International students see Germany as an ideal study destination, especially due to the quality of education, affordability, and opportunities to advance. Side jobs, or part-time jobs in Germany, alongside studies are an important part of the study abroad experience for international students. Approximately two-thirds of students in Germany work during their studies, something that provides them with extra income and an opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge.

The living costs in Germany are deemed affordable and in line with the EU average. As of 1 January 2023, an international student will need around 934 EUR/month to cover their living expenses, which translates to around 11,208 EUR/year (see breakup). Some international students work part-time jobs in Germany to earn back a significant portion of their spendings while others do it to build network with potential employers, gain practical experience, polish German language skills and enhance their overall skills.

Rules and Eligibility for Part-Time Work in Germany for International Students

International students travelling to Germany will only be allowed entry with a German Student Visa. And the Study Visa has strict rules on how many hours you can work part-time in Germany. You, as an international student, are allowed to work for a total of 120 full or 240 half days in a year. This, however, might vary from high-employment regions to low-employment regions. Simply put, if your university is in a location that has high unemployment rates, or requires more manpower, you might just get a work permit of more than 120 days. Self-employment or freelancing is not allowed under the part-time work option. 

1. Usually, as per university norms, you would not be allowed to work for more than 20 hours a week during the term. Students, however, can take up full-time employment during vacations.
2. A work permit from the “Agentur für Arbeit” (Federal Employment Agency) and the foreigners’ authority is required. The permit would have details of the maximum limit of work you can take up.  
3. If you are enrolled in a preparatory course or a language course, the regulations are tighter. As such, you are allowed only to work during the lecture-free periods and only with explicit permission to do so from the foreign authority.
4. Taxation is another concern. A student earning less than 450 euros a month need not pay any taxes/ social security contributions. Also, if you work for less than 50 continuous days over one year, you are exempted as well.
5. Working for more than 20 hours a week is generally not advised. Not only is it against most university rules, but working more than this limit would require you to pay health insurance, unemployment as well as nursing care insurance.
6. Compliance with Federal Law is extremely important. If you are found to be flouting them, you can find yourself being expelled from the country. So, keep the checks in place, conform to the rules, and have your permit in place.
7. When it comes to working within the university, though, the working hours and wages are completed differently. They are far better and you can work for long hours as well. Getting a job at the university, however, might not be as easy.

How to Find Part-Time Jobs in Germany for International Students?

Wondering how to find part-time jobs in Germany for international students? There are several avenues through which you can look for part-time jobs in Germany for Indian students. Here are some tips in this regard: 

• University Career Cells: Most universities have a dedicated career centre whose sole purpose is to bring together employers and students on a common platform. The university career cells are constantly in touch with a wide range of industries and employers who are scouting for fresh talent. International students are advised to approach their university career cells for part-time work opportunities.  
• Online Job Portals: Just like in India, countries abroad have job portals that have part-time jobs listed on its website. Employers post job openings on these websites that can be applied for by international students looking for employment. We have covered this in detail in a separate article on “Jobs After Masters in Germany”. Read this article to find names of most popular German Job Search Websites.
• Word of mouth: Every country would have an international community made up of students from similar backgrounds. Hence word of mouth or simply informing friends or acquaintances about job openings is a good way to land yourself a part-time job in Germany. 
• University Bulletin: A lot of times your center of study, your university can become a good job-hunting ground. Depending on your area of expertise and skills, students can find numerous part-time job opportunities in the university itself. 
• Online-offline channel– Employers and recruiters may have job advertisements posted in various locations, including both online and offline channels. It is vital to remain alert if you are on the lookout for job opportunities in Germany. 

Types of part-time jobs in Germany for international students

Now, let us now discuss the popular sectors for part-time job for international students studying in Germany. 

On-Campus Jobs

Numerous on-campus job opportunities are available for international students on the university campus. If you are academically excellent, then the possibility of finding on-campus jobs is quite high for you. Below is a list of on-campus part-time jobs one can join at German universities:

• Admin-Related and data entry Jobs
• Academic and bookkeeping assistants
• Research Assistants
• Support Staff and class assistant
• Education Instructors and student tutors
• Personal trainers and attendants

Off-Campus Jobs

According to the norms in Germany, it allows international students to work part-time jobs off-campus. There are some famous off-campus part-time jobs available in Germany that pay high salary.

Below is the list of off-campus employment available for students:

• Waiter/Waitress
• Trade Fairs
• Courier
• Office document filing
• Media (Students of Journalism)
• Tutoring
• Babysitter
• Bartender
• Cashier

Online Jobs

In the digital era, due to the emergence of multiple online processing, online job profiles have become an essential source of part-time jobs in Germany for international students that include:

• Social Media
• Digital Marketing
• Blog Writing
• Website Content Writing
• Jobs in Data Entry
• Jobs in Language Translation
• Online Sales & Marketing Jobs
• Web Development

Pay-scale for Part-Time Jobs in Germany

Germany has a set of standards that state that the minimum wage for international students who work part-time is EUR 9.80 per hour. As said before, it varies with the candidate’s skill set, the industry they work in, and the work location. Sometimes students who study in cities in Germany like Munich and Berlin tend to earn higher minimum wages as the cost of living in these cities is relatively higher compared to other German cities. Coming to taxes, students earning up to EUR 450 a month are exempted from paying taxes.

• If you are earning less than EUR 450/ month in total, then no taxes are deducted and no tax card is needed
• If you are earning less than EUR 9,000/ Year, taxes will be deducted from the salary and a tax card will be required.
• If you are earning  more than EUR 9,000/ Year, you will be a part of the Normal income tax class and tax card will be required

Do Students Pay Social Security Contributions in Germany?

You will be eligible for social security contributions payment if you are permanently employed in Germany. This includes payments for health insurance, nursing care insurance, pension and unemployment insurance. If you work less than two months for around 50 days, you will not be required to pay social security contributions. Those employed for longer periods of time must have pension insurance.