The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to experience a real computer science-oriented working environment, either in Hong Kong or overseas; to relate concepts and principles learned from different subject areas to real-world practice; and to apply methods, tools, and techniques from computer science-related disciplines of the programme.

Apart from securing an external internship, students may take the course in the form of a faculty-supervised research project, subject to approval. In such cases, students should not initiate the project themselves. Instead, the project must be initiated by a faculty member, and the student's role is to assist the faculty member in completing the research project, similar to that of a research assistant.