'Part-time Jobs for Students in Germany: Minijob, HiWi, Werkstudent, and

Students in Germany can work part-time while studying, but the rules depend on their citizenship, type of residence permit, type of employment, and course load during the semester. The most common options are Minijob, university work as a HiWi, an internship (Praktikum), a Werkstudent position, and temporary work at events.

The biggest mistake is choosing a job based solely on pay. For students, it’s not just about the money—residence permit limits, social security contributions, tax status, exam schedules, and how the job benefits their future career are all important factors.

How Much Can an International Student Work?

For students from non-EU countries, the rules are usually tied to their residence permit. Following the reform of labor migration regulations, international students in Germany may work up to 140 full or 280 half workdays per year. In some cases, a weekly workload guideline is used instead of counting days, but it is best to check the specific conditions against the wording in your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) and the latest guidance from the relevant authorities.

These rules apply to university students as well as to some preparatory programs, including the Studienkolleg and preparatory language courses taken before enrollment. If the document specifies any special restrictions, follow those guidelines, and if in doubt, check with the Ausländerbehörde.

It’s also important to keep in mind the 20-hour rule for Werkstudentenstatus in the social insurance system: during the lecture period, students typically work no more than 20 hours per week to maintain their preferential student status with Sozialversicherung. Exceptions are possible during breaks, but they must be agreed upon with the employer and documented.

MiniJob

A Minijob is a job that provides a small, regular income. In 2026, the monthly limit for a Minijob is 603 euros. This limit is tied to the minimum wage, so it may change; before signing a contract, it’s a good idea to check the current Geringfügigkeitsgrenze with the Minijob-Zentrale.

Typical Minijob openings:

• waitstaff or barista;
• sales associate;
• kitchen assistant;
• cleaning;
• delivery;
• office assistance;
• simple tasks in a field related to your studies.

If a student has multiple Minijobs, the income is usually combined. If the limit is exceeded, the employment may no longer qualify as a Minijob and may transition to a different status, with corresponding tax and social security implications.

Minijobbers have labor rights: paid vacation, continued pay during sick leave (subject to certain conditions), minimum wage, and labor law protections. You can opt out of pension contributions, but this decision affects your pension rights, so you shouldn’t make this choice automatically.

HiWi Job

HiWi — work at a university or research institution. Students can assist in a department, library, laboratory, research project, or administrative office.

Pros of being a HiWi:

• The work is often related to one’s field of study;
• easier to balance with your university schedule;
• You can gain experience for your resume and receive a recommendation;
• Sometimes the work counts as academic experience.

Being a HiWi doesn’t mean there are no rules. You need to take into account your contract, working hours, pay, social insurance, and restrictions related to your residence permit. For international students, university work must also fall within the permitted limits, unless a specific rule allows for an exception.

Internship

Praktikum — an internship. It can be mandatory or voluntary.

Mandatory internships are required by the curriculum. Their terms often depend on the Prüfungsordnung or Studienordnung, and compensation may differ from that of regular jobs.

Voluntary internships are chosen by the student independently. They are useful for gaining experience but can affect work limits, social security contributions, and the right to minimum wage. If an internship is long-term and paid, it must be assessed in advance as regular employment rather than as a neutral academic activity.

Before starting your Praktikum, make sure to:

• whether it is mandatory or voluntary;
• whether it is part of the curriculum;
• how many hours per week you need to work;
• whether the position is paid;
• How internships are considered for a residence permit and Sozialversicherung;
• Do you need a contract from your employer and confirmation from the university?

Part-time student job

Werkstudentenjob — a job for a student, often in their field of study or a related field. Unlike a Minijob, there is no low fixed income limit here: the salary can be higher, but the tax and social security implications change.

Advantages of a Werkstudentenjob:

• professional experience prior to graduation;
• a better resume and a chance to get a full-time offer;
• a higher pay rate than in a typical unskilled part-time job;
• an understanding of German work culture.

The main restriction is the workload. During the academic term, students typically aim for 20 hours per week to maintain their Werkstudentenstatus. If a student works more than that—especially on a regular basis during the semester—additional contributions to health insurance (Krankenversicherung), long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung), pension insurance (Rentenversicherung), and unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung) may apply. For students with a residence permit, annual limits on work authorization also remain important.

Temporary work at trade shows and events

In Germany, there are many temporary job openings at trade shows, concerts, sporting events, and conferences. These can include:

• guest registration;
• wardrobe;
• assisting at a booth;
• catering;
• promotional staff;
• setup and takedown.

Such work is often paid by the hour and is suitable for school breaks or weekends. However, the contract can be structured in different ways: short-term employment, a Minijob, or regular employment with taxes withheld. If taxes were withheld and your annual income turned out to be below the tax threshold, you can sometimes get a portion of the withheld tax refunded through your Steuererklärung.

Vocational Training, Studienkolleg, and Language Courses

An Ausbildung apprentice, a Studienkolleg student, and a language course participant are not the same in terms of employment status.

• In Ausbildung, the main focus is already on work and training under a contract. Taking on additional part-time work usually requires the employer’s consent and must comply with working hour regulations.
• At the Studienkolleg and in preparatory courses, the rules depend on the type of residence permit and the wording in the documents.
• If you’re taking language courses before enrollment, you’ll need to check the work eligibility requirements separately: following the reform, the rules for preparatory measures have become more lenient, but individual restrictions in the residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) remain important.

The German Arbeitszeitgesetz (Working Hours Act) generally stipulates a maximum average workweek of 48 hours, but students should not rely solely on this figure. It is more important to balance labor law, your residence permit, your contract with your employer, and the requirements of your academic program.

Where to Look for a Part-Time Job

Useful resources:

• The university’s job board or the Studierendenwerk;
• department and laboratory websites;
• local job postings in cafes, stores, and libraries;
• LinkedIn and Xing for Werkstudenten jobs;
• StepStone, Indeed, Job Board of the Federal Employment Agency;
• websites of trade shows and event agencies;
• Recommendations from classmates and professors.

For your first job in Germany, it’s best to choose an employer who is willing to provide a written contract, explain payroll (Abrechnung), and specify your hours. Verbal agreements are particularly risky for students with a residence permit.

What to Check Before Signing a Contract

• Type of employment: Minijob, Werkstudent, Praktikum, short-term employment, or regular part-time work.
• Hourly wage and compliance with the Mindestlohn, unless an exception applies.
• Number of hours per week and schedule during the semester.
• Impact on health insurance (Krankenversicherung) and other social security contributions.
• Impact on the residence permit and the annual limit on working days.
• Paid vacation.
• Sick leave policies and notifying your employer.
• Contract term and notice period.
• Do you need a Steuer-ID, Sozialversicherungsnummer, and a bank account?

In Short: Which Option to Choose

Type	When it’s a good fit	What to look for
Minijob	Need a small, steady income	Monthly limit, multiple jobs, pension contributions
HiWi	Want to work at the university	Contract, hours, connection to studies, residence permit limits
Praktikum	Field-specific experience required	Mandatory or voluntary internship, pay, duration
Werkstudent	Looking for professional work while studying	20 hours per semester, social insurance, annual limits
Fair/Event	Shifts needed during breaks or on weekends	Contract type, taxes, short-term nature

The best part-time job for a student is one that can be registered legally, is manageable given their course load, and can be presented to a future employer as valuable experience.