Student Jobs Guide
How to find and apply for working student (Werkstudent) roles.
Not all student work is the same in Germany — understanding the categories before you start looking saves significant confusion later, especially around tax and legal work-hour limits.
Werkstudent vs. Minijob vs. Internship
- Werkstudent — up to 20 hours/week during the semester, tied to your field of study, and the strongest option for building relevant experience.
- Minijob — capped at a modest monthly earnings threshold, often in retail, hospitality or similar sectors, largely tax-free but less relevant to your degree.
- Praktikum (internship) — can be mandatory (part of your curriculum) or voluntary, often full-time during semester breaks, and sometimes unpaid or minimally paid depending on duration and type.
Legal Work-Hour Limits for Non-EU Students
Non-EU students are typically permitted to work up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year without a separate work permit, though rules can vary by individual visa conditions. Always confirm your specific limit with your university's international office or the Ausländerbehörde rather than assuming a general rule applies.
Where to Actually Look
- Your university's Career Service — frequently underused, but often the best-matched listings for students.
- Company career pages directly, particularly for larger employers with structured Werkstudent programs.
- LinkedIn, used actively (applying, messaging, engaging) rather than passively browsing.
- Professor and lab connections, especially for research-adjacent roles in your specific field.
Building an Application That Gets Read
Tailor your CV to the specific role rather than sending an identical version everywhere. Lead with relevant coursework and any hands-on project experience — for a first student role, employers weight potential and relevant preparation more heavily than a long work history you're not expected to have yet.
GSA Career™ covers this entire search process, from understanding which category of work fits your situation to submitting applications that actually get responses.