The MTA is Going Your Way – greener
The Internship Program– Our History and Your Future
Goals and Benefits
Program Qualifications and Requirements
How to Apply
Additional Programs for Students
Current Projects and Positions
Photo Gallery of Students

• Public transit keeps 700,000 cars out of New York Central Business District each day. 
• About 400 million fewer pounds of soot, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and other toxic substances get released each year into the city's air because of public transit use.
• NYC Transit diesel buses use ultra-low sulfur fuel and special filters to decrease pollutants.
• Our fleet of more than 1,000 hybrid-electric buses is the largest in the world.
• We also operate more than 450 CNG (compressed natural gas) buses.
• Nearly 1,800 retired subway cars serve as marine life habitats in five states as part of the National Artificial Reef Plan.
• More than 69,500 tons of metal, glass, plastic and paper from train yards, bus depots and other Transit facilities were recycled through Resource Recovery programs in 2008.
• Some of our bus and subway maintenance facilities have washing systems that capture and recycle rainwater to wash subway cars and buses.
• Photovoltaic panels in several buildings use solar energy for much of their heat and electricity.

Green roof plants, installed on the rebuilt Signals crew quarters,
Dept. of Subways’ East 180 St Yard, help cool the building in summer,
absorb CO2 from the air, and reduce storm-water runoff to help
alleviate urban flooding.

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New York City Transit established its Internship Program in 1981 and currently has a partnership with more than 100 colleges and universities throughout New York City and the Tri-State area, the East Coast and Puerto Rico. Internships include paid (college aide) and unpaid (intern) projects.  The program has been a success for NYC Transit, colleges, universities and students.  We have hired a considerable number of participants after graduation.

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Program Goals

• Provide a challenging and practical work experience, mentoring students with varied backgrounds, school disciplines and interests.
• Offer students opportunities to develop self-confidence while testing career options.
• Establish close relationships with the academic community, resulting in a “win-win” situation for everyone.
• Create a talent base of prospective employees for MTA New York City Transit.

Student Benefits

• Obtain valuable work experience desirable in the job market.
• Establish and reach goals for career development.
• Explore career options.
• Get a mentor and an opportunity to establish a network of professionals in your chosen career field.
• Receive internship credit (contingent upon school program).
• Travel free on local buses and the subways throughout New York City at all times.

Choose from a Wide Range of Disciplines

• Accounting
• Architecture
• Business Administration
• Communications: Broadcast Journalism; Television; Video; Film Production
• Computer Science: Information Technology, Telecommunications
• Criminal Justice
• Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, Environmental, Civil/Structural, Chemical, Systems
• Finance
• Graphics
• Human Resources
• Journalism
• Labor Relations
• Law
• Marketing
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Transportation Management
• Urban Transportation Planning

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Intern – Unpaid Positions

• You must be a junior, senior, or graduate student, enrolled either part-time or full-time in an accredited college or university.
• Interns work a minimum of 14 hours a week (at least 4 consecutive hours per day) throughout the year.
• Students pursuing an associate’s degree at a two-year college must have at least 48/50 credits and need an internship as a requirement for graduating in the semester in which the internship is being done.  Various situations exist according to the college attended and will therefore be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• International/F1 students are eligible to participate.

Although intern positions do not offer salaries, there are many benefits

• Gain valuable training because you work with a mentor.
• Participate in projects and weigh career options.
• Establish a network for future employment opportunities.
• Demonstrate your potential to any recruiter who sees NYC Transit "hands-on" experience on a resume.

College Aide – Paid Positions

• You must be a full-time student (undergraduate, 12 credits; graduate, 6 credits), enrolled in a degree program in an accredited college or university as a junior, senior, or graduate student.
• College Aides work part time (20 hours a week, at least four consecutive hours per day) during the academic year; they may work full time (35 hours a week) during the January winter break and in summer.
• Undergraduate students must have 60 credits to qualify, and maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
• First-semester graduate students must have received an overall 2.5 GPA during their last semester as undergraduates.

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New students must begin the qualification process with their career services advisor by providing the following original documents within a specific time frame (generally six – eight weeks) prior to the semester in which they are applying (fall, spring, summer). The schedule is e-mailed to all advisors on our list of schools. Advisors may email studentprograms@nyct.com to be added to the list.

• Employment Eligibility Verification Documents required by Department of Homeland Security 
• Original Bursar’s receipt and class schedule for the current or following semester, as applicable. Students applying for the summer semester should submit bursar's receipt and class schedule for the upcoming fall semester, if available.
• Unofficial transcript (for pre-qualification purposes only); an official transcript is required for acceptance and employment processing.
• Up-to-date resume

After completing the pre-qualification process, the school advisor or coordinator must send an e-mail to studentprograms@nyct.com stating that the student is ready to complete the qualification process with NYC Transit’s Educational Resources Unit.  Students will be eligible to apply online only after completing both stages of the qualification process. Online resumes received from anyone who applies without going through this process will not be considered.

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The Corps of Transit (CTE) Program is a paid, part-time training program during the school year, and a full-time program during the summer; the purpose of the CTE program is to create full-time employment opportunities for students who, upon graduation, have completed their assignment(s) successfully. Therefore, to be qualified to participate in the Corps of Transit Engineers Program, the applicant must be ready, willing and able to accept full-time employment upon graduation from college.

Please note: NYC Transit does not sponsor H1-B1 applications for employment or applications for permanent citizenship.

Cooperative Education Program

The Cooperative Education Program is a paid training program intended to create full-time employment opportunities for students who have successfully completed their assignments. Therefore, to be qualified to participate in the Cooperative Education Program, the applicant must be ready, willing and able to accept full-time employment upon graduation from college.

Please note: NYC Transit does not sponsor H1-B1 applications for employment or applications for permanent citizenship.

We need students with these majors:

• Architecture
• Civil/Structural Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Journalism/English
• Mechanical Engineering

For more information about the Co-op Program, click here.

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Click here for a list and description of opportunities.

Photo Gallery of Students

Pictured (left to right): Liviu Vlaiconi, Menadevi Garrett, Kyle Daniels, Jude Elie,
Carol Williams, Shanti Mcghee, Gurpreet Kaur

More photos of program participants, present and past