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How to get up to speed on student jobs in Germany before your first semester starts
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Germany’s Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz, or Immigration Act for Skilled Workers, is attracting job seekers, including international students, to the country. The law aims to address labor shortages by improving opportunities for international students to work before, during, and after their studies. Changes introduced in March 2024 benefit students, allowing them to work up to 20 hours per week during a nine-month visa period for study applications and increasing the annual workday cap for enrolled students. Graduates can now apply for a German skilled worker visa if they want to pursue a career different from their field of study. Part-time job options for students include minijobs, student assistant positions, Werkstudent roles, and paid internships, with most jobs paying the minimum wage of 12.41 euros per hour.
Germany’s Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz, or Immigration Act for Skilled Workers (FEG), is a mouthful. But the law is making the country more attractive to job seekers of all kinds – including university students from abroad.
The German government’s skilled worker strategy (Fachkräftestrategie) highlights the importance of attracting international students to the German labor market. Government officials hope that improving opportunities for international students to work prior, during, and after their studies will help Germany address labor shortages in many sectors.
And indeed, the law’s new measures are starting to draw even more students from beyond the country’s borders.
The law came into force on March 1, 2020. Even before stipulations affecting foreign students began to be phased in over the past year, university enrollment of international students had been rising steadily. In the 2022–23 academic year, it reached a record high of 367,578 – up 5 percent from the previous year.
But with so many changes being introduced so quickly, prospective students understandably have some questions about jobs and studying.
The first phase of Germany’s new Skilled Immigration Act focused on attracting skilled talent to Germany. The latest phase, effective March 1, 2024, introduced some changes that will benefit students. It introduced new regulations regarding international students’ work rights, visas, and work permits.
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The changes will widely impact students enrolled at German universities as well as those seeking placement in other study and preparatory programs, including language training. Overall, the goal of the new regulations is to allow students to gain work experience with German employers and achieve financial stability while studying.
The new visa for study applications (Visum zur Studienbewerbung) permits non-EU nationals to visit Germany for up to nine months while preparing to apply to a university. During this time, applicants can learn about the country and complete language courses in either German or English.
Moreover, prospective students can now also finance their stay during these initial nine months by working up to 20 hours per week. (Formerly, they could enter the country for a nine-month stay but weren’t allowed to work.) Similar changes have also been made for people interested in doing an apprenticeship (Berufsausbildung) in Germany.
The new regulations also make life easier for internationals already enrolled at German universities. Although most public universities in the country charge no or low tuition fees, many students still find they do need to support themselves with some type of part-time job – especially in more expensive cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Berlin.
To make this easier, the annual workday cap for international students has been increased from 120 full days (or 240 half days) to 140 full days (or 280 half days).
In other words, students can work on average 20 hours a week instead of the previous 10. During semester breaks, moreover, students are allowed to work full-time.
Even before the new law went into effect, those from abroad were allowed to stay in the country for up to 18 months to look for employment after earning German university degrees. And until they found a job related to their studies, they could take jobs in gastronomy or other sectors to support themselves. Once a graduate secured a job in Germany, they were also eligible to apply for permanent residence after two years of employment.
That all stays the same. But now, graduates who want to pursue a career in a field other than what they studied can apply for a German skilled worker visa (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer qualifizierten Beschäftigung), also called an EU Blue Card.
This change is significant, as many people change their career goals after graduation. Internationals now have the flexibility to do so without risking their visa status.
Part-time jobs, also called minijobs in Germany, are most popular with university students. With earnings strictly limited to 538 euros a month, such jobs might require something in the ballpark of 10 hours a week. The good news: Whether the local movie theater or the supermarket down the street, such jobs are now more accessible than ever to students from abroad.
Another option, though one harder to come by, is to land a job within your university as a student assistant for a professor or in a department that interests you. These coveted jobs involve competing with Germans; but they’re terrific for your résumé.
Don’t worry. There are other options on campus, too. For example, you can apply to be a Werkstudent: that is, working up to 20 hours a week doing specific tasks within a particular university department. You’ll find plenty of these positions on your university’s online listings.
Step ahead: The Student Guide
You can also try for a paid internship (Praktikum). These typically last from three to six months and require students to work full-time – something full-time students find tricky to schedule without taking a semester’s leave. But the work experience can be invaluable.
Research what companies in your field of study are located in the city where you’ll be based. This will give you a good idea of where to apply. Two first places to look are your university’s career services office and the German federal employment agency’s website (www.arbeitsagentur.de/en). By the way: Most part-time student jobs in Germany pay the current minimum wage. It was set at 12.41 euros an hour as of January 1, 2024. Happy hunting!
1. Student Assistant
Work at a profile related to your field of study
10 to 17 euros (an hour)

2. Tutor
If you excel at your field, guide other students and get paid to do so
12 to 15 euros

3. Courier
Deliver goods directly to customers’ doorsteps
9 to 12 euros

4. Waiter
Working at cafes, bars, and restaurants is common among students
7 to 10 euros
5. Office Assistant
Answer phone calls and emails and attend to visitors
10 to 12 euros
6. Industrial Production Assistant
Usually responsible for ensuring the smooth working of machinery and equipment
10 to 12 euros
7. Retail assistant
Assist customers in choosing items for themselves
9 to 10 euros

8. Babysitter
If you’re good with children and enjoy their company, be a sitter
9 to 12 euros

9. Field Interviewer
Conduct surveys, polls, and research for private companies
18 to 20 euros

Source: Yocket Study Abroad
 

Germany’s Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz, or Immigration Act for Skilled Workers (FEG), is a mouthful. But the law is making the country more attractive to job seekers of all kinds – including university students from abroad.
The German government’s skilled worker strategy (Fachkräftestrategie) highlights the importance of attracting international students to the German labor market. Government officials hope that improving opportunities for international students to work prior, during, and after their studies will help Germany address labor shortages in many sectors.
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