Pan-European Seal Programme

Paid traineeship for LUSEM students at the European Union Intellectual Property Office or the European Patent Office

Outstanding Master’s students at Lund University School of Economics and Management can apply for a paid 12-months period traineeship at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante or the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich.

The traineeship allows you to gain valuable professional multicultural work experience and get a foot in the door of the competitive world of intellectual property. The traineeship programme offers variety of professional placements depending on the profile of the applicant.

The internship is offered within the Pan-European Seal, a comprehensive intellectual property programme aimed at bridging academia and the labour market and promoted by two of the world’s largest intellectual property offices – the EUIPO and EPO – together with strategic university partners.

Apply to EUIPO or EPO

Kindly note that the same candidates cannot be included in the EUIPO and EPO shortlists. You have to state this in your motivation letter to LUSEM, clearly indicating the choice of traineeship location.

The monthly financial support for selected trainees differs between EUIPO and EPO.

Ideal trainee profile

Master’s student from LUSEM in any of the eligible academic areas can apply:

  • Law
  • IP & Knowledge Management
  • International Relations & Communication
  • Information Technology
  • Economics & Business Administration
  • Human Resources

Nationality from at least one of the EUIPO and/or EPO member states (or candidate). A limited number of trainees may be selected from third countries.

For EUIPO:

  • Trainees are selected from nationals of the Member States of the European Union and candidate countries. A limited number of nationals of candidate countries and third countries may be  accepted (max 10 %). In your application state clearly your nationality.
  • Degree/Master in any of the eligible academic areas (from Lund University School of Economic and Management). If at the time of application, you have not yet received the required degree diploma, please include a transcript of records from Ladok.
  • A minimum certified CEF B1 level (Common European Framework of reference for languages) in at least one of the five working languages of the EUIPO (DE, EN, FR, IT, or ES) or one of the three working languages of the EPO (EN, FR or DE).
  • CV in English in Europass Word format
  • Motivation letter, clearly indicating the choice of traineeship location (EUIPO or EPO – not both).
  • EUIPO candidates are also required to indicate their preferences among the traineeship profiles available at the Office: Law, IP Law,  IP & Knowledge Management, Political Science and International Relations, Linguistics,  Information Technology, Economics & Business Administration/Entrepreneurship, Communication and Visual Design, Facility Management  or Human Resources
  • Certificate(s) of completion of at least one of the following courses: “EUTM in a Nutshell” (4h approximately); and/or “RCD in a Nutshell” (4h approximately). Go to the EUIPO course page. Registration is required.

Please note that:

  • Previous participation in international programmes, such as Erasmus+, is considered favourably.
  • Customer service skills; communication skills; capacity to analyse problems and find appropriate solutions; ability to work independently as well as part of a team; responsibility, professionalism, flexibility and self-initiative; capacity to work in an international environment, are also considered favourable.

For EPO:

  • Nationality of an EPO Member State or Extension State. In your application state clearly your nationality.
  • Bachelor’s/Master’s diploma (or provisional certification) If at the time of application, you have not yet received the required degree diploma, please include a transcript of records from Ladok.
  • Knowledge of one of the EPO’s working languages (English, French or German) at a minimum level of B1. 
  • A letter of motivation, and clearly indicating the choice of traineeship location (EUIPO or EPO – not both).
  • Preferred business area in EPO; Law, Economics and Finance, International Relations and Communication, Human Resources and Business Administration, Science & Engineering.
  • An updated curriculum vitae in English

How to apply

The shortlist of Lund University School of Economics and Management will be selected from those excellent graduates or students in the last year of their studies (if you are due to receive your diploma before the end of August of the year in question) who will submit their application according to the procedure outlined below.

23 February: Deadline to apply to LUSEM

To apply you will have to submit the documents listed above to: iptrainee@ehl.lu.se


28 February: LUSEM shortlist is announced

Shortlisting results for Lund University School of Economics and Management are announced by email. Please note that the same candidate cannot be shortlisted for both the EPO and EUIPO.


1–31 March: If selected, apply in the e-recruitment tool EUIPO

Shortlisted candidates must submit an online application containing:

  • Degree/Master’s diploma. If at the time of application you have not yet received the required degree diploma, please include a certificate of expected graduation that you can receive from your programme administrator.
  • CV in English in the Europass Word format.
  • Motivation letter, clearly indicating the choice of traineeship location (EUIPO or EPO – not both).
  • Certificate from the required online e-learning courses required by EPO or EUIPO.

Shortlisted candidates (only) shall submit their applications through the e-recruitment tool available.

For EUIPO applications


1–15 March: If selected, apply yo EPO

For EPO applications


End of May (or June): Final selection

EUIPO and the EPO will select the trainees from the shortlisted candidates based on their qualifications and the needs of the receiving institutions. Selected candidates are contacted by EUIPO in late May or EPO in June.

By the start of the traineeship, you are required to complete the following e-learning courses:

EUIPO: “EUTM in a Nutshell” and “RCD in a Nutshell”.

EPO: "Introduction to the European patent system" and "The EPO as PCT authority"


15 September: Start of the traineeship programme at EPO


16 September: Start of the traineeship programme at EUIPO