Modules	Eligibility
Scholarship Details	Selection Process

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.

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

Please note: all applications for the 2 Australian Rio Tinto scholarships need to be submitted via the Aurora Project Scholarships online application form on this website (on the "Apply" page) which will be available during the application period.



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.

The course is run over three terms. Although there is a month of holidays in August, most of the students’ time will be focused on coursework, research papers and exam preparation. There may also be the possibility of an internship either at Rio Tinto or one of its outside counsel during this holiday period.

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Scholarship details

At current pound/dollar exchange rates the scholarship has a value of approximately AUD$55,000*.
It covers:

	tuition fees
	living allowance for 12 months, paid monthly
	airfare to and from Scotland + reasonable relocation expenses
	arrival/warm clothing allowance
	thesis/assignment preparation allowance
	book allowance.
**	Please note that the two successful candidates must commit to work within an NTRB or NTSP for a minimum period of two years upon their return.

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.

For more details, see the FaCSIA Form of Letter Agreement


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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 2, 2008
	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 canddiates wishing to apply for the scholarships.

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 will be in the form of the attached letter agreement under which the candidate agrees 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.

For more details, see the Form of Letter Agreement

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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. Travel costs for short-listed candidates will be covered by Rio Tinto where applicable. Candidates who have been granted an interview will be notified in early May.

Candidates who have been chosen for interview must have completed an application form to the LLM program with the University of Dundee.

Click here to download the form

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