Hey all,

Is there anyone going there?

I am considering applying to it but I have some questions about this LLM:

- What about the class and the professors? If you've already been there, I'm interested in knowing your feedback. The website doesn't give much information about these. And it looks like it's only 2 classes per semester, which is weird.

- What about the focus and the job opportunities? Is it really international or more about the North Sea and UK? Also, what about the job opportunities it can give, and the career prospects they give to students (jobs fair, network, etc...)

- What about the reputation of Aberdeen University? I'm a French student and I'd like to have international opportunities. I can also go to SOAS (or KCL and QMUL), but at the same time I like the idea to have a specialized LLM instead of a general one (like International Business Law), and gain practical knowledge. Would you rather say to forget about Aberdeen and rather go to University of London?

Also, if you know the tuition fees for next year, it can be helpful.

Thanks!

Kingston

Hi Kingston.

I'm in the same way. I've got an offer to study Oil and Gas Law at Aberdeen Uni.

On other hand, I've got another offer from UCL and others Univesities to study International Commercial Law.

By now I have not decided where to go, but I'm tending to go for UCL, since it has more prestigious, principally in my country.

However, as you said, I think that a LLM is the way to get an specialization in a field of law. So, the International Commercial Law does not fit in this thought.

Moreover, Oil and Gas Law is so specialized that can limit my career for a restricted field, which I will only get a job in this area. However, this field is booming in my country.

Finally, UCL offer a module in its International Commercial program (energy law), that cover oil and gas law and related matters, such as nuclear and renewable energy.

It is a difficult decision.

I'm glad to hear that you are in the same situation. From which country are you from?

I am not sure that doing a LLM in Oil & Gas means that you will only work in this area. I see many lawyers profiles in big law firms having this specialty among others like shipping, construction, project finance... and doing arbitration as well.
I see it as way to make the difference and maybe an easier way to enter a big law firm to then widen what we do. But I am not sure either if it is the best strategy. Apart from Oxbridge, doing a LLM in a prestigious UK university is not that difficult but maybe many employers would only consider the best ones even if the LLM is on a broad topic.

If some can help us with that, and also about the reputation of Aberdeen University in general and of its LLM in Oil & Gas, that would be great!

I´m from Brazil.

In addition to the points mentioned in my essay, I would like to highlight that the tuition fees and living expenses in London/UCL are almost the double than Aberdeen.

Yes it's a big difference, and I'm not sure it's easy to get a scholarship.
I checked for what you said about UCL and it looks like in International Commercial Law they don't have the International Energy Law course, which is for the Environment LLM (but maybe they allow to take such courses as well).

pro
- competent & good lecturers for oil & gas
- renowned for oil & gas
- oil companies in town with big annual exhibitions...
- huge new (general ) library

contra
- strong (!) lack of diversity among students !
- expensive living costs, especially rents
- poor law library (very old, suffocating air in the summer, few available books, lack of IT equipment)

If you want to work in the oil & gas business later on - then go for it - otherwise consider your alternatives.

Thanks, Floris.

Have you attended classes at University of Aberdeen?

Hi Felipe,

I currently study at the Uni of Aberdeen. I can confirm that Oil & Gas course is very well lectured. It's really demanding and quite technical, but if you want to specialise in this area of law I would definitely go for it.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks for your support, Flavio.

As I have said to Kingston, I am still not sure if I am ready to specialize in the Oil & Gas field, although this field is really booming in my country. I think it is a so restricted field that hesitate me about a future job opportunity. I would like to work with multidisciplinares areas of law and not a restricted field, which can become boring after some time.

I'm sure that Aberdeen Uni has a world class reputation and if I choose to follow the Oil and Gas field I'll go to there. So now i'm tending to go to UCL.

However I'll only get a definite position after receiving my TOEFL scores.

Thanks again.

No problem! What you say of course makes sense. The only thing I'd add is that paradoxically sometimes it's better to specialize in a narrow area to broaden your career prospects. I'd bet that 90% of law graduates in your country want to go into corporate/commercial departments. The competition must be immense and you would have to have sth really special to stand out.

I think that British education will add value to your CV anyway, whether it will be UCL or Abdn (admittedly UCL is more prestigious). Take this into account when making your decision.

Good luck with your TOEFL!

Hi guys.
I just plan to do LLM in the UK.
anyone can share me their experience in oil and gas?
I'm thinking to take oil and gas or international commercial law.
But I haven't made up my mind.
Appreciate if anyone could share me what is oil and gas studies about ? Ie what we need to study actually?