Exeter College DPhil student awarded GNTS external Research Fellowship

Aakarsh Banyal (2023, BCL; 2024, MPhil Law) has been selected as a GNTS External Research Fellow under the Governance Frameworks for the Nordic Energy Transition at Sea programme, a training and mobility initiative coordinated by the University of Bergen, the University of Copenhagen, the University of Gothenburg, and Åbo Akademi University. This is a fully funded fellowship, with six early-career researchers chosen from across Europe.  

The GNTS Fellowship offers a two-year interdisciplinary programme dedicated to advancing knowledge on offshore energy governance, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability in ocean-based energy activities with a particular Nordic focus. It includes advanced training, mentoring, summer schools, seminar participation, and opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers from four Nordic university hubs.  

For Aakarsh, the fellowship will strongly supplement his ongoing DPhil research, which explores the protection of foreign investments at sea, international law, and dispute settlement — areas that are increasingly relevant in the context of global energy transitions and ocean governance. 

During his time at Exeter College, Aakarsh has already distinguished himself academically and professionally. He co-edited International Law in Pursuit of Global Justice: Reflections from Contemporary India (Routledge), published in 2025, and has been recognised for his scholarly achievements and contributions. 

Exeter College congratulates Aakarsh on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to the impact his research will have on international law, offshore investments, energy governance, and allied issues.