EQE exam training
Maastricht University offers training for candidates preparing for the European Qualifying Examination. The training is for candidates who already have a basic understanding of European patent law, and focuses on preparations for Paper C and Paper D of the exam.
The training for each of the papers starts with three days of workshops (A and B combined), given in Maastricht. You’ll learn a methodology for tackling each of the exam papers and you’ll receive coaching from the trainers in the subject matter. After the course, you’ll have access to Maastricht University’s electronic learning environment, which will provide you with online support from fellow students and the trainers as well as additional exercises so you can practise your drafting skills.
All course materials and teaching will be in English.
Fast facts
- trains you for EQE Papers A/B, for Paper C and/or for Paper D
- each course involves 3 days of workshops
- online assignments till the EQE
- taught and all study material in English
- dual teaching and small groups (max 16 participants)
EQE Paper D
In Part I of EQE Paper D, you are required to answer a set of legal questions.
In Part II of EQE Paper D, you’ll have to draft a legal opinion following an inquiry from a client.
Workshop duration: 3 days
Dates: Monday 7 - Wednesday 9 October 2024 followed by online coaching sessions until the EQE in 2025
Tutors: Jeroen Declerck and Natasja Duhayon
Online learning: from October 2024 to March 2025, you will receive several assignments; one of the Part I assignments will be marked by the tutor. Optionally, you can hand in a D paper for correction (an additional charge of EUR 180.- applies).
EQE Paper C
In Paper C of the EQE, you are required to draft a notice of opposition against granted European patent.
Workshop duration: 3-days
Dates: Monday 21 - Wednesday 23 October 2024, followed by online coaching sessions until the EQE in 2025
Tutors: Natasja Duhayon and Sjors de Koning
Online learning: from October 2024 to March 2025, you will receive several assignments; one of the cases will be marked by the tutor. Optionally, you can hand in a C paper for correction (an additional charge of EUR 180.- applies)
EQE Paper A and B
In Paper A of the EQE, you are required to draft a set of claims and the introductory portion of a European patent application.
In Paper B of the EQE, you are required to prepare a reply to a communication from the examining division in which prior art has been cited, while taking account of the letter from the client.
Workshop duration: 3-days
Dates: Monday 4 - Wednesday 6 November 2024, followed by online coaching sessions until the EQE in 2025
Tutors: Isabelle Surdej and Sjors de Koning
Online learning: from October 2024 to March 2025, you will receive several assignments; one of the assignments will be marked by the tutor. Optionally, you can hand in an A and/or B paper for correction (an additional charge of EUR 180.- applies)
Follow-up meetings
During the online coaching period, regular online sessions will be organized for each individual paper, e.g. to discuss assignments that candidates can prepare in advance. In addition, at least one extra follow-up meeting via Zoom will be planned shortly before the exam dates to discuss general practicalities for the main papers A,B,C and D combined.
Expert trainers
The EQE training will be given by Sjors de Koning, Natasja Duhayon, Jeroen Declerck and Isabelle Surdej, who are European patent attorneys and renowned tutors preparing candidates for the EQE.
Sjors de Koning holds master degrees in Mechanical Engineering from KU Leuven and Intellectual Property Law & Knowledge Management, MSc track from Maastricht University. Sjors has passed the EQE in 2019 after attending the EQE training courses in Maastricht and obtained the European Patent Litigation Certificate in 2023. Since 2021, he is active as European & Belgian Patent Attorney at Calysta.
Isabelle Surdej holds a PhD in Physics from Ludwig Maximilians University (Munich) and a Master in Engineering Physics from the University of Liège. She has worked as an optical engineer at the European Southern Observatory (Munich) on projects such as the European Extremely Large Telescope. In April 2021, Isabelle has founded PRISMA Patents, an IP firm based in Leuven. Isabelle passed the EQE in 2017 after attending the EQE training courses in Maastricht.
Natasja Duhayon holds a PhD in physics from the University of Leuven (BE) and has been working at imec since 1999. In 2006, she joined the Patent Group of imec where she currently is leading the patent team which is responsible for the patent portfolio of imec's semiconductor technology and systems unit. Natasja passed the EQE in 2015 after attending the EQE training courses in Maastricht. Since 2019, Natasja has been lecturing in the Advanced Masters Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management (IPKM) given at the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University.
Jeroen Declerck studied micro-electronics at Leuven University (BE). He is a European patent and Belgian attorney with experience in software, micro-electronics, telecommunication and electro-mechanics. Jeroen is head patents for Belgium and Luxembourg at Ipsilon. He is a lecturer in the Advanced Masters in Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management (IPKM) at Maastricht University.
Register for the exam training
You can register for the EQE exam training by filling in our online registration form.
EQE exam training online registration form
Cancellations can be made until 14 days before the commencement of the course. You will receive a full refund of the fee minus an administrative charge of €150. After this date, no refunds can be made.
Course fees
The costs of the training for Papers A/B, for Paper C as well as for Paper D is €1,950.- each. This includes tuition, course materials, coffee/tea, lunches, access to the e-learning environment and Q&A sessions via Zoom.
Requirements of the European Qualifying Examination
To qualify as a European patent attorney, you need to pass the European Qualifying Examination (EQE), which is administered by the European Patent Office (EPO). The EQE takes place once a year in March. The pass rate is less than 50%. The EQE consists of a pre-exam and a main exam.
After completing three years working in the European patent profession, under the supervision of a European patent attorney, and upon passing the pre-exam, the main exam may be taken. The main exam consists of four written Papers divided over three consecutive days. The Papers of the Main Exam may be taken all at once or divided over multiple sittings (different years). Only candidates with a suitable qualification such as a university degree in science or technology may enrol for the EQE.
The main exam includes three practical papers and one legal paper:
- Paper A: drafting of a European patent application
- Paper B: amendment of a European patent application
- Paper C: filing a notice of opposition against granted European patent
- Paper D: part DI involves answering a set of legal questions, and part DII involves drafting a legal opinion following an inquiry from a client
Success rate
A significant majority of the candidates who participated in our EQE exam training for one or both papers in earlier years, passed the respective paper(s).
Statistics show that the EQE Paper C is the toughest paper to pass. It requires an in-depth knowledge of substantive patent law as well as time effectiveness in collecting all relevant information to enable you to produce novel arguments and inventive step attacks in sufficient detail. For me, an accurate and time effective methodology was crucial for passing this exam. Maastricht University’s EQE Paper C training covered all these aspects and helped me to pass Paper C (and therewith the EQE)!
Jan Nouwens
The EQE training courses at Maastricht University taught me how to tackle a Papers C and D step by step. The methodologies and exercises provided were essential in passing these papers. Additional exercises were provided after the training, and detailed solutions were given, which helped me to apply the methodologies I learned, pinpoint my weak points and overcome them. Passing the EQE wouldn't have been possible without the expertise and guidance of Cees Mulder and Nyske Blokhuis. Their continuous and personal support from the start of the course until the final days before the EQE were invaluable.
Tom Tassignon
The EQE training courses at Maastricht University really helped me in preparing for the EQE. I appreciated not only the step-by-step methodology but also the accessibility of the tutors and the small size of the group. It enables to make the best of these training days which are organized in autumn and to catch all the motivation necessary to go through the winter up to the exams. Besides, the assignments provided after the training were very helpful to improve the effectiveness to answer, for each Paper, thanks to a personalized correction by the tutors. Their support, as well as that of a study buddy met during the course with whom I could share the ups and downs of the preparation, was key to succeed.
Elodie Naveau
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