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Employment while you study in Germany

Working During Study:

Temporary work is a great way for students to earn money while studying. If you are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you are allowed to work as many hours per week as you wish. However, if you work more than 20 hours a week, you should pay for national insurance. To save money, and to make sure their studies take priority, many students choose to work 20 hours or less a week. If you are from a non-EU country, you are allowed to work 120 full days or 240 days of the year. If you wish to work beyond this, you must apply for permission from Agentur für Arbeit (a local employment agency) and Ausländerbehörde (foreign registration office). If you choose to work, some German language skills will help you, and it is a great opportunity to develop those skills.

Post Study Work:

Students from non-EU countries wishing to work in Germany after graduation can extend their 18-month residence permit to find work related to their studies. To apply for a long-term permit, you will need:

  • Passport
  • A Digital University certificate or an official document from your university that confirms that you have successfully completed your studies
  • Documentation proving that you have health insurance
  • Proof that you have earnings of supporting yourself financially

18 months starts as soon as you get your final exam results, so you should start looking for a job during your final period. During these 18 months, you can work your best and take on any type of work to support yourself.


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