PAN-European Seal Traineeship Programme
for graduates of the University of Geneva
Opportunity to apply for a 12-month traineeship in Alicante at the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) or in Munich at the European Patent Office (EPO)
The University of Geneva has joined the Pan European Seal Program (PES) and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Patent Office (EPO) and with the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Under the PES Traineeship Program, selected UNIGE graduates (i.e. graduates with a bachelor degree, a master degree or a PhD degree from UNIGE) can apply for a 12-month remunerated traineeship at the EPO (in Munich) or at the EUIPO (in Alicante).
Testimonials UNIGE graduates of who have been selected to do an internship at the EPO are available here
1. General Information about the program :
- Professor in charge of PES at UNIGE: Prof. Jacques de Werra
- UNIGE- Email for questions:
2. Key Dates :
| Actions | EPO | EUIPO |
|---|---|---|
| Candidates' shortlisting | N/A | 02 – 27 February
Please complete a form for each student you wish to be shortlisted.
To submit a new form, please use the original link or click on
“Submit another response” on the page that pops up after completing a form.
|
| Vacancies open |
16 February to 09 March
|
1–31 March
|
| Candidates' confirmation | 16–23 March | N/A |
| Programme start | 15 September | 16 September |
3. Key Information :
| TOPIC | EPO | EUIPO |
|---|---|---|
| Most important contact | ||
| Nationality requirement | EPO member states | EU countries + 10 % outside EU (from all around the world) |
| Degree requirement | At least bachelor’s degree latest upon the programme start
Alumni may be shortlisted as well (independently of when they graduated) |
At least bachelor’s degree latest upon the programme start.
Alumni may also be shortlisted, but only those who have graduated in the last 2 calendar years. |
| Language requirement | Excellent level of one of the EPO official languages (English, German, French)
Candidates can self-asses their language level in the application, if the candidates have a language certificate, they shall attach it to their application for completeness but if they are not having one, no need to obtain it. The language will be tested latest in the interview. |
- At least B2 in English. The English level will be verified during the interview.
- Proficiency in another EUIPO language (French, German, Italian, Spanish) may be required depending on the profile. |
| How maximum old can the degree be to be eligible to apply for the programme? | No time constraint. Requirement is to have obtained the degree before the programme start (15.09.2026) regardless of when the degree was obtained before.
|
Candidates should have obtained their degree by the start of the programme (mid-September 2026) but not before January 2024.
Note: Applications may be submitted while studies are still in progress. However, all examinations must be completed and, where applicable, the thesis or final project must be fully graded before the traineeship start date. No assessments may remain pending at the beginning of the traineeship. |
| Sites | Munich, The Hague, Berlin, Vienna, Brussels
|
Alicante Brussels (2 posts) and Luxembourg (1 post) |
| Duration | 1 + 2 years extension upon selection
|
1 year (an extension of 12 additional months may be granted to a limited number of selected trainees subject to funds availability) |
| Compensation | Ca 2300 EUR net in year1
Ca 3300 EUR net in year2 and year3 Financial outboarding package* of ca. €9 000 after completing the first year of the Programme and ca. €40 000 upon completion the three-years of the Programme. *includes indemnity and severance grant (including accrued pension rights) |
1 300 EUR net (in case of extension for an additional 12-month period the grant is increased) |
| Status & Insurance | Status of internal employee, private international insurance
|
Status of trainee. Trainees are responsible for obtaining insurance that covers illness and accidents for the entire duration and the place where the traineeship.
|
| Accommodation support | Mainly through the mentoring group of current young professionals at the EPO (200+) – the newcoming young professionals are put in touch with the current ones (they share info when they leave their flat/share they pass to the newcoming ones etc.)
Two info sessions on admin matter in summer with tips and tricks on accommodation search. |
Mainly through social media groups created by former PES trainees where practical information about accommodation and other relevant aspects of moving to Alicante are shared.
|
| Can candidates that were shortlisted in the past be nominated in the current session? | Yes, this is possible as long as the candidate still fulfils all the criteria (nationality, degree, language, confirmation by the university). The candidate will participate to new selection competition in the current edition.
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Yes, this is possible as long as the candidate still fulfils all the criteria (nominated by the university, degree, language). The candidate will participate to new selection competition in the current edition.
|
| How many students/graduates/alumni can be shortlisted per university ? | No shortlisting.
New confirmation process, no ceiling on number of candidates. |
No ceiling. We are happy to receive all talented potentials on the shortlist. |
| How to use MS Forms for shortlisting students | To be considered for the programme, candidates must be confirmed by one of the listed universities after the application period. Universities will no longer submit candidate lists upfront. Instead, confirmation will take place once all applications have been received and screened.
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Click on the link above in the email (separate one for EPO and EUIPO, thank you for shortlisting the same student only for one institution)
For each candidate you submit one MS Forms, you can submit as many MS Forms as you like. You can submit nominated students in several batches. The tool will be open from 2 to 27 February. |
| Participants hired as employees after the programme (as of July 2022) | 26
|
Between 30-40 since the inception of the PES programme back in 2014. |