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How to apply for the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme
The Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme offers a unique opportunity to launch your career and gain valuable insights into what it's like to work in a dynamic, multicultural environment. Read on to find out everything you need to know to apply for the next round of the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme at the European Patent Office, including application requirements and the selection process timeline. To learn more about the programme itself, have a look at our programme page.
The programme offers opportunities in following areas below. The next application round will start in February 2023
- Science and engineering (including IT)
- Human resources and business administration
- International relations and communication
- Economics and finance
- Law
FRAMEWORK OF THE PROGRAMME
Can I apply?
To apply for the programme, you name shall be put forward by a university that is a member of the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals network.
Please check the minimum qualifications for recruitment of young professionals:
- National of one of the EPO's member states.
- Diploma of completed university studies at bachelor's level.
- Excellent knowledge of one of the EPO’s official language (English, German, French)
How do I apply?
Your application should be made online and must include:
- a letter of motivation expressing your reasons for applying
- your up-to-date CV
- your degree certificate (a provisional declaration may be submitted pending the conferral of your degree)
You meet all the requirements and have all relevant documents ready?
Important: Please note that you may apply for only one vacancy within the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme, so be sure to indicate your area of choice in your application. However, this does not mean that you cannot be considered for other areas within the Office. If a suitable candidate cannot be found within the specific vacancy, then candidates from other areas may also be contacted.
Upon the completion of the selection process, your name, surname, field of study and the EPO area of work will be shared with the university that shortlisted you as an eligible candidate for the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme.
I've submitted my application, so what's next?
If you are selected, you will be invited to take the following e-learning courses and upload the certificates of completion to your application page:
- Introduction to the European patent system (mandatory for all)
- Using CPC in classification (mandatory for science and engineering candidates)
- The EPO as a PCT authority (mandatory for candidates from a non-engineering background)
If you are curious to find out more about the EPO and IP in general, you are welcome to dip in and out of our course modules whenever you have the time.