What international students need to consider
There are many opportunities for international students in Germany to earn money while studying. For example, as a waiter, as a research/student assistant (HiWi, SHK, assistant) or as a tutor. However, there are certain restrictions and regulations that must be observed.
General information about jobbing will you find on our page Information regarding the student job.
In the following, we summarise what international students in particular should also bear in mind.
Students from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have free access to the German labour market and are practically equal with German students. However, if you work more than 20 hours per week, you must (like German students) pay social security contributions in certain cases. You can find more information on this on our information about student jobs page under "What is the working student privilege".
Special legal regulations apply to students from other countries:
If you are from a third country, you usually have a visa for study purposes in accordance with Section 16b of the Residence Act. This allows you to accumulate a total of 140 full days per calendar year on your work day account alongside your studies. There are different options for this:
1. you actually work 140 full days (more than 4 hours) or 280 half days (up to 4 hours) or
2. you work up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period. You can work an unlimited number of hours during the lecture-free period. In this case, each week worked counts as 2.5 working days.
It is not necessary for you to work exclusively according to one of the two options throughout the year.
Example: You generally work according to option 2, but during the lecture period you work more than 20 hours for a week, for example 6 hours on 4 days. This is not a problem with regard to your working day account. In this case, the calendar week in question does not count as a lump sum of 2.5 working days. In this case, the 4 days actually worked are counted. Four full days are credited to your working day account.
Please note: If you work more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period, this may affect your social security obligations. You can find information on this on our page Information about student jobs under "What is the working student privilege".
No matter how you fill your workday account, at the end of the year it is important that you have not worked more than 140 full days in total without the approval of the Immigration Office. It is therefore important that you have a good overview of your working days.
If you work as a student or research assistant at the university or as a student assistant at studierendenWERK, these working days are not counted towards your working day account. This rule can also apply to other jobs if they are related to your studies. In these cases, we recommend that you contact the Immigration Office in advance.
Self-employment or freelance work is only possible with the approval of the Immigration Office, unless this approval is already stated on your residence permit or the supplementary sheet.
If you are attending a language course or a preparatory college, the above regulations also apply to you.
The regional contact centres of the Federal Employment Agency often have a job placement service for students. Large universities often have career services that you can contact. You can find online job exchanges on the university websites. One job exchange that is specifically aimed at students is the university job portal stellenwerk.
Sometimes all you need to do is take a look at the university notice boards or the adverts in local and regional newspapers.
Academic/student employees (HiWi, SHK, assistant):
Some students work as academic or student assistants at the university.
For example, they look after the library, run tutorials or research literature for professors.
These jobs are a good complement to your studies. If you are interested, you should enquire about vacancies at the secretary's office of your department and check the university notice boards.
Off campus:
Classic off-campus student jobs include waitressing, working at trade fairs, babysitting and courier services.
There has been a minimum wage in Germany since 2015. This has been 12,42 euros per hour since 1 January 2024.
However, how much you earn often depends on your own (technical) knowledge, the occupational sector and the regional labour market. In cities like Munich and Hamburg, hourly wages are usually higher, but so is the cost of living.
The most important thing first: Do not terminate your employment contract prematurely if you are pregnant!
As a pregnant woman, you and your unborn child are protected by law in the workplace. Employers must ensure that your health and that of your child are not endangered. Night work, lifting heavy loads, handling dangerous chemicals, etc. are taboo. Pregnant women also have special protection against dismissal.
If employers cannot offer a suitable job, pregnant women are usually released from work and receive maternity protection pay. For the period of statutory maternity protection, maternity allowance is available as a wage replacement benefit.
Tip for international students: After the birth, parents with a visa for study purposes also have the possibility to receive family benefits (child benefit, parental allowance, advance maintenance payment) if they cannot (fully) pursue their gainful employment due to parental leave or have an employment contract.
The situations of pregnant people or students with families are very individual. Therefore, it is best to get information from the social counselling service!
Our social workers can also help you find solutions in financial emergencies.
