Almost two thirds of students work alongside their studies - either regularly or occasionally. Ideally, a part-time job should not only provide a salary, but also practical experience relevant to your studies.
Foto: Andrea Vollmer / Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Try to find a job that is related to your subject, e.g. as a student assistant at the university or in a company that also offers internships for your degree programme. Many universities have special job placement centres for students. You can get the address from the local student union.
If you want to work regularly and permanently, you will have to become active yourself and respond to job adverts on the internet, in newspapers, on the notice boards at the university or follow up tips from friends and acquaintances. As long as your studies are your main focus, you can work during the semester without losing the student ‘special rate’ for social security contributions (see also chapter 5.4 ‘Insurance’).
Types of employment
Students who work alongside their studies are considered employees and must therefore comply with certain insurance regulations. There are three options for student employment: Firstly, those in which you are marginally employed for a longer period of time and regularly earn no more than 556 euros per month. Secondly, those in which you regularly earn more than 556 euros per month and thirdly, those that are limited to the semester holidays.
Option 1: Marginal employment/556 euro mini-job
Earnings over 556 euros per month
Student employees who earn more than 556 euros per month (or 556 euros) are generally subject to pension insurance and tax. The respective pension contribution in so-called midi-jobs (556.01 to 2,000 euros) depends on the amount of the salary.
Anyone who regularly earns more than 556 euros per month is exempt from family insurance under the statutory health insurance scheme (up to the age of 25). Students who regularly earn more than 556 euros per month, even during the lecture period, generally do not pay any additional contributions to health, long-term care and unemployment insurance if their studies remain the main focus - the so-called working student privilege. This is generally assumed if students do not work more than 20 hours per week. If the work is adapted to the requirements of the degree programme and is subordinate, exemption from insurance may still apply even if the weekly working hours are more than 20 hours (e.g. employment only at weekends, evening or night work).
Important to know: Working students do not receive sick pay after six weeks of sick leave and are not entitled to unemployment benefit. In addition, they usually pay more money for student health insurance than if they were normally employed and subject to social insurance contributions.
Option 3: Working during the semester break
Further regulations: Internships, BAföG
Periods of internships that must be completed during your studies in accordance with the study and examination regulations are generally exempt from insurance. In the case of internships that are not mandatory, you can be exempted from the pension insurance obligation as part of a 556 euro mini-job (see above). The duration of the internship is irrelevant. The above regulations apply to health, long-term care and unemployment insurance.
As a BAföG recipient, you can earn up to an additional 556 euros per month without this having a negative effect on the amount of funding.
