Law - Environmental & Natural Resources Law

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental and Natural Resources Law at University College Cork takes advantage of a concentration of legal expertise in the field at the School of Law where our staff have held advisory roles with a wide range of Irish and international agencies and organisations, including, for example, the European Environment Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an Bord Pleanála (Irish Planning Board), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.



The Postgraduate Diploma programme at UCC offers you a wide variety of legal topics ranging across traditional areas of environmental law, policy regulation, and governance, as well as planning and land-use law, heritage protection, international environmental law, marine environmental law, natural resources law, and human rights law. It aims to prepare our graduates for a variety of careers in the broader environmental regulatory space, including in the legal professions, governmental and regulatory agencies, environmental NGOs, compliance and sustainability roles in industry, academia, and environmental consultancy.



Environmental and Natural Resources Law offers you a wide choice of options, allowing you to take a broad and diverse range of specialist modules. We seek to integrate theoretical and practical aspects of the application of environmental and natural resources law, and to connect module content with legal and regulatory frameworks operating locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. As far as possible we facilitate flexible workload arrangements, to suit recent law graduates and environmental professionals alike.



Exposure to the more technical aspects of environmental and natural resources law is also available through optional science-based, non-law modules on GIS and Remote Sensing for example. In addition, students have access to selected non-programme but complementary law modules, covering such areas as Law of the Sea, International Human Rights Law, Corporate Insolvency Law, International Refugee Law, and International Criminal Law, etc.



This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 12,500-word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).



Postgraduate Certificate in Law (Environmental and Natural Resources Law) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)



Upon successful completion of modules to the value of 30 credits, registered Postgraduate Diploma(Environmental and Natural Resources Law) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Law (Environmental and Natural Resources Law).

Modules



Full-time: 60 credits over 9 months.

Part-time: 60 over 18 months, completing a total of 30 credits (including a minimum of 25 credits of core modules) in Year 1 and 30 credits in Year 2 (including any core modules not already taken in Year 1. The part-time option is taught during weekday working hours over two years.

Core Modules



Students take 60 credits as follows – all listed core modules (40 credits) and 20 credits of elective modules:



LW6581 Method in Environmental Law (5 credits)

LW6617 International Biodiversity and Ecosystems Law and Policy (5 credits)

LW6618 Climate Change Law and Policy (5 credits)

LW6627 International Environmental Law (5 credits)

LW6645 Marine Environmental and Natural Resources Law (10 credits)

LW6649 Environmental Law in Practice (10 credits)

Elective Modules (20 credits)



Students take modules to the value of 20 credits from the following lists of elective modules - at least 10 credits must be chosen from List A and up to 10 credits may be chosen from List B:1



List A



GG6501 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (5 credits)

GG6502 Introduction to Remote Sensing (5 credits)

LW6101 Introduction to Planning Law

LW6200 Law of EU Foreign Policy

LW6566 Contemporary Issues in International Law (5 credits)

LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)

LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)

LW6620 Introduction to the Law of the Sea (10 credits)

LW6623 Global Maritime Security (5 credits)

LW6624 Port Law (5 credits)

LW6633 Public International Law (5 credits)

LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)

LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic 2 (10 credits)

LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)

LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)

LW6651 International Law and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (5 credits)

LW6655 Foundations of International Children's Rights3 (5 credits)

LW6668 Business and Human Rights Law (5 credits)

LW6671 Children’s Rights and Climate Justice (5 credits)



List B: Undergraduate Modules3 (Max. 10 credits)



LW2211 Principles of Public International Law (5 credits)

LW2216 Humanitarianism and the Law (5 credits)

LW3371 Sources and Foundations of Environmental Law (5 credits)

LW3372 Environmental Law: Contemporary Issues in Governance, Regulation, and Enforcement (5 credits)



1It may be that not all modules listed below will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.



2LW6642 cannot be selected without the prior approval of the Programme Director.



3Registration for these modules requires the permission of the Programme Director. Where appropriate, the



Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, whether any undergraduate modules must be taken.

Applicants must be approved by the School of Law. Applicants must normally hold a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours Law degree (NFQ, Level 8). Applicants with other third-level qualifications and/or relevant professional experience are also encouraged to apply.



Applications from overseas candidates are welcome, and their qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland



Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants



For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements



Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.

9 months Full-time; 18 months Part-time.

Start Date 8 September 2025

What can I do after I graduate with an Postgraduate Diploma (Environmental and Natural Resources Law)?



The Postgraduate Diploma (Environmental and Natural Resources Law) will prepare you for a variety of careers in legal practice, regulation and compliance, including the legal professions, governmental and regulatory agencies, international institutions, and compliance roles in industry. It also provides a strong basis for careers in the broader environmental regulatory and policy space encompassing environmental advocacy and campaigning, environmental consultancy, environmental policy advice and research, and academia. It is relevant for those of you interested in careers in the energy, infrastructure, utilities, natural resources, and project finance sectors. The degree provides a valuable opportunity for those already working in these fields to further develop their knowledge and skills and to keep up-to-date with the latest developments and emerging trends in this rapidly developing area.



Occupations associated with the Postgraduate Diploma (Environmental and Natural Resources Law):



Legal professions

Governmental and regulatory agencies

Local government

Industry

Utilities

Infrastructure developers

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Environmental consultancy

International organisations/secretariats

Academia