Yes, all internships are paid. Please see Pay Rates for more information.

MFA Pathways internships are available for both undergraduate and graduate students who have completed their first year of college, including community college, and will be enrolled in a corresponding degree program during the internship period. A limited number of internships may be available to recent graduates. Read each description carefully for specific eligibility criteria.

Requirements vary by department. Please read each internship description thoroughly before applying. Available internships may change every semester based on each department's current needs.

Yes, international students who are eligible and approved for CPT/OPT work for pay in the United States are eligible for the MFA Pathways internships. Applicants must submit a copy of the published description to their visa administrators for approval before applying.

During the interview, international students must indicate that they will be applying to receive CPT/OPT credit.

Once offered an internship, international candidates must immediately provide all agreement documentation required by the CPT/OPT sponsor. All CPT/OPT approvals must be completed before orientation as candidates must present proof of work eligibility, as directed by Human Resources during orientation. (Note: the MFA does not sponsor visas for internships.)

Yes. Before applying, you must (1) provide a copy of the internship description to your advisor for approval, and (2) make all appropriate arrangements with your school to receive credit.

During your interview, you must indicate that you will be applying to receive credit from your institution.

Once offered the internship, you must provide related agreement documentation required by the school to the MFA for appropriate approval and signatures.

Undergraduate-level internships run for one semester unless published as a two-semester position. Graduate-level internships may last one or two semesters. Graduate-level internships and, in limited instances, some post-bacc internships may last one or two semesters. Each description contains detailed information on length, so please read each description carefully. Interns may complete one internship within two calendar years.

Please see Program Dates for all application periods. Applications are reviewed—and hiring decisions made—on a rolling basis for each period. Positions may be removed based on the volume of applications, so apply early.

All properly formatted applications are acknowledged by email within three business days of receipt by the MFA. Improperly formatted materials may not be corrected or resubmitted. Please follow all published instructions carefully.

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by the host department—initially by email, and if necessary, followed up by phone. (Please include your preferred email address and daytime phone number in your cover letter.) Applicants not selected for an interview will be notified by email as soon as possible once the host department makes that decision.

Internships remain posted until the end of the application period unless the position is filled or depending on the overall volume of applications.

Fall and spring internships typically require between 10 and 20 hours per week; summer internships may require between 12 to 35 hours. Review each description carefully to determine the time commitment that the specific internship requires. These required hours include two hours per week for the Museum Pathways and Practices professional development course which meets on Thursdays during the summer, and on Fridays during the fall and spring, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.

The opportunities offered each semester vary from term to term. They are determined by the expected activities and staffing capacity of museum departments. If no opportunity is listed in a particular department of interest for the current semester, there may be one in the following semester. Continue to visit and review the website.

Undergraduate interns are required to participate in the Museum Pathways and Practices course, a series of 8–11 two-hour sessions held on Fridays during the fall and spring, and on Thursdays during the summer. Each session is comprised of (a) informal networking and cohort building among interns, and (b) a presentation by Museum professionals from across the MFA. At the end of the semester, all interns are also required to prepare a short presentation highlighting their internship experience.

Graduate interns are expected to participate in at least five sessions over the semester. Dates for all sessions are announced at the orientation.

All selected interns must attend an orientation session before beginning their internship. Orientation dates and times are included in each description and offer letter. During your interview, you must confirm your availability to attend the orientation.

Internship periods are listed in Program Dates. Individual schedules must be confirmed with mentors when accepting the internship offer. Applicants should note in their cover letter and during their interviews any special circumstances that could affect their start or end dates, as well as participation in the Museum Pathways and Practices course.

Currently, we are able to offer summer interns a modest housing subsidy of $1,500, subject to taxes.

The MFA interns receive a monthly transportation subsidy equal to the cost of a monthly public transit MBTA LinkPass, currently $90, subject to taxes.