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Trade Mark Law and Practice PGCert

Part of: Law

This programme is exclusively designed for trainee Trade Mark attorneys. It has been designed to meet the requirements of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) and the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg) for those wishing to pursue a career as a Trade Mark Attorney. It is also valuable if you want to understand national, European and international Trade Mark Law at an advanced level as well as become acquainted with the policies affecting these laws under the guidance of leading scholars and practitioners in the field.

  • Study at a top UK law school
  • Be a part of Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute (QMIPRI), which runs regular research discussions, seminars and annual events
  • Teaching by internationally acclaimed academics and practitioners in the field of trade mark and intellectual property law
  • Dedicated law careers advisers who organise events and internship opportunities with top UK and international law firms
  • A part-time course, which runs from first week of September to late-March (with the assessment/examination period in January for the first semester courses and in May for the second semester courses) so you can study while you work
  • Gain a solid basis for further specialisation in Trade Mark Law

Application deadline

  • Overseas applicants deadline - 18 August 2025
  • Home application deadline - 21 August 2025

Study options

Starting in
September 2025
Location
Lincoln's Inn Fields
Fees
Home: £10,500
Overseas: £
EU/EEA/Swiss students

What you'll study

This Certificate programme commences in early September and is taught over two semesters.

Teaching starts in September with a one-week intensive course covering the Fundamentals of English law and Professional Ethics. This is taught Monday-Thursday usually with two classes per day. Weekly lectures commence the week after. See below for further details.

Structure

Teaching runs over two semesters (from early September until late May - including exam times)

The programme contains 4 compulsory modules – three are taught in Semester 1 and one in Semester 2.

Teaching is usually over 2 set days a week

Legal Background Exemption Route

Students can apply for a module exemption in respect to following module under the criteria set out below.

IPLC134 Fundamentals of Law and Professional Ethics

To qualify students must have, within the last 5 calendar years-January 2020 onwards, obtained a Law Degree (LLB min 2:2) awarded by a UK Higher Education Institute, or a law qualification recognised by the Law Society or the Law Society of Scotland for the purposes of practicing as a solicitor in England and Wales or in Scotland (LPC/GDL etc).

Students with agreed exemption will not have to attend the Law element of the module but will still be required to attend the Professional Ethics element and the assessment for this part of the module.

For an application form, please contact: pglaw-enquiries@qmul.ac.uk.

The closing date for the receipt of completed applications and evidence is Friday 1 August 2025. Please note that no applications will be accepted after this deadline.

The total fee for the Certificate will be reduced should the exemption be granted. For 2024 the fee reduction was £1,500 (this is subject to change for 2025 entry).

If you require further information, please contact: pglaw-enquiries@qmul.ac.uk.

Solicitors Exemption Route

Solicitors with 2 or more years of substantial experience in IP work will be exempt from the majority of modules for this programme; such solicitors will therefore need to sit IPLC137 Trade Mark Law and Practice B only.

Please note: Applicants are required to provide registration certificates for two years in the last 5 years.

The deadline to apply for the solicitors’ exemption route for next year is the 9 January 2026.

Please note, if a student has an exemption from 2 or more modules of this course and passes the remaining module(s), then they cannot be issued with a Post Graduate Certificate. The student will, however, be able to move on to the next part of the Trade Mark Attorney qualification process, for example the Nottingham Law School Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice Course.

Please see the academic year plan for an idea of the structure of the programme and key periods of assessment.

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Modules

Assessment

You will be assessed by a range of methods which will be fully explained in your student pack available during the induction activities.

  • For modules taught in Semester 1 you will be assessed in the January exam period. Resits will take place in Summer/May exam period.
  • For modules taught in Semester 2 you will be assessed in the Summer/May exam period. Resits will take place in August exam period.

Exact assessment information for each module will be explained in your induction pack which you will receive once your registration is completed. This will also be explained in detail in the induction activities.

View the Intellectual Property Specialist Programmes - exams dates and related details [PDF 292KB].

Teaching

You will be taught by distinguished lecturers and practitioners within the field of intellectual property. Working with these experienced professionals will enhance both your skills and your professional network.

You’ll also be expected to complete further hours of independent study outside the classroom.

Your individual study will be guided by the study sessions you attend, together with any reading lists and revision materials you receive. However, we expect you to demonstrate an active role in your own learning by reading widely and expanding your own knowledge, understanding and critical ability.

Where you'll learn

Facilities

  • Free access to online databases and collections including: LexisNexis, Westlaw, Justis, Eur-lex, Reports of Patent, Design and Trademark Cases and many more
  • The Postgraduate School of Law Centre in Lincoln's Inn Fields and the Graduate Centre at Mile End
  • Queen Mary's excellent Law Library and European Documentation Centre
  • Access to the University of London’s Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) and the Library at Senate House.

Campus

Your module teaching will be at one of the Queen Mary central campus locations: Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Charterhouse Square or West Smithfield.

Administration of the programme is primarily based at the School of Law's postgraduate office on the third floor of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), located in Lincoln's Inn Fields.

About the School

The School of Law

The School of Law is part of Queen Mary University of London, a member of both the University of London and the Russell Group. The School was ranked 7th in the UK and 32nd in the world by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, and 10th in the UK and 50th in world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 by subject.

The School of Law has consistently been ranked in the top 10 law schools in the UK for the quality of our research and teaching, and many of our internationally recognised staff act as advisers to governments, industry and NGOs, both nationally and internationally.

The School's central focus is on the role of law and its institutions in contemporary international society. The School of Law is divided into two organisational units: the Department of Law and the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS). The School of Law hosts the largest and most diverse LLM programme in the UK.

 

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School of Law

Career paths

This programme will give you the opportunity to apply your learning to your own practice. This PGCert will bolster your current career and your employability. If you choose to explore your career options, we have dedicated law careers advisers who organise events and internship opportunities with top UK and international law firms. More activities in relation to that will be organised during the induction activities week.

Fees and funding

Part-time study

September 2025 | 9 months

Conditional deposit

Home: Not applicable

Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits

Funding

There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.

School of Law scholarships

The School of Law offers a range of scholarships for Law Masters programmes each year. Full details are made available on the law funding page from October – November each year.

Other sources of funding

Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:

Entry requirements

UK

Degree requirements

A 2:2 or above at undergraduate level in any subject.

Other routes

Applicants without a Bachelor degree are also welcome to apply if they fit into the following criteria:

  • A minimum of 5 years of substantial relevant experience in a recognised firm/business prior to the date of the application.
  • Sponsorship and support by a firm/business in the relevant field.  This should be demonstrated by 2 reference letters explaining and justifying the merits of the application.
  • The willingness to participate in an interview to assess the merits of the application, if required, with the Programme Director.

Please note that these applications are assessed on a case by case basis and will need faculty approval. 

Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.

International

English language requirements

All postgraduate programmes in this school have non-standard English language requirements.

For the English language requirements for this course, see programmes with non-standard English language requirements .

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa.

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