Master of Laws (LLM) in Energy and Environmental Law

The LLM in Energy and Environmental Law aims to offer students an in-depth understanding of the legal aspects governing the key challenges of energy security and environmental protection. Students are trained for practice in the areas of energy investment and trade, project finance and infrastructure development, clean energy and climate change mitigation, with a focus on the specific energy and sustainability challenges of the Asia-Pacific region.

Programme Overview

The courses build on the expertise in energy and environmental law and investment and trade law at CUHK, and benefit from the participation of leading international practitioners in the field of energy and environmental law.

Introduction and Welcome

Professor Anatole Boute, Deputy Programme Director, welcomes students to the LLM in Energy and Environmental Law Programme. Energy and environmental law concerns sectors of vital importance to society. Specialised lawyers are needed to help government, companies and civil society ensure energy security while protecting the environment. For young lawyers, the field of energy and environmental law offers great professional opportunities and the potential to make a difference.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must fulfill the General Admission Requirements and the English Language Proficiency Requirement prescribed by the University’s Graduate School. In addition, applicants must have:

• a qualification to practise law in the jurisdiction of the student’s residence; or
• a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or a degree of equivalent standing; or
• a Bachelor’s degree in a non-law subject with substantial law-related working experience.

Application Deadlines

• 31 January 2026 (first round)
• 28 February 2026 (second round)
• 10 April 2026 (third round)

Programme Information

• Medium of Instruction: English
• Campus: The CUHK Graduate Law Centre, 2/F, Bank of America Tower, Central.

Programme Duration

• Full-time mode: one year (normative study period) – two years (maximum study period).
• Part-time mode: two years (normative study period) – three years (maximum study period).

Programme Requirements

• 24 units: including 12 units of required courses and 12 units of elective courses.
• Students should pass all the assessments with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in order to be recommended for graduation.

Full-time Mode (1 year)

• Year 1
  • Term One:
    • International and Comparative Energy Law
    • International Environmental Law
    • Elective
    • Elective
  • Term Two:
    • Principles of Environmental Law
    • Clean Technology Law
    • Elective
    • Elective

Part-time Mode (2 years)

• Year 1
  • Term One:
    • International and Comparative Energy Law
    • International Environmental Law
  • Term Two:
    • Principles of Environmental Law
    • Clean Technology Law
• Year 2
  • Term One:
    • Elective
    • Elective
  • Term Two:
    • Elective
    • Elective

Delivery Mode

• A 3-unit course will usually have three teaching hours per week.
• Classes are held during daytime and evenings of weekdays and daytime on Saturdays.
• Classes will incorporate a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations and class discussions.

Courses

Required Courses

• Clean Technology Law: This course deals with the legal and regulatory aspects of clean technologies, focusing on the clean energy transition and innovation in the energy sector.
• International and Comparative Energy Law: This course looks at the legal responses to the challenge of energy security at the global, regional and national level.
• International Environmental Law: This course studies the policy instruments, legal principles and strategies to address the main regional and global environmental problems at present.
• Principles of Environmental Law: This course deals with the main principles underlying the regulation of the environment, with a focus on Hong Kong.

Elective Courses

• Chinese Energy Law: This course will introduce energy law and regulation in China with a focus on the governance and regulatory systems that underlie each type of energy supply.
• Chinese Environmental Law: This course introduces the basic environmental legal concepts, principles and mechanisms in Chinese law.
• Clean Energy and Climate Law: This course introduces the legal principles governing the international approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Disaster Law: This course concentrates on the links between environmental law, climate change and the regulation of domestic and cross-border energy undertakings from the perspective of disaster risk reduction.
• Dispute Resolution in the Energy and Natural Resources Sector: This course studies the law applicable to the resolution of energy disputes, with a focus on investment arbitration and commercial dispute settlement.
• Financial Markets: Law and Operation: This course examines the growth of securities markets in Hong Kong against the theoretical backdrop of market structure and quality.
• Oil and Gas Law: This course focuses on the means by which the state controls exploitation of its oil and gas reserves.
• Project Finance and Infrastructure Law: This course introduces the legal principles governing the development and financing of infrastructure projects, with a focus on the energy sector.
• Water Law: This course introduces the legal principles governing water law.

