The Pre-Internship at a Glance

 

Submit certificates and applications online

From now on, certificates and applications can be submitted online to the internship office of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

 

In order to be eligible for enrollment in the Bachelor's degree programs of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the following admission requirements must be met.

Degree Program

Mandatory
Pre-Internship

Duration
Civil Engineering (B.Sc.) yes 4
Civil Engineering with Orientation Semester (BIOS) - Civil Engineering Plus Subprogramme (B.Sc.) yes 4
Environmental Engineering (B.Sc.) yes 4
Movility and Transport / Tranport Engineering and Mobility (B.Sc.)

no

-
Business Administration and Engineering (B.Sc.): Civil Engineering yes 4

Detailed information about the pre-internship can be found in the examination regulations of the degree program (the examination regulations can be found under the Official Announcements section of the RWTH Aachen University website).

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a pre-internship?

If you don't know any construction companies in your area, a good place to start is to ask directly at a construction site near you. We cannot give you explicit internship positions because we do not know your local requirements.

What are construction work activities?

Construction trades activities include activities directly on the construction site. The purpose of the internship is to get to know what happens on the construction site. Activities in the office or building inspections are not included. 

Exemplary activities that are recognized:

  • Formwork and reinforcement works
  • concreting works
  • bricklaying works
  • carpentry works
  • earthworks, civil engineering and road works
  • Repair works of structures

 

Example activities that are not recognized:

  • electrical installations
  • Heating and/or plumbing installations
  • Window installations
  • Carpentry work
  • Plastering work

Will my vocational training be recognized as a pre-study internship?

Application with professional experience in a field relevant to the desired study program can submit a written Application to the Examination Board for recognition of their professional activity as a pre-internship.

You are required to submit the letter of approval during enrollment at the Registrar's Office of RWTH Aachen University.

Can I complete the pre-internship abroad?

Yes, it is possible to complete the pre-internship abroad. You will be recognized for the internship as long as the internship guidelines (see below downloads) are followed. The internship certificate must be issued in German or English.

Can I split the pre-internship into several internships?

You can complete your pre-internship in several companies and different time periods. The important thing is that you complete a total of four weeks of pre-internship in accordance with the guidelines

I did not complete my pre-internship by the time I enrolled, what do I need to do?

If it is not possible to complete a pre-internship by the time of enrollment, an application for postponement of the pre-internship (see below downloads) must be submitted to the Internship Office. The positive decision of the Internship Office must be presented at the time of enrollment.

Can I postpone the pre-internship?

Yes, the pre-internship can be postponed. If you have not yet found an internship position, you must apply to the Internship Office to postpone the pre-internship (see below downloads). We recommend that you complete the internship before your studies. Experience has shown that it is difficult for students to find time for an internship in addition to their daily study routine. In addition, it is useful for your studies to know the construction site work.

By when do I have to have made up the pre-internship?

You must have submitted the pre-internship to the Internship Office at least six months before registering your Bachelor thesis.

Is a postponement always approved?

Normally, the postponement is approved. We recommend that you complete the internship before your studies. Experience has shown that it is difficult for students to find time for an internship in addition to their daily study routine. In addition, it is useful for your studies to know the construction site work.

Is there a template for the internship certificate?

There is no explicit template. Please pay attention to the following things that your internship certificate must contain:

  • List of your activities (in bullet points).
  • Period of the internship + days absent
  • Signature of the supervising person as well as logo/stamp of the company