Article 47

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

Representation

CEIPI - European qualifying examination 2025 (main examination)

For the European qualifying examination (EQE) 2025, the Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) offers in collaboration with the European Patent Academy a complete range of exam preparation courses.

For the main papers of the EQE 2025, this training programme consists of:

- introductory "Methodology" courses in the early autumn of 2024 in Paris,
- preparatory seminars in November 2024 and in January 2025, in Strasbourg, and
- online "mock exam" courses in February 2025.

The CEIPI also offers a "Correction of paper" module for each EQE paper (personalized correction of a paper).

In addition, the CEIPI organizes a Wiseflow webinar for registered course participants, which provides practical information on the online examination and its special features on the Wiseflow platform and offers the opportunity to ask questions. The Wiseflow webinar is included in the course fee.

In order to also prepare those candidates for the EQE who cannot attend the on-site training in Paris or Strasbourg, the CEIPI also organises the above Methodology courses and preparatory seminars as online training.

Statistics based on feedback from French-speaking candidates – for whom this programme has been in place now for a number of years – show that their chances of success after following this programme are in the order of 70-80%, considerably higher than the average pass rate for the EQE.

The tutors for these courses have extensive training experience, they are a mix of professional representatives (from private practice and industry) and staff of the EPO and the Boards of Appeal.

Enrolment for the complete CEIPI course offer for one or more papers of the EQE main examination 2025 will allow candidates to benefit from "package" discounts. Further information is available on our website ceipi.edu.

I. Introductory "Methodology" courses in early autumn 2024 for Papers A+B (claim drafting and reply to the official letter), C (opposition) and D (legal questions)

They aim to bring the candidates to the required level for the CEIPI preparatory seminars to be held in November 2024 and in January 2025 (see below).

In these "Methodology" courses an introduction is given to the methodologies for solving papers A, B, C and D respectively. In particular, they aim at identifying the competencies which candidates must develop in order to pass the examination. Moreover, the examination requirements are explained and a review of important topics for each paper is given. The courses offer candidates tips on preparing for the exams, as well as for the CEIPI preparatory seminars in November 2024 and in January 2025.

To fully benefit from the CEIPI seminars in November and January, candidates are therefore strongly advised to attend these preceding introductory "Methodology" courses as well.

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: ceipi.edu under Non-degree courses/Preparation for the EQE.

The courses will be held in Paris for English-, German- and French-speaking candidates, and also be offered as online training, on the same dates.

The courses are organised as a one-day course (A+B and C respectively) or as a one-and-a-half-day course (D).

The dates are:

Each "Methodology" course may be taken separately. It is also possible to only attend the A- or B-part (EUR 325 for the A or B-part).

The price of the Methodology course A+B includes the "A"- and "B"-Books.

The price of the Methodology course C includes the "C-Book".

The Methodology course D includes the pdf files of the "EPC analytical tables" and of the "PCT analytical tables".

The closing date for receipt of applications is 9 August 2024.

You can apply via:
sylvie.kra@ceipi.edu

II. CEIPI preparatory seminars for Papers A+B, C and D

The CEIPI is holding two 5-day seminars preparing for the EQE 2025.

Participants are expected to have reached an advanced stage in their own preparation for the examination.

Papers A, B and C

The seminar on Papers A (drafting of claims and an introduction), B (reply to an official letter) and C (drafting an opposition) will be held from 18 to 22 November 2024. It is offered as a "Strasbourg seminar" and also remotely.

Methodologies are presented in detail under the guidance of a tutor. Essential topics of patent law will also be discussed further.

The working texts for the seminars are largely based on past EQE papers, updated if necessary. Participants will have the opportunity to apply the strategies and topics discussed in the seminar by doing papers A and B 2023 under mock examination conditions. For Paper C exercises are mixed with doing the examination paper C 2023. Various approaches and suggested solutions will then be presented and discussed in the light of the examiners' reports and model solutions of the CEIPI (i.e. the "CEIPI solution").

The course will be held in each official language of the EPO (English, French and German).

The A+B or C part may be booked separately. It is possible to enrol for the A or B part only.

Paper D

The seminar on legal questions (Paper D) will be held from 13 to 17 January 2025 as a "Strasbourg seminar" and as online training.

The seminar aims at enabling candidates to answer the legal questions substantively and within the available time. The method involves independent work under the tutors' supervision, plus discussion of the answers. Candidates learn and practise the different approaches needed to tackle the questions of Part D 1, as well as the more extensive question of Part D 2, and practise these techniques. The D seminar will also incorporate a mock examination (probably based on paper D 2024).

General

The seminars' European character is reflected in the international mix of tutors and participants. Group-based work ensures discussion between the two. Participants should have sufficient command of one of the EPO's official languages (English, French or German).

Participant numbers per group are limited to ensure proper discussion between tutors and the group.

