Fall- and Spring-Semester Internships for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

The Met has over forty department areas that host interns from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. For example, students majoring in computer science might apply to intern in our Digital or Information Systems & Technology departments. Engineering students might be interested in our Buildings and Construction Department. Art history and other humanities students gain valuable experience in curatorial departments, as well as Editorial, Education, and Development. Studio art, design, or photography majors have thrived in areas like Digital, Design, or Imaging. Our Department of Scientific Research welcomes students with a strong background in science.

Interns may also be placed at The Met Cloisters to work on education, library, or curatorial projects. The departmental placement is onsite at The Met Cloisters, but these interns participate fully in orientation and all other intern activities and programs at The Met Fifth Avenue. If you have a specific interest in The Met Cloisters, select this museum area (along with any additional areas that interest you) on your application.

Learn about the possible internship placement areas at The Met.

Interns commit to 140 hours during the ten-week program, usually scheduled on two days per week between Monday and Friday.

Interns' work days are arranged on mutually convenient days for both the intern and supervisor. All interns must be available to participate in the internship program seminar on Fridays from 11 am to 12 pm (EST), which counts towards the required hours.

Fall Internship Program dates: Third week of September through the first week of December (with one week off during the week of Thanksgiving)
Spring Internship Program dates: Second week of February through the third week of April

$20 per hour

Internships are available to:

• Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a degree-granting program
• Recent graduates of an undergraduate or graduate program who have graduated no more than twelve months before the application deadline
• PhD students within the first two years of their program, provided that they have not yet achieved candidacy. PhD candidates are not eligible for internships. If you are unsure about your PhD student eligibility, contact us at collegeprograms@metmuseum.org.

Former interns: If you have been an undergraduate or graduate intern at The Met, you are eligible to reapply, provided you have not already completed twelve months or three semesters as an intern. Former interns who have completed a one-semester internship are still eligible to apply for The Met's long-term internships for recent graduates.

Current interns: Supervisors may apply to the Education Department to renew the internship of a current intern for the same project or department. Current interns who wish to be considered for an internship in another department must reapply.

Preprogram conservation internships: If you are no longer a student or recent graduate and are looking for a preprogram internship in a conservation department in order to apply to a graduate conservation program, contact us at collegeprograms@metmuseum.org to inquire about your eligibility.

Undergraduate and graduate internships at the Museum are open to international applicants. Interns are responsible for ensuring that they have valid legal status under applicable U.S. visa regulations while participating in the Museum's paid internship program. All interns must have valid U.S. work authorization. Although the Museum acts as your host institution, the Museum does not sponsor visas for interns. If you require a visa, you may be eligible to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 visa program), by going through an outside agency that has been authorized by the State Department to sponsor a J-1 trainee visa. These sponsors are responsible for supporting and monitoring foreign nationals during their exchange programs in the United States. Note: The J-1 visa program currently requires that interns work 32 hours per week; for this reason, individuals requiring a J-1 visa should only apply to the full-time summer MuSe Internship Program, not the fall or spring internship.

If you are an international student at a U.S. college or university, please consult your school's international office for guidance on how to participate in a paid internship program. If you are a student at a non-U.S. college or university, we recommend that you consult with the U.S. embassy in your home country to determine which visa will allow you to participate in this internship. Please be aware that obtaining a visa is usually a lengthy process and can cost upwards of US$1,500; it must be completed well in advance of the internship start date. If you are offered an internship but do not have your visa and work authorization before the start date of the program, your internship will be canceled.

Due to the global pandemic, additional restrictions are in place regarding visas and travel. Please check the U.S. Department of State website for current information.

• All interns are employed by The Met and must have valid U.S. work authorization. If you are not a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident with authorization to live and work in the U.S., please see “International Applicants” above.
• As employees of The Met, all interns must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.