Student Jobs

Student working in the library
Student working in the library

Many students in Germany fund their studies with part-time jobs. However, there are a few rules and regulations you need to keep in mind when looking for work.

Number of Working Days

International students who are EU or EEA nationals are allowed to work as many days per year as they like in Germany.

International students who are not EU or EEA nationals are allowed to work 120 full or 240 half days per calendar year (between January 1st  and December 31 of any particular year). They cannot be self-employed or work freelance. International students who wish to work for longer periods than 120 days need to apply for approval from the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners’ Registration Authority).

Internships and work placements that form an integral part of a degree programme or that are essential to achieve educational objectives are exempt from the 120-day-rule. These internships or work placements are not regarded as periods of employment but as part of the curriculum.

Different regulations may apply to students who are enrolled in preparatory or language courses prior to a degree programme. If you are taking part in one of these programmes, please check your particular residence permit, as days on which you are allowed to work may be restricted to weekends or holidays only. If in doubt, please check with your local Ausländerbehörde.

Further information can be found on the website of Bundesagentur für Arbeit

Finding student jobs

If you are looking for work, check the notice boards at your university, which are used to advertise student jobs. Most universities also run virtual notice boards on their websites. You could also check the classified sections in local newspapers (both online and offline) or visit the job pages of the Agentur für Arbeit.