Expertise

• Professor Anatole Boute: Specialising in the field of energy and environmental law, in particular energy market liberalisation, renewable energy and energy tariff regulation.
• Professor Hao Zhang: Research focuses on Chinese and comparative energy and climate law.
• Professor Yuhong Zhao: Specialises in Chinese environmental law and climate change law and policy.
• Professor David Donald: Expert on the historical development and operational infrastructure of financial markets, and their interrelation with energy markets.
• Professor Dr. Kaj Hobér: Professor of International Investment and Trade Law at Uppsala University and the Honorary Visiting Professor at CUHK.
• Professor John Paterson: One of the co-founders of the Centre for Energy Law at the University of Aberdeen.

Study Options

• Students may take elective courses offered in other LLM Programmes and the JD Programme offered by CUHK LAW subject to availability of places.
• Course Exemptions: Further study options
• Master of Philosophy in Law (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy in Laws (PhD)

Additional Learning and Development Opportunities

• The Sir TL Yang Society
• Mooting
• Exchange Programmes

Financial Information

• Tuition Fees: For the academic year of, the tuition fee is HK$192,000 per programme within normative study period.
• Student Housing: There is a shortage of on-campus student accommodation for non-local postgraduate students.

Scholarships and Prizes

• CUHK Faculty of Law Master of Laws Global Scholarship 2026/27 for outstanding non-local students admitted in 2026/27
• CUHK Faculty of Law Master of Laws Scholarship 2026/27 for outstanding local students admitted in 2026/27
• Faculty of Law Postgraduate Scholarships for Academic Excellence 2025/26
• Chartered Tax Adviser Prize for International Taxation
• The Hong Kong Institute of Trade Mark Practitioners Prize for Intellectual Property
• The Asian Patent Attorneys Association (Hong Kong Group) Prizes for Intellectual Property Law
• Lee Hysan Foundation Postgraduate Studentships for Mainland China Students
• Continuing Education Fund (CEF)

Site Visit

• Taking into account the importance for energy and environmental lawyers to understand the basic principles of energy systems and environmental protection measures, the LLM in Energy and Environmental Law Programme organizes various visits to important energy and environmental sites.

Endorsement from Practice

• Ms. CHEN Zhen: Founding Partner, Sunshine Law Firm, Vice Chairperson, Energy Law Academy of China Law Society
• Mr. Vincent Connor: Partner & Head of Hong Kong Office Pinsent Masons
• Dr. Christian Hübner: Director Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Regional Energy Security and Climate Change (Asia Pacific)
• Professor Dr. Kaj Hobér: Professor, Uppsala University Chair, SCC Arbitration Institute Associate, 3 Verulam Buildings
• Ms. May Tai: Partner Herbert Smith Freehills Hong Kong
• Mr. ZHANG Libin: Partner, Broad & Bright Deputy Director, Peking University Energy Law and Policy Research Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I apply to more than one programme?
• Is the application fee refundable?
• Do I need to submit the fee with my application?
• Can I apply for the LLM programmes in my final year of undergraduate or other higher education study?
• Can I apply to join an LLM programme without fulfilling the English Language Proficiency Requirement?
• Can I apply to study part-time if I am a non-local applicant?
• How do I submit my official university transcript and confidential recommendation?
• How are successful applicants selected to join the LLM programmes?
• Will there be an interview or written test as part of the application process?
• Is there any kind of financial aid offered by CUHK for LLM students prior to or on admission?
• If I reject the offer this year, could this affect my application next year?
• When do I need to pay my tuition fees?
• What if I cannot complete the LLM programme within the normative study period?
• I am a non-local student. Can I take up a part-time job in Hong Kong?

What Our Students Say

• Pei Hsuan Lin (Taiwan): Studying law at CUHK has given me a different perspective on how to approach the study and the practice of law.
• Simon Bisegger (Switzerland): The LLM in International Economic Law equipped me with all the knowledge necessary to work as a lawyer on the international scene.
• Eirini Argeiti (Greece): The LLM in International Economic Law is a very good programme that is not all about theory but also includes practice tips like drafting contracts.
• Alfred Acha (United States): The professors in this programme are all top-notch and I learned a lot from them.
• Sebastien Clisson (France): The LLM in International Economic Law has been a truly enriching experience on both a personal and professional level.
• Nifat Ali (Kenya): Studying International Economic Law at CUHK has been a very fruitful and incredible experience.