About the Scholarships

LLM Course Structure

Applications

Testimonials

Overview

Modules

Eligibility

Scholarship Details

Selection Process

Overview

The Master of Laws (LLM) in Mineral Law and Policy aims to provide students with the required interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to deal with the current legal, policy and economic issues and challenges in mineral resources investment and development. It offers a comparative grounding in the national laws, regulations and contractual arrangements that currently govern the exploitation of mineral resources, both on a government and a private level.

The program gives students the opportunity to develop sophisticated legal and policy approaches to mineral resource management and sustainable development within the industry, and equips them with the necessary skills to advise the various stakeholders that participate in the industry. The core subjects offered as part of the LLM encompass both the substantive law relating to mining practice and the international and local context of the industry. They focus on the relationships and conflicts between those who are most affected by mining law and policy - mining companies, the state, indigenous peoples, landowners and the local community.

Students have to complete three core subjects and can make up the rest of their program in elective study. Electives allow for specialisation in areas including human rights, investment law, environmental law and project analysis and mining finance. Additional depth of knowledge is gained from a course requirement for students to complete a dissertation, PhD proposal or internship in the industry.

Successful candidates must commit to work within a Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) or Native Title Service Provider (NTSP) for a minimum period of two years upon their return to Australia.

For more information about the LLM program please visit the University of Dundee's website: www.dundee.ac.uk

The 15 NTRBs including 5 NTSPs are:

Please note: all applications for the 2 Australian Government - Rio Tinto NTRB Scholarships need to be submitted via the Aurora Project Scholarships online application form on this website which will be available during the application period.


>> back to top


Core Modules

	Mineral Law and Policy
	Mineral Resources Policy and Economics
	Mineral and Petroleum Taxation

Recommended elective modules

	Introduction to Mining Policy
	Structuring and Documenting International Mining Transactions
	Environmental Law and Policy for Natural Resources
	Energy and Mining Finance
	International Project Finance
	Human Rights in the International Natural Resources Industries
	International Dispute Settlement
	International Law of Natural Resources
	Transnational Investment Law and Policy
	International Law and Development: Dilemmas, Theories & Legal Principles.

>> back to top



Scholarship details

The scholarship has a value of approximately AUD$52,000 which is paid in British Pounds. The scholarship is comprised of allowances as follows (as at September 2009):

	Tuition fees	£14,900
	Living allowance for 12 months, paid monthly	£9,936
	Airfares and reasonable relocation expenses	£1,550
	Arrival allowance	£804
	Thesis/assignment preparation allowance	£308
Living allowance: this is paid to each scholar directly into their bank account, monthly in arrears, first payment will be 30 September 2010.  Payments will stop if the scholar chooses to return home before the 12 months of study period is complete Arrival allowance: payments will be transferred directly to the scholars bank account by the end of September 2010 Thesis allowance: payment will be transferred directly to the scholar's bank account at the end of April 2011

The Australian Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has agreed to provide an additional AUD$15,000 towards the living expenses of those recipients of the scholarship who are working in an NTRB at the time they receive the scholarship.


>> back to top

Eligibility

To be considered for a scholarship, candidates must:

	be Australian citizens or permanent residents, and normally reside in Australia
	have achieved academic training in a degree-awarding body in Australia sufficiently advanced to assure completion of a Bachelor of Laws degree by close of Semester 1, 2010
	be prepared to make a legally binding commitment to provide mining and resources related legal advice to native title claimants in Australia, for a minimum of two years, within the NTRB system.
	Please note the age restrictions that applied in 2007 no longer apply - there are no age restrictions for candidates.

Applicants must be prepared to make a legally binding commitment, for a period of two years, to provide mining and resources related legal advice to native title claimants in Australia. The legally binding commitment involves an agreement on the part of the candidate to be available to work in the NTRB system for a minimum period of two years following graduation from the LLM program. This work may be as an employee of one or more NTRBs, or other entity involved in advising traditional owners.


>> back to top

Selection process

Candidates will be evaluated by a selection committee made up of academic and industry representatives. Short-listed candidates may be required to attend an interview either in person or by video link in mid-May. Candidates who have been granted an interview will be notified in early May.

The 2 successful candidates must complete an application form to the LLM program with the University of Dundee, once they have been notified by Aurora they have been successful. Only then will candidate materials be forwarded on to Dundee for final acceptance.

>> back to top