Engineering may be defined as the application of scientific principles to practical purposes. Engineering is a very broad field and there are many areas that you can choose to specialize in. The six main areas of engineering are Civil Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Industrial Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering. There are also many specializations within these areas. Engineering students may undertake an engineering internship in any of these fields. Internships are temporary positions in the engineering department of a company or organization. They generally last for a few months and are usually completed after the second or third year of study although some companies are happy to take on interns after they have completed their first year. Interns usually work part-time around their studies during the academic year and full-time in the summer. Some companies pay their interns an hourly rate but often internships are unpaid positions. In some cases, the company may provide a stipend for expenses such as transport or food. Internships are extremely valuable as you get the chance to see how the engineering theories you have studied are applied in real life. You have the opportunity to work on projects and assignments that are important to the company with your own responsibilities assigned to you. You can also gain academic credit for a successful internship. Interns gain valuable hands-on experience through working with professionals. Internships are an excellent way of getting your foot in the door of leading companies and making valuable contacts by proving your abilities. Many companies choose to offer their former intern’s full-time employment on graduation as their previous experience in the company makes the learning curve considerably shorter.