The postgraduate program in intellectual property at the ETH Zurich: A modern educational program for graduates in science or technology wishing to start a career as patent specialists

Since October 1996 the ETH Zurich has offered a Postgraduate Program in Int ellectual Property (NDS), The one-year study program is primarily intended for university graduates in science or technology from Switzerland and abro ad. It aims to equip its participants with a sound knowledge in intellectua l property rights which enables them to obtain a position in the patent, li censing or trademark department of a large industrial concern or a speciali st legal office. The NDS is a fulltime program with a wide range of courses given by over one hundred specialists from all around the world. Interacti ve didactic methods and multimedia are integrated in the teaching. In order to ensure the quality of the program, students and guest lecturers are sub ject to continuous reciprocal evaluations. Managed like a small business, the NDS benefits from its independent status at the ETH, Thus, each spring, road shows for potential students are held at several technical universities in Switzerland and abroad. On the other h and, the NDS is financed by the ETH Zurich and is not self-supporting; howe ver, in order to increase outside income, tuition costs have recently been raised from SFr, 5 100 to SFr. 11 100. The ETH Zurich awards a certificate to participants who have successfully completed the examinations, which per mits them to use the title 'Dipl. NDS ETHZ fur Geistiges Eigentum'. This ti tle is recognized by the European Patent Office and confers exemption from six months of the practice period required for admission to the examination for European Patent Attorneys (reducing the required time to 2 1/2 years).