College students, graduate students, and recent graduates can gain practical museum experience, as well as professional workplace and organizational skills, through part-time and full-time internships at the main building of The Metropolitan Museum of Art throughout the year. These positions require a minimum commitment of twelve hours per week for at least ten weeks. Applicants are placed in departments that have requested assistance for specific projects based on their academic and extracurricular experience, expressed interest in specific departments, and letters of recommendation. The number of positions available varies depending on departmental needs.
In addition to receiving on-the-job training, unpaid interns have the opportunity to interact with one another and members of the Museum community through monthly intern events. These sessions include talks in the galleries and presentations by staff from various departments.
Interns have free admission to the Met, as well as other collections and research libraries in the New York metropolitan area.
Intern Placement
The Museum's need for interns varies throughout the year depending on the special projects and ongoing activities of specific departments. The Internship Office places an intern when an applicant's academic and work experience and statement of interest match the needs of a departmental request. Since these departmental openings vary, please indicate in your application essay whether you are willing to accept any placement that matches your skills should your department choices be unavailable.
Eligibility
This internship is available to matriculated college and master's-degree students, as well as recent graduates of either undergraduate or graduate programs. To be considered a recent graduate, applicants must have graduated no more than one year prior to submitting their application.
Application Process
Please apply using the online application. You will be asked to indicate two departments that you are interested in assisting, list all relevant coursework, and describe why you want to be an intern at the Metropolitan Museum and how your past experience and education support your departmental preferences. You will also be asked to submit a resume describing your past work and internship experience; please include all summer and academic-year paid and volunteer positions.
Note that internships require a minimum commitment of twelve hours per week for at least ten weeks. Academic credit may be arranged for interns at their schools' discretion.
Deadlines
Summer 2013: March 7, 2013 (Notification: April 25, 2013)
Fall 2013: July 18, 2013 (Notification: August 30, 2013)
Spring 2014: November 7, 2013 (Notification: December 12, 2013)
Summer 2014: March 6, 2014 (Notification: April 24, 2014)
Fall 2014: July 17, 2014 (Notification: August 29, 2014)
Transcripts
You will be asked to upload an academic transcript (and English translation, if necessary) from each institution you have attended as part of the online application. Official transcripts will be required for accepted candidates only, and should be mailed to the following address:
Internship Programs
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10028-0198
Recommendation Letters
Two letters of recommendation must be submitted by the recommenders directly to mmainternrecs@metmuseum.org.
Interviews
Interviews for unpaid internships are conducted at each department's discretion. An interview may not be required.
Online Application
Please apply to the unpaid internship program using our online application.
Due to the high volume of applications and interest, the Internship Office does not have the resources or staff to conduct informational interviews. If you have additional questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
