Gain expertise to pursue careers in the mining and energy industries and natural resources more generally by gaining a strong understanding of their regulatory and commercial context. Apart from mining and oil and gas law this includes corporate governance, environmental laws, climate change, human rights, commercial agreements and construction contracts.
This course is ideal if you're looking to expand your current knowledge of the mining, energy and natural resources sector or if you seek a new career path in this highly regulated industry. This course is available for law and non-law graduates, and, depending on your qualifications, this course may be articulated into the Master of Commercial and Resources Law or Master of Mining and Energy Law.
Course structure
Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units.
Why study this course?
The units in this course are taught in a highly practical way, making use of real -life examples, contracts and case studies.
You'll be taught by leading experts in their fields.
This course offers a broad range of units so you can pick areas that interest you.
You'll learn to
acquire and develop a deeper knowledge of the basic principles of the regulation of natural resources.
develop important theoretical and practical legal knowledge, exploring the issues related to regulatory theory and governance of natural resources, and the interrelationship of law with other supporting disciplines.
develop practical legal skill sets, especially in relation to the ability to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge, to identify and solve defined legal problems in the regulation of natural resources and, in so doing, exercise critical judgement and thinking skills.
develop skills in advanced legal research and writing in the areas of natural resource governance, and in related subject areas.
develop a practical overview of the field of natural governance to enhance policy making, decision making and management skills in the resource industry in a domestic and international context.
Graduate outcomes
Through a combination of chosen units in the diploma, student will acquire and develop a deeper knowledge of the basic principles of the regulation of natural resources. They will develop important theoretical and practical legal knowledge, which will consistently explore the issues related to regulatory theory and governance of natural resources and the interrelationship of law with other supporting disciplines. The units in the diploma will facilitate the development of practical legal skill-sets, especially in relation to the ability to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge, to identify and solve defined legal problems in the regulation of natural resources and, in so doing, exercise critical judgement and thinking skills. Students will also develop skills in advanced legal research and writing in the areas of natural resource governance, and in related subject areas. Combined, these skill sets will develop a practical overview of the field of natural governance to enhance policy making, decision making and management skills in the resource industry in a domestic and international context.
Career Pathways
Expand your skills, expertise and knowledge of law to prepare yourself for the next step in your law career. Graduates may find employment opportunities within the government sector, resource companies or the corporate energy sector.
Further Study
Students who complete the Graduate Diploma with a weighted average mark at least 60 per cent are eligible for admission to the Master of Commercial and Resources Law or the Master of Mining and Energy Law.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
February 2026
Crawley Campus
35 Stirling Highway,
CRAWLEY,
Western Australia,
6009, PERTH, Australia
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
July 2025
Crawley Campus
35 Stirling Highway,
CRAWLEY,
Western Australia,
6009, PERTH, Australia
To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—1(a) a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; or 2(a) (i) a bachelor's degree in a cognate area, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and (ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; or 3(a) (i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and (ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; and (iii) at least two years of relevant professional experience.
English language requirements:
TOEFL (paper-based): 570 with a Test of Written English (TWE) of no less than 4.5
IBT TOEFL (Internet-based test score): 82 with 22 for writing, 20 for speaking, 20 for listening, and 18 for reading
IELTS (Academic): overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 6.5
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: C pass
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: B grade
Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic): Overall score of 64 with a minimum score of 64 in the Reading and Writing sections, 59 in the Speaking section and 54 in the Listening section
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
Students can set themselves apart with a globally recognised degree from a world top 100 university.
