Working in Germany as an international student

So, you have made it. You are studying in Germany or are about to do so and are already preparing everything. If necessary, your visa has been organized, you also have your health insurance, you already have your accommodation, so what is still missing?

Perhaps you are planning to work in Germany during your studies. Here we explain why this is a very good idea, what advantages you have in addition to the financial aspect and what you need to know.

Working in Germany possibilities

There are two options for international students to work in Germany:

as a non-EU student, you can work up to 140 full days or 280 half days. A full day is 8 hours, a half day is 4 hours.
you can work up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period and up to 40 hours during the semester break, regardless of whether you are an EU or non-EU student, just like students from Germany.

There is no ‘upper limit’ regarding your income, but you have to pay tax above a certain amount. The current mini-job upper limit is 538 EUR, which means that you do not have to pay tax up to this amount. If you earn more than this, you will need a tax number and would receive tax deductions, but you can get some of this back with your tax form. You are also entitled to the current minimum wage of 12.41 EUR.

Types of employment for students

There are various employment opportunities for both international students and students from Germany.

Working student: As a working student, you can work up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period and up to 40 hours during the semester break. You would also be entitled to holidays and the minimum wage.

Mini job: The upper earnings limit here is currently EUR 538, which is why the hours are of secondary importance. If the minimum wage is maintained, you would currently work around 43 hours a month (if you want to work the maximum). If the hourly wage is higher, you will work correspondingly fewer hours.

Midijob: This is between a mini-job and full-time work. In terms of earnings, you would be correspondingly higher than with a mini-job, but would earn less than part-time or full-time work. The advantage is that you would also be entitled to holiday and compensation in the event of illness. You would also have to pay taxes in this model, but not as much as with a part-time or full-time job.

Self-employed/freelancer: Whether you can work independently or as a freelancer in Germany depends on the work you do and your studies. The foreigners authority can provide better information on your specific case.

Internship: Here you also have the opportunity to earn some money on the side, but you have to differentiate whether an internship is a fixed part of your studies or not. If it is, then you are not entitled to a minimum wage; this is different for a voluntary internship. If your internship lasts longer than three months, you are entitled to the minimum wage.

Opportunities

Of course, you have a lot of advantages with a job alongside your studies, no matter what type of employment you are considering:

You can boost your studies financially.
You get work experiences.
Depending on the job, you can apply knowledge from your studies to your work.
Companies get to know you and may offer you a job straight after your studies.
If you are learning German, you can also improve your German language skills through your work.
You improve your CV.

Of course, it is important to remember that your studies take priority. Most companies also recognise the situation of students and offer more flexible options, for example during the exam period.

Where can I find good jobs for students?

The best place to go for student jobs is stellenwerk. Here you have a wide selection of jobs, both at universities themselves and generally in small and large companies. In addition to working student jobs, you can also find mini-jobs, midi-jobs, internships and even PhD and apprenticeship positions. The Germany-wide network of 18 partner universities offers suitable jobs for everyone, from north to south, from east to west. You don't speak German or are still learning German? No problem! Some positions are also advertised in English.

Take a look right now and you might just find the job of your future.

Working in Germany requirements

If you come from another EU country, you generally have the opportunity to work and study without major restrictions.

In all other cases, it is recommendable to use the Visa Navigator or the Quick Check. Here you can find out directly which conditions you need to fulfil in order to work in Germany. Depending on nationality, reason for residence and duration of stay, there may be deviations, which is why direct contact is best if anything is unclear.

It is also a good idea to inform yourself about the possibility of working in Germany before your stay, even if this is not absolutely necessary in most cases, good preparation is better than time-consuming follow-up work.

Where can I get help?

There are various ways of obtaining all the important information about possible employment before you arrive in Germany. No matter where you come from, you can get help worldwide with questions about your studies, work and other matters.

Studying and working in Germany: Health insurance

As you also need health insurance to study in Germany, you do not need to take out additional health insurance to work in Germany alongside your studies. Most health insurance companies offer special packages for international students, which are also multilingual and can be arranged from abroad.

What are you waiting for?

If you have the opportunity to work in Germany during your studies, you should do so. You will not only earn money and gain work experience. You might find your dream company and get to know the German working world at the same time.

Viel Erfolg und alles Gute für Deinen Aufenthalt in Deutschland!

(Good luck and all the best for your stay in Germany!)