More information on the programme of the seminars can be found on the CEIPI website: ceipi.edu under Non-degree courses/Preparation for the EQE.

The fee is:
- EUR 1 900 for seminar ABC
- EUR 1 900 for seminar D
- EUR 975 for only the A+B part
- EUR 975 for only the C part.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 11 October 2024.

You can apply via:
sylvie.kra@ceipi.edu

More information on both these courses can also be obtained from:

Christiane Melz
CEIPI Section Internationale
Bâtiment LE CARDO
7 rue de l'Ecarlate
CS 20024
FR-67082 STRASBOURG Cedex
Tel. +33 (0)368 858313
christiane.melz@ceipi.edu

III. "Mock exam" courses for Papers A+B, C and D

To complete the above programme, CEIPI offers for Papers A+B, C and D an opportunity to candidates wishing to improve their skills in respect of these papers. To that end, CEIPI organises mock exam courses in which candidates put themselves under examination conditions and write a full Paper A+B, C or D within the same time and according to the format of the e-EQE.

Sufficiently in advance of the online session, participants send their mock papers to the CEIPI secretariat for correction by the tutors. The papers should preferably and as far as possible be prepared with Wiseflow.

The papers will be given a quick check by the tutors and will be handed back to the candidates with the result.

An online plenary session will then take place in February for each paper. The answer papers handed in will be discussed and the CEIPI model solutions will be presented.

The aim of these courses is to give the candidates the possibility, close to but also sufficiently in advance of the actual EQE 2025, to exercise their skills in sitting these papers under examination conditions. With subsequent feedback from a tutor on the paper(s) in question and on the work delivered by the candidates, as well as the possibility of putting "last-minute" questions to the tutor, candidates will have an even better idea of whether certain issues need closer study.

The "mock exam" courses will be organised online.

"Mock exam" course for Papers A+B

For this course, papers A and B 2024 will be used.

The online plenary session will take place:

• on Tuesday afternoon, 4 February 2025, for the English- and German-speaking candidates;
• on Thursday afternoon, 6 February 2025 for the French-speaking candidates.

"Mock exam" course for Paper C

For this course, paper C 2024 will be used.

The online plenary session will take place:

• on Wednesday morning, 5 February 2025, for the English- and German-speaking candidates,
• on Saturday morning, 8 February 2025, for the French-speaking candidates.

"Mock exam" course for Paper D

The D-Paper used for this course has been entirely developed by CEIPI tutors. This is not a D-paper from previous EQE examinations.

The online plenary session will take place:

• on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, for the English-, German- and French-speaking candidates.

More information on the course programme of these courses can be found on the CEIPI website: ceipi.edu under Non-degree courses/Preparation for the EQE.

The fee per course is EUR 800. Part A or B can be attended separately, fee for each part: EUR 400.

The D-Paper used for this course has been entirely developed by CEIPI tutors. This is not a D-paper from previous EQE examinations.

The online plenary session will take place:

• on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, for the English-, German- and French-speaking candidates.

More information on the course programme of these courses can be found on the CEIPI website: ceipi.edu under Non-degree courses/Preparation for the EQE.

The fee per course is EUR 800. Part A or B can be attended separately, fee for each part: EUR 400.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 10 January 2025.

You can apply via:
sylvie.kra@ceipi.edu

For further information you can also contact:

Christiane Melz
CEIPI Section Internationale
Bâtiment LE CARDO
7 rue de l'Ecarlate
CS 20024
FR-67082 STRASBOURG Cedex
Tel. +33 (0)368 858313
christiane.melz@ceipi.edu

IV. "Correction of paper" module

This module allows participants to further train themselves to write mock papers in preparation of the EQE. Each participant prepares one or more former exam paper(s) (A 2017, B 2017, C 2019, D1 2021 and D2 2015 adapted) and sends it to the CEIPI secretariat for a correction. The participant will receive customised correction of the paper by an experienced CEIPI tutor, together with the CEIPI model solution to that paper. The module offers participants the possibility to complete the series of mock exams organised and corrected in the CEIPI courses by a specific personalised examination training before taking the EQE. The correction module thus allows participants to gain a still better idea of their knowledge and competences and to refine their methodology for solving the exam papers.

The correction module is offered in the three official languages of the EPO, German, English, and French. Candidates can submit their papers by one of the following deadlines before the EQE 2025:
- 2 September 2024
- 1 October 2024
- 2 December 2024
- 21 February 2025

Each paper can be chosen separately. The fee is EUR 300 per paper.

You can apply via:
cynthia.jehl@ceipi.edu

For further information you can also contact:

Christiane Melz
CEIPI Section Internationale
Bâtiment LE CARDO
7 rue de l'Ecarlate
CS 20024
FR-67082 STRASBOURG Cedex
Tel. +33 (0)368 858313
Fax +33 (0)368 858566
christiane.melz@ceipi.edu