Work & employment
Werkstudent
A Werkstudent (working student) is a university student employed alongside their studies, working up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period. Working students pay reduced social-security contributions thanks to the Werkstudentenprivileg and typically earn between €13 and €20 per hour in Germany.
Werkstudent is the German term for a working student: someone enrolled full-time at a university who holds a part-time job, usually related to their field of study. The legal frame is simple but strict. During the lecture period (Vorlesungszeit) you may work a maximum of 20 hours per week; during semester breaks you can go up to full-time. Stay inside those limits and your employer treats you under the Werkstudentenprivileg, which exempts you from most social-security contributions except pension insurance.
Werkstudent positions exist across every field, from software development and marketing to mechanical engineering and finance. Companies use them as an extended trial period for future graduates, which is why many working students receive full-time offers from the same employer after graduation. Unlike a classic student side job (waiting tables, retail), a Werkstudent role is meant to be professionally relevant to your degree.
What it means for working students
For international students the Werkstudent route is the standard way to fund living costs in Germany while building local work experience. Non-EU students must additionally respect the 140 full days (or 280 half days) per year allowed by their residence permit. Pay attention to both limits independently: the 20-hour weekly rule protects your social-security status, the 140-day rule protects your visa.