Internships for College and Graduate Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any internship opportunities for high school students?
Yes. For more information, please see high school internships.

Can I apply for more than one internship?
Yes, you can apply for more than one internship. Read the descriptions for each internship carefully and make sure that you qualify.

Is the $35.00 processing fee mandatory?
Yes. An application without payment will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Certain exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Internship Coordinator.

If I apply to more than one internship program, will I be required to pay an additional $35.00 fee for each program?
No. The Museum charges a $35.00 processing fee per applicant, not per program.

If I apply to the Internship for College Students internship in the Main Building and also to The Cloisters Summer Internship Program, will I be required to pay an additional $35.00 fee?
No. The Museum charges a $35.00 processing fee per applicant, not per program.

Can a current sophomore apply to the Paid Internship for College Students in the Main Building (even if he/she will be a junior in the summer)?
No, you must currently be a junior or senior in college when submitting your application for the Internship for College Students. However, current sophomores are eligible to apply for the Mentoring Program. Freshmen and sophomores can apply to The Cloisters Summer Internship.

What is the difference between the Internship for College Students and the Mentoring Program for College Juniors?
Participants in the Mentoring Program are partnered with a Museum mentor in addition to a supervisor in their host department. The Mentoring Program is designed to encourage college juniors from diverse backgrounds to pursue museum careers.

Will I need to intern on weekends during the paid summer program?
Yes. Interns in the Summer College and Mentoring Program will conduct tours and assist at the Information Desk on weekends. However, interns will not be required to assist in the Museum more than thirty-five hours per week.

I have graduated from college but I am not yet in graduate school. Am I considered a college or graduate student?
To be considered for the Internships for Graduate Students, you must have completed at least one year of graduate school before the internship begins. If you have finished college within the past year and are not enrolled in graduate school, then you qualify for the Internship for College Students.

What departments currently have internship openings?
Individual departmental openings are not specified for any paid or unpaid positions. The Internship Office will determine the appropriate placements for all applicants.

As a graduating college senior, am I eligible for The Cloisters Summer Internship for College Students?
No, you must be returning to college following your internship.

Do I need to be an art history or medieval studies major to be eligible for The Cloisters Summer Internship for College Students?
No, we welcome applications from students of varied interests and backgrounds. Students who have taken at least one art history course, preferably covering medieval material, will present a stronger application.

Do I need to be an art history major to be eligible for the Mentoring Program for College Juniors?
No, we welcome applications from students of varied interests and backgrounds.

Can I apply for an internship in the Counsel's Office?
The Counsel's Office occasionally offers one unpaid, full-time legal internship in the summer. Typically, the legal intern has just completed his or her first year in law school.

As a foreign intern, am I responsible for obtaining a visa?
Yes, non-U.S. citizens must offer proof that they are legally permitted to undertake an internship in the United States.

If I am accepted into a program, does the Museum provide housing?
No. The Museum does not provide housing. If you are accepted into a program, it is your responsibility to arrange for your own housing and accommodations.

If I am not accepted, may I re-apply the following year?
Yes, please send a new, up-to-date application if you are still eligible.

Is it possible to have a telephone interview?
No. In order to be considered, all those applicants who are invited for an interview must come to The Metropolitan Museum of Art or to The Cloisters during March for an in-person interview. In the event of extenuating circumstances, the Internship Coordinator may make exceptions to this requirement.

How many interns are accepted into the paid program?
Approximately forty interns are selected each year for the summer and long-term paid internships. Eight interns are selected for The Cloisters Summer Internship.

Will I be notified when my application is received?
Yes. Once your application is received, we will send you a confirmation email.

Do I need to submit recommendations and transcripts with my initial application?
If you are applying for a paid internship for college and graduate students, you do not. Only semifinalists are required to send official transcripts. We will contact your recommenders directly with further instructions. The Cloisters Summer Internship requires all official transcript(s) and academic recommendations to be postmarked by January 15, 2010, the same due date as the online application form.

Can my recommendations and transcripts be sent after the deadline?
No. We will not accept any materials after the deadline.

Can my professors email their recommendations?
If you are applying for a paid internship for college and graduate students, professors will receive an email from the Museum with instructions for electronic submission of recommendations. If you are applying for a Cloisters Summer Internship, professors must send signed and sealed recommendations by U.S. mail directly to The Cloisters by January 15, 2010.

How should I send my official transcripts?
If you are applying for a paid internship for college and graduate students and are selected as a semifinalist, you must request your university registrar to send your official transcripts in a sealed envelope directly to the Museum's Internship Office. We will not accept a transcript printed from the web or photocopied. If you are applying for a Cloisters Summer Internship, you must request your official transcript(s) to be sent in a sealed envelope to The Cloisters by January 15, 2010.

Do graduate applicants need to submit undergraduate transcripts?
Yes, graduate applicants must send both graduate and undergraduate transcripts.

If I transferred from one college to another, do I need to submit transcripts from both schools?
Yes, please submit official transcripts from both colleges.

Do I need to send my high school transcript for The Cloisters Summer Internship?
Yes. For applicants currently in the first or second year of college, we require both your high school and college transcripts. If your college transcript records at least two years of course grades, this is sufficient.

May I submit a work recommendation instead of an academic recommendation?
No. We require two academic recommendations.

May I submit my application before the deadline?
Yes. You may apply as soon as application forms are available on this website.

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions thoroughly before submitting an email inquiry. Thank you.

For all other questions regarding internships for college and graduate students at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (located on Fifth Avenue), email your inquiries to mmainterns@metmuseum.org.

For all other questions regarding The Cloisters Internship Program, email your inquiries to cloistersinterns@metmuseum.org.

For all other questions regarding the Mentoring Program for College Juniors, email your inquiries to audience.development@metmuseum.org.