japan & S Korea)
• Chinese NOCs and African oil producers: who matters more in host country’s economic development?

Policy and Economics research topics:

• Competition, regulation and restructure of energy industries
• Market dynamics and company strategies in energy industries
• Commodity pricing and volatility
• Policy exit. The optimal time to end support programmes
• Global markets for P2X. Law, policy and economics.
• Competition and strategic behaviour in electric power markets in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Spatial and temporal pricing of electric power in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Hydroelectric power and electricity storage in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Competition and strategic behaviour in natural gas markets in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Liquidity and price discovery in natural gas markets in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Prudential regulatory review of electric power transmission systems in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Prudential regulatory review of natural gas pipeline systems in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Heat rate call options in electric power markets in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Risk management instruments for natural gas markets in Asia, Africa, or the EU
• Local content requirement policies for extractive industries in Asia or Africa
• Political Economy of Climate governance of the Emerging Powers

Propose your own PhD topic

If you want to propose your PhD topic, you can use the contact details below to contact a staff member to discuss your proposal.

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above, and a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.

Don't meet the English language requirements?

English language programmes

Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.

Energy, petroleum and mineral law and policy PhD tuition fees

Tuition fee per year of study (subject to a 3% annual increase for Scottish/Rest of UK students and a 5% annual increase for International students).

Part time study, where available, is charged on a pro-rata basis.

Scottish/Rest of UK fee status annual increase

Each year, UKRI sets a recommended fee and stipend level for Scottish/Rest of UK students, which we use as the basis for fees charged to this group.

UKRI usually increases its fee and stipend levels in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator.

Therefore, the Scottish/Rest of UK fees detailed in this table for 2025/26 (and beyond) can only be estimated according to the typical increase.

The fee charged to you may differ, though only slightly, from the figure given.

Apply for a research degree

You can apply for a PhD or other postgraduate research degree using our Direct Application System.

We have three start dates per academic year.

PhD Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP)

• Apply to start in September 2024
• Apply to start in January 2025
• Apply to start in May 2025

PhD Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) (4 year)

• Apply to start in September 2024
• Apply to start in January 2025
• Apply to start in May 2025

PhD Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) (4 year) (part time)

• Apply to start in September 2024
• Apply to start in January 2025
• Apply to start in May 2025

Social Sciences (non-graduating) (research)

• Apply to start in September 2024
• Apply to start in January 2025
• Apply to start in May 2025

The University of Dundee welcomes applications from disabled students.

Enquiries

Reader in International Politics