Eligibility

Q. Who may participate in the Internship program?

A. Our internships are open to current college juniors and seniors, recent graduates, graduate students, and beginning museum professionals. Interns must have incoming junior (third year) status at college. There are no exceptions. Learn about MoMA's High School Internship Program.

Q. Do I have to be currently enrolled as a student to be eligible for an internship?

A. No. The Internship Program is geared toward both current students and recent graduates.

Q. Can international students participate in the Internship Program?

A. Yes, many international students participate in the Internship Program. The Museum will sponsor you with a J-1 trainee or intern visa if you are accepted into the program and are otherwise eligible for the visa. Eligibility and restrictions vary depending on previous visas issued and country of origin, among other factors. If you have questions, refer to the U.S. Department of State website or contact the U.S. embassy in your country of residence. Do not contact MoMA with questions concerning eligibility or restrictions. Please note that acquiring a J-1 visa takes approximately four to six weeks.

International applicants are also responsible for obtaining their own health insurance for the duration of their stay.

All interns are expected to be proficient in speaking, reading and writing the English language. TOEFL scores need not be submitted.

Q. Can I apply for more than one internship term at the same time?

A. In most cases, no. We will only consider you for one internship at a time. And, we do not review applications in advance of that term's application deadline. However, you may apply for the Fall and Twelve-Month Internship programs at the same time, as the application deadlines for both of these programs are the same. You need not send in two separate applications—simply check both the Fall and Twelve-Month options on the top of the application form. You may also apply to the Spring program and the Carole Kismaric Mikolaycak Internship at the same time.

Applications

Q. How long should my essays be?

A. Each essay should be no more than one page (single- or double spaced). The total of your three essays should be no longer than three pages.

Q. Is there a specific format for letters of recommendation that my recommender should follow?

A. We do not have a format or form we provide or require. Letters can be as short as one paragraph or as long as two or three pages. If the author has professional stationery, the letter should be written or typed on letterhead. Many recommenders prefer to seal the envelope across the back and sign it, but this is not required. Letters should state the relation between the candidate and the recommender, who may be a professor, advisor, employer, former employer, or internship coordinator. The letter should explain how long the recommender has known the applicant (for two semesters, for three years, etc.), and what makes this candidate qualified for an internship at MoMA. The letter should describe the applicant's strengths, talents, and level of experience, as he or she sees them. Letters can be more specific for applications to a particular department or more general, suggesting the ability to work in several departments. We are looking for the demonstration of responsibility, intelligence, certain skills, and maturity. The recommender should be honest and help us assess whether the applicant would be a good fit for, and get something out of, an internship at the museum. If you are an international applicant, you may send a letter of recommendation that is not written in English, but it is helpful to include a translation of the letter. All recommendation letters should be addressed to the Internship Coordinator. This title is sufficient.

Q. What is a transcript?

A. A transcript is a list of the courses you have taken at university and graduate school, with grades or marks received. This can be obtained by contacting the registrar or the Office of Student Records at your university. Some transcripts may also be obtained online, depending on your university's policy. You may send an official or an unofficial transcript. Photocopies of originals are acceptable.

Q. Can transcripts and letters of recommendation be sent separately from the application?

A. No. The Museum will only review complete applications. All application materials should be compiled by you and mailed in one package by the application deadline. No exceptions will be made and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Q. Should I submit additional materials with my application, such as writing samples, slides, or exhibition catalogues?

A. No. You should only submit the materials listed in the How to Apply section. The only exception applies to applicants to the Graphic Design and Retail departments. These applicants must submit five design samples on CD-ROM (2 CD copies) that do not need to be returned. These samples will be reviewed by the department with your application.

Q. May I submit my application by e-mail or fax?

A. No. Please mail your application materials together in one package.

Q. May I submit my application before the deadline?

A. Yes. You may submit your applications before the deadline. However, the Museum will not review applications until after the application deadline.

Q. Is the application deadline the date by which the application must be received or the date by which the application must be postmarked?

A. The application deadline refers to the date by which your application must be postmarked. It is not necessary to submit your application via express mail.

About the Internship Program

Q. Can I do an internship at the Museum during alternate dates, for example during winter break in January?

A. No. The Internship Program only hires interns for the set dates of the Fall, Spring, Summer, and Twelve-Month Internships. We can only accommodate for interns who are able to work during our program times. There are no unpaid, volunteer positions.

Q. How many interns do you accept into each program?

A. Typically, the Museum hires about ten Twelve-Month Interns each year and twenty-five to thirty interns for each of the Spring, Fall, and Summer terms.

Q. If I am accepted into a program, may I defer my acceptance to a future program?

A. No, the Museum hires interns for specific projects that change from term to term. You may reapply for a future program using the same application for up to one year.

Q. May I participate in more than one internship at The Museum of Modern Art?

A. No. Those who have already participated in an internship at The Museum of Modern Art are not eligible to apply for future programs.

Q. What types of projects will I be working on?

A. Internship projects are based on Museum needs and requirements, and assigned to interns with the appropriate skills and interests. All internships have some administrative component to them.

Q. Do you offer internships in the General Counsel and Finance departments?

A. No. Neither of these departments offer internships, and will not do so in the future.

Q. Is it possible to receive academic credit for participating in the Internship Program?

A. Yes. The Museum provides letters of reference and necessary documentation, so that interns may arrange for academic credit through their schools.

The Selection Process

Q. Do you conduct interviews before accepting applicants into the program?

A. Yes. Select candidates will be contacted to set up an interview, which may be conducted either in person or over the telephone, depending on your proximity to New York. All candidates that are accepted into the Internship Program will be interviewed.

Q. Do you conduct informational interviews?

A. Because of the volume of internship applications, in addition to the number of people interested in the Internship program, we just don't have time to meet with people until they have been selected for interviews. If we decide to schedule an interview with you, we will contact you and ask you about your availability.

Q. If I am accepted into the program, does the Museum provide housing?

A. No. The Internship Department has a list of suggested housing, which consists primarily of hostels and student housing. We can send you a copy of the suggested housing list, but it is up to internship candidates to arrange for their own housing and accommodations.

Q. If I am not accepted into the Internship program, can I reapply?

A. Yes. To reapply, you will need to resubmit a complete application. Due to extremely high volume, we are no longer keeping past applications on file.

Q. Are there volunteer opportunities at MoMA independent of the Internship Program?

A. Please contact Megan Murphy, Volunteer Program Manager, at megan_murphy@moma.org for information about volunteering at MoMA. Note that MoMA does not generally take on volunteers for the summer or for periods of less than a year.

More questions?
If you still need additional information about the Internship Program after reading the Frequently Asked Questions, please e-mail internships@moma.org.