What Is a Student Job?

In Germany, student jobs are a welcome source of extra income for funding your studies. Especially when your financial situation proves to be difficult. Studying is usually at the center of students' daily and weekly planning. Extra earnings from a student job are reserved only for the lecture-free period.

Student Job as Marginal Income

Student jobRegardless of the lecture-free period, students can also work student jobs on an ongoing basis within the framework of marginal income. In connection with student jobs, it is very important to pay attention to the income limit and weekly working hours. When people talk about a student job, a distinction has to be made between marginal paid employment that is carried out on an ongoing basis and short-term employment.

Working Student (Werkstudent) – Another Student Job – Side Job

If a student is enrolled at a university, then during their studies the student can work a paid job at a company. When that is the case, we speak of a working student. During this time the working student is exempt from compulsory insurance in the areas of health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. A job for working students differs from a student job in several respects. Unlike a mini-job, where you can only earn up to €450 a month, a job as a working student is a side activity. The amount of pay doesn't matter for work as a working student. However, the weekly working time of at most 20 hours must be observed. As a rule, students should work in fields that correspond to their studies so that they can gain experience and make first contacts for internships or later full-time employment.

Is an Internship a Student Job?

Student jobBesides a student job, there is a lot to be said for an internship - gaining experience, improving your résumé and making contacts. That is why many students apply for a voluntary internship during the lecture-free period. A distinction is often made between a compulsory and a voluntary internship. If it is required by the study or examination regulations, it is a compulsory internship. One important point to note: voluntary internships are subject to social insurance and the rules of the minimum wage apply.