The Joint Nordic Master Programme in Environmental Law (NOMPEL) gives you a competitive degree in environmental law. The programme provides knowledge in environmental law at three levels: internationally, within the EU and in Nordic countries.
The goal is to provide first class learning for students who want to gain expertise in environmental law, nationally or internationally, as well as those who want to pursue a PhD in environmental law.
The Masters is the result of a cooperation between three leading Nordic universities: the University of Uppsala University (Uppsala, Sweden), the University of Eastern Finland (Joensuu, Finland) and the Arctic University of Norway (Tromsø, Norway). Students will spend a semester in each institution.
This combination of expertise will give you a unique international learning and living experience.
The programme will equip you with theoretical and methodological skills in environmental law. You will furthermore acquire specialistic knowledge and legal expertise on the management of natural resources, the protection of biodiversity, climate change and the energy transition.
Key information
- Level of degree: Master's degree
- Programme duration: 2 years / 120 ECTS credits
- Language of instruction: English
- Programme start: Autumn 2023
- Tuition fee: EU/EEA nationals no tuition fee; non-EU/EEA nationals: Uppsala University: SEK 50 000/autumn semester 2023. UEF: EUR 2000/spring semester 2024 (incl. tuition fee waiver). UiT: no tuition fee.
- Study campus: Uppsala (Sweden), Joensuu (Finland) and Tromsø (Norway)
The Master's degree programme is administrated by the Uppsala University. All the information concerning the admission process can be found on the NOMPEL webpage managed by Uppsala university.
Partners
This is a unique Master’s programme in environmental law, featuring internationally renowned instructors who provide students with first hand insights into themes of great actuality and urgency. Throughout your studies, you will learn of best practices in the Nordic region, as well as of outstanding challenges to resolving global environmental problems.
Annalisa Savaresi
Associate Professor of International Environmental Law
Studies
Four semesters
NOMPEL is an advanced full-time study programme of 120 ECTS credits, with a nominal study length of two years.
First semester: Uppsala University (UU)
The first semester of the programme, comprising 30 ECTS, is spent in Uppsala. During this semester two themes are addressed. The first is a general introduction to the role of law in the formulation and implementation of environmental policies. This comprises the functions and potentials of different environmental legal instruments and principles, as well as how legislation and legal principles can counteract implementation of environmental objectives and green growth. Students will also learn how international and EU environmental law interact with national law, using Nordic countries as examples, as well as the basic structures and challenges of environmental law making and implementation.
The second theme of the first semester is more substantive and relates to the effective management of natural resources, including the protection of biodiversity. The objective is to analyse the relation between the management of natural resources (forest, water, wind etc.) and the interest of conserving biodiversity, as stipulated in international law, EU law and also the law of the Nordic states. This part of the first semester also constitutes the introduction to natural resource management and biodiversity protection, various subfields of which are subject to in depth discussions during subsequent semesters.
Second semester: University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
The second semester of the programme is spent at the School of Law of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Joensuu. The university is home to the Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law (CCEEL), which brings together around 80 senior and junior scholars specialised in climate change, energy, natural resources and environmental law. At UEF, NOMPEL students take courses, for a total of 30 ECTS, comprising the following themes: climate change law and policy; international environmental law; green transitions; international forest law; international water law; environmental and social impact assessment. All NOMPEL courses at UEF are taught by international experts, providing unique insights into developments in international, European, and national environmental law. At UEF, NOMPEL students also have access to a host of extracurricular activities organised for all CCEEL Masters students.
Third semester: UiT the Arctic University of Norway (UiT)
The third semester is spent at UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. At UiT you find one of the worlds’ largest research centres for the law of the Sea (Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea, NCLOS), devoted to teaching and research on the law of the sea and marine environmental law. The studies at UiT add to and broadens the student’s in-depth knowledge on marine resource management and biodiversity protection and energy and climate change Law. The courses in Tromsø are taught subsequently and gives a total of 30 ECTS.
The first course focuses on marine environmental law and sustainable use of living marine resources and includes studies on the protection of biodiversity in marine harvesting, in areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, and offers case studies on regional implementation.
The second course provides students with advanced knowledge of the interdependence between climate and energy, including the implications of climate change law for the energy sector, renewable energy, emissions trading and carbon capture and storage. The course will also offer case studies from the Arctic.
Fourth semester: The master's thesis
The fourth semester is administered by UiT, where the students must register, though students are not required to stay in Tromsø throughout the entire semester. Students will produce an individual master’s thesis on a topic related to the subjects taught in the programme. The topic must be approved by UiT, which will also appoint an academic supervisor.
All students are required to attend a mandatory course training students in legal methodology, thesis structuring and writing skills. Each thesis is evaluated and graded by two examiners appointed by UiT. To be accepted to this fourth semester, students must have completed 75 credits of the programme courses.
Degrees
Students who have successfully completed the programme will be awarded a joint degree (120 credits), named:
- Master of Legal Science (Uppsala University)
- Master of International and Comparative Law (University of Eastern Finland)
- Master of Laws (UiT The Arctic University of Norway)
In Finland, the MICL degree does not qualify the graduate for positions in the judiciary or to practice law (e.g. as a judge or a lawyer). These positions require a Finnish Master of Laws degree (oikeustieteen maisteri, OTM).
Students holding a Finnish Bachelor of Laws (oikeusnotaari, ON) degree from a Finnish university can be awarded the degree Master of Laws (OTM).
The Programme degree requires the completion of all Programme courses (see below).
Language of the programme
The language of the programme is English. Students are required to complete all the courses in English.
NOMPEL is in brief structured as follows:
First semester: Uppsala University
- Introduction - The Role of Law in Environmental Policies (15 ECTS)
- Law on Management of Natural Resources and Protection of Biodiversity (15 ECTS)
Second semester: University of Eastern Finland
- Climate Change Law and Policy (5 ECTS)
- International Economic Law and Green Transitions (5 ECTS)
- International Environmental Law II (5 ECTS)
- International Law and Forests (5 ECTS)
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (5 ECTS)
- International Water Law (5 ECTS)
Third semester: UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Energy and Climate Change Law (15 ECTS)
- Protection of the Marine Environment with Focus on Marine Living Resources Law (15 ECTS)
Fourth semester: No obligation for students to stay in Uppsala, Tromsø or Joensuu
- Master thesis in Environmental Law (30 ECTS)
Students will follow the regulations and procedures of the university at which they attend courses and sit for examinations, in a given semester. They will be provided with the same academic resources and support services that are available to all students at the university.
General instructions concerning studies at the UEF Law School can be found in Moodle (requires logging in with your UEF account) and Smart Start Guide.
University of Uppsala
Lee Holmström
lawmaster@jur.uu.se
Telephone: +46 18 471 28 56
For admissions-related or general information, please contact the applicant support team: masterprogrammes@uu.se
University of Eastern Finland
Leader of the programme
Annalisa Savaresi, Associate Professor of International Environmental Law
email: annalisa.savaresi@uef.fi
Study coordinator
Heli Siponen
email: nompel@uef.fi
Course-specific information
In questions pertaining to a particular course, please contact the teacher of the course.
How to apply?
The Master's degree programme is administrated through the Uppsala University. All the important information related to the admission can be found at the website of the Uppsala university.
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
A Bachelor of Law corresponding to at least three years of full-time study (180 credits). Alternatively, a university degree of at least 180 credits, comprising or in combination with at least 90 credits in legal science.
Language requirements
Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.
The Master's degree programme is administrated through the Uppsala University. All the important information related to the admission can be found at the website of the Uppsala university. NOTE that the application to the programme is submitted to Uppsala University only.
Selection criteria
Students are selected based on:
- an overall appraisal of previous university studies; and
- a statement of purpose including information on previous education, work and other experience.
Students are admitted to the NOMPEL programme at Uppsala University. The students are also registered at the University of Eastern Finland and UiT The Arctic University of Norway in order to gain study rights as a degree student and to gain access to student services.
If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland, you are required to pay fees, as follows:
Application fee
To apply for the programme, there is an application fee of SEK 900.
Tuition fees
Uppsala University
Tuition fee for the first semester at Uppsala University is currently SEK 50 000.
University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
The tuition fee to study one semester at UEF is EUR 2000. This figure includes the 50% tuition fee waivers UEF has granted to all fee-paying NOMPEL students for academic year 2022-2023.
The tuition fee covers the UEF courses included in the NOMPEL degree and all study-related supporting services at UEF.
In addition, at UEF students must pay a healthcare fee (EUR 35.80) and the membership fee to join the Student Union (EUR 36).
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
At UiT The Arctic University of Norway, there are no tuition fees. Students only need to pay a semester fee, currently NOK 625.
Contacts
For admissions-related or general information, please contact the applicant support team: masterprogrammes@uu.se
Uppsala university
Lee Holmström, lawmaster@jur.uu.se
University of Eastern Finland
Heli Siponen, nompel@uef.fi
Uit The Arctic University of Norway
Lene Emilie Øye, lene.e.oye@uit